cahwyguy | Headlines About California Highways

June: The time of transition. We transition from Spring into Summer in June. I just transitioned into retirement. My daughter is transitioning into post-doctoral life at Washington University in St. Louis. My M-I-L just passed away; her spirit is reunited with her beloved Jay. But while some things transition, the rhythm of life goes on, reminding us to move forward. One of those reminders is the monthly highway headlines post, because work on California’s highways never finishes.

The podcast continues, albeit on a slightly slower schedule while I work on Season 4. In June, we got out the last episode of Season 3, covering all things Route 7. We hope to record a few lower-effort bonus episodes over the summer, before starting up on Season 4 in September. We’re thinking of one based on Tom’s talk to the Fresno Flats Museum on the history of the highways around Oakhurst, and one talking about the Caltrans History Library. The first episode of Season 4 should be a bear: Route 8, which means with dealing with the history of I-8 and the former US 80.

It looks like the regular audience is between 60-70 folks, and I’d love to get that number up. You can help. Please tell your friends about the podcast, “like”, “♥”, or “favorite” it, and give it a rating in your favorite podcatcher. Share the podcast on Facebook groups, and in your Bluesky and Mastodon communities. For those that hear the early episodes, the sound quality of the episodes does get better — we were learning. If you know sound editing, feel free to give me advice (I use Audacity to edit). As always, you can keep up with the show at the podcast’s forever home at https://www.caroutebyroute.org , the show’s page on Spotify for Creators, or you can subscribe through your favorite podcatching app or via the RSS feeds (CARxR, Spotify for Creators) . The following episode has been posted this month:

CA RxR 3.12: Route 7: From Long Beach to the Border. Episode 3.12 brings Season 3 to a close, modulo our bonus episodes. In Episode 3.12, we explore all things Route 7. As is our tradition, we start by looking into the 7th state highway, the Kings River Canyon Road, and LRN 7, which included portions of US 40 and US 99W. We then turn our attention to various incarnations of Route 7: Sign Route 7, both the section along the Eastern Sierras that is now US 395 and US 6 and the section that became Sepulveda Blvd in Los Angeles; 1964-1981 Route 7, which was the Long Beach Freeway before it was renumbered into I-710; and the current Route 7, which is a small border connection route near a new entry point near Calexico. We’ll then be taking a short break, during which there will be some bonus episodes. We’ll pick up in the fall with Season 4, which will cover Route 8 through Route 14. I’m also going to be working on improving the sound quality of the podcast once I retire in July. (Spotify for Podcasters)

As a reminder: One of the sources for the highway page updates (and the raison d’etre for for this post) are headlines about California Highways that I’ve seen over the last month. I collect them in this post, which serves as fodder for the updates to my California Highways site, and so there are also other pages and things I’ve seen that I wanted to remember for the site updates. Lastly, the post also includes some things that I think would be of peripheral interest to my ~~highway-obsessed~~ highway-interested readers.

Well, you should now be up to date. Here are the headlines that I found about California’s highways for June.

Key

[Ħ Historical information | ＄ Paywalls, ＄＄ really obnoxious paywalls, and ∅ other annoying restrictions. I’m no longer going to list the paper names, as I’m including them in the headlines now. Note: For ＄ paywalls, sometimes the only way is incognito mode, grabbing the text before the paywall shows, and pasting into an editor. See this article for more tips on bypassing paywalls. ☊ indicates an primarily audio article. ↈ indicates a primarily video article. ]

Highway Headlines

＄ How California’s road signs have influenced the nation and what’s new (Orange County Register). On the road: The Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimates that 91% of summer trips will be via car and 250 to 499 miles each way. Today we look at our roads. Signs of the times. Originally, California’s road signs were black with white lettering, but the state changed them after a federal rule was extended to the states. A federal study found that blue-and-gold and black-and-white signs were less visible at night. White-and-green signs retain the desired contrast at the longest distance. [Note: This article was originally published by Kurt in June 2017, and the essence was captured back into these pages here. When I saw this republishing, I dropped Kurt a note (indicating that the reference to my pages still needed correction), and he noted: “The short week put me in a bind so I took what I had and added a bunch more.” – DPF]
San Diego aging highways to undergo $623M in upgrades (CBS8 San Diego). Major construction projects are set to begin on some of San Diego County’s busiest highways this fall, as Caltrans launches what officials call the largest freeway investment in the region since these roads were originally built in the 1960s and 70s. The California Department of Transportation announced Tuesday it will dedicate $623 million in state and federal funding for five highway projects targeting the county’s most heavily traveled corridors, including Interstate 5, Interstate 805, and State Route 78. “The work we will do over the next two years may not be as glamorous, but it’s certainly essential work that keeps our transportation system in good repair,” said Ann Fox, Caltrans District 11 director, during a news conference.
Caltrans begins $623 million of work to improve I-5, I-805, Route 78 (Times of San Diego). Caltrans held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday to highlight five major freeway improvement projects throughout San Diego County totaling $623 million. The projects on Interstate 5, Route 78 and Interstate 805 will address pavement, improve drainage culverts, and upgrade traffic operations and communications. “These investments support Caltrans’ mission to build and maintain a transportation system that serves Californians now and decades into the future,” said Ann Fox, Caltrans District 11 director.
Sepulveda Transit Corridor – Draft EIR (LA Metro). Welcome to the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project Draft Environmental Impact Report. This site provides a full digital copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Report. The Sepulveda Corridor is a vital link for the communities of greater Los Angeles, connecting residents in the San Fernando Valley to the Westside’s bustling employment hubs and cultural landmarks, such as Westwood, UCLA, and Century City. For many families, workers, and students, this route is key to accessing jobs, education, and opportunities that shape daily life. More than just a major travel route, the corridor serves as an essential connection for people across western Los Angeles County, helping them bridge neighborhoods and access vital resources in a region that is ever-growing and increasingly interconnected. The natural barrier created by the Santa Monica Mountains makes traveling between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside difficult and slow. Interstate 405 (I-405) through the Sepulveda Pass is one of the most congested corridors in the country, and transit service between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside is limited. Each weekday, more than 400,000 trips cross the Sepulveda Pass (Metro, 2019a), and a typical San Fernando Valley commuter loses 59 hours per year to traffic delays just from the evening drive home on I-405 between Wilshire Boulevard and Ventura Boulevard (INRIX, 2024). The Project would add a critical regional connection to the transportation network, linking the San Fernando Valley with the Westside and providing a reliable, fast alternative to the congested 405 freeway. The Project would: …
Caltrans begins projects across San Diego freeways, state routes (NBC 7 San Diego). More than $600 million in road projects are getting started across three major San Diego freeways and state routes. “Over the next two years, we ask for motorists’ patience,” Ann Fox, Caltrans District 11 director, told NBC 7 on Friday during a ceremonial groundbreaking for the projects at Dorothy Petway Neighborhood Park. The agency will complete five freeway improvement projects across portions of Interstate 805, Interstate 5 and state Route 78. For some commuters in the North County, they may have already noticed construction getting underway. “You’ll see that construction happening along Interstate 805, you’ll see signs talking about future work coming up on ramps up and down the I-5 corridor. We do have some early work that will start along state Route 78,” Fox said.
Eastbound and Westbound- SR-12 Solano County Roadway improvement project (Caltrans). Caltrans is scheduled to begin construction on both directions of State Route 12 (SR-12) in Solano County near Suisun City from Lawler Ranch Parkway to Shiloh Road. Map location for Solano County Roadway improvement project on of Eastbound and Westbound State Route 12 near Suisun City from Lawler Ranch Parkway to Shiloh Road. Workers will overlay new asphalt, replace culverts, build bridge rails, and install median barriers. Eastbound and westbound lanes of SR-12 will be subject to one-way traffic control. Only one lane will be open at a time, with traffic alternating directions through the work zone.
‘Out of necessity’: Why the drive to Tahoe takes twice as long right now (SF Gate). California travelers are facing lengthy and burdensome traffic delays while driving Sacramento’s major freeways, as Caltrans continues work on several major projects. Drivers are experiencing significant construction delays on Highway 50 and Interstate 80 because of three simultaneous capital projects: the I-80 Pavement Rehabilitation project, the Yolo 80 Corridor Improvements project and the Fix50 project. The collective $650 million in funding for the projects goes toward work that includes the replacement of decades-old concrete, upgrading lane barriers and bridge railings and adding carpool lanes.
News Release: New $116 Million Butte City Bridge Improves Safety and Connectivity on State Route 162 (Caltrans). Caltrans, along with local and state officials, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate the completion of the new State Route 162 (SR 162) bridge and viaduct near Butte City. This new $116 million bridge replaced a 77-year-old structure with a safer, modern span built to current seismic standards. Funded through a combination of federal and state sources, including $15.1 million from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, this project enhances regional mobility and long-term safety across the Sacramento River.
Sacramento’s Fix 50 project completion postponed to 2026 (ABC 10 Sacramento). The Fix 50 construction project completion date has been pushed back a year, as officials say areas require deeper fixes than initially anticipated. Fix 50 is one of several road projects happening around the Sacramento area, where Caltrans has now advised commuters to leave an extra 30 minutes early to deal with the created congestion. The project was funded to add HOV lanes and update the pavement on US 50 from the I-5 interchange to the Watt Avenue interchange. According to Caltrans, the initial proposal for the construction began back in 2016 and it now won’t be completed until July 2026.

Fix50 project in Sacramento will take longer, cost more (KCRA 3 Sacramento). A major highway project in Sacramento will now take much longer and cost much more money than originally expected. Highway 50 is one of the major roadways in the city that motorists heavily rely on to get across town quicker. The California Department of Transportation, better known as Caltrans, is working to replace pavement and improve carpool lanes. The project, known as Fix50, was originally slated to be completed by July 2025. But Caltrans now expects it will not finish upgrades until summer 2026. The agency said weather conditions and crashes caused delays.
Ħ US99 and US466 in Famoso, CA (FB/US Highways). Things like this interest me, so thought I’d share The images are just south of the one time intersection of US99 and US466 in Famoso, CA The freeway overpass of State highway 99 has sliced thru the old alignment of US99 and 466. The 2 routes were a concurrency from Bakersfield to Famoso. At that point 466 broke west and headed towards its terminus at Morro Bay.
Extended Lane Reductions Scheduled for State Route 49 (Caltrans). Caltrans is alerting motorists about upcoming extended lane reductions along State Route 49 (SR 49) at Lone Star Road this weekend as construction continues on a $38 million safety barrier and roundabout project. Crews will reduce northbound and southbound SR 49 to one lane in each direction from 7 p.m. Friday through 3 p.m. Monday, June 9. After the extended lane reductions, two lanes will remain open northbound and one lane southbound at the intersection of Lone Star Road until further notice. Only right-hand turns from Lone Star Road onto SR 49 will be allowed during this time. Left-hand turns onto Lone Star Road from SR 49 will be prohibited. Motorists will detour northbound or southbound to the next legal U-turn as needed.
＄ Commentary: Seeking solace, and finding hard truths, on California’s Highway 395 (LA Times). As we drove north along Highway 395 — passing the salty remains of Owens Lake, the Museum of Western Film History, the geothermal plant outside Mammoth Lakes that supplies 24/7 clean energy to San Bernardino County — I felt certain we’d found the northernmost reaches of Southern California. It was Memorial Day weekend, and my wife and I were headed to a U.S. Forest Service campground in the White Mountains, 225 miles as the crow flies from downtown L.A.’s Union Station. If you drew a line on a map due west from our campsite, you’d cut through the Sierra Nevada and eventually hit San José.
＄ Vincent Thomas Bridge closure pushed to fall 2026 (Daily Breeze). Plans continue to be tweaked for a full 16-month closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge but one looming stumbling block that arose recently apparently has been mitigated by state transportation officials. Because of the upgraded materials needed to build a new replacement roadway on the 1963 bridge — the reason the bridge closure was needed — it initially appeared that the iconic green harbor span, which extends over the busy Port of Los Angeles, would end up dropping 11 inches closer to the busy waterway below. The bridge clearance from the water varies, but is usually tracked at about 185 feet above the harbor’s surface. Caltrans officials, though, now say they believe they’ve managed to mitigate the earlier threat of losing 11 inches of that space, a matter that involved many discussions with Port of Los Angeles officials.
Dr. Fine Bridge (FB/Caltrans District 1). Work continues on the Dr. Fine Bridge replacement over the Smith River on U.S. 101 in Del Norte County. During the summer season from June through October, there will be no boat access beneath the bridge. Boat launching via the informal access point under the bridge at South Bank Road also will be restricted. Those who typically access the river underneath this bridge are encouraged to share this information with anyone who may be interested.
Bay Area bridge to partially close for repairs after cracking found (SF Gate). A week after broken concrete prompted emergency repairs on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, officials are partially closing the double-decker bridge for more maintenance. On the lower deck heading in the eastbound direction, the second and third lanes of the bridge will be closed 8 p.m.-5 a.m. every day from Monday through Friday, Caltrans said in a news release. And on the upper deck heading in the westbound direction, the second lane will be closed starting at 8 p.m. on Wednesday and lasting until 5 a.m. on Thursday, the agency said.
Bay Area agency predicts $10B price tag to replace historic bridge (SF Gate). The Benicia-Martinez Railroad Drawbridge, a lofty Bay Area landmark for 95 years, has developed an altitude problem. The structure is too low for the speedier, more frequent trains that the Capitol Corridor intends to run in the future as part of its ambitious plan to boost rail between the Bay Area and Sacramento. The regional passenger service says the solution is to build a new, higher bridge either next to the current one or several miles west, between Crockett and Vallejo. Those plans are underway as the current structure awaits its fate. The problem is due to maritime traffic. The drawbridge’s vertical lift span rises several times a day to allow large ships to pass underneath. The lifts halt rail traffic for 20 minutes or more, according to a consultant’s report for the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, and “represent the second most significant cause of delays to [corridor] trains.” (No. 1 is people-related — trespassers, vehicles and the like.)
Caltrans holds ribbon-cutting ceremony for new Highway 162 bridge in Glenn County (Action News Now). Caltrans and local officials celebrated the completion of the new Highway 162 bridge near Butte City with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. Officials say that this $116 million project enhances safety and connectivity in the surrounding area. Replacing a 77-year-old bridge across the Sacramento River, the new 4,686-foot-long bridge meets current seismic standards and includes standard lanes and shoulders. Caltrans say the project was funded by both federal and state sources, including $15.1 million from Senate Bill 1.
All four lanes of new Highway 156 corridor open June 13 (SanBenito.com). In what transportation officials and local representatives hail as a “major milestone,” all four lanes of the new San Benito Route 156 Improvement Project will open to all traffic on June 13. Caltrans District 5 hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 7, in which local public officials celebrated the completion of the new stretch of Highway 156. Construction on the project started in 2022. “This is a game changer for the region and a proud moment for our community,” said California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, who represents San Benito County. “The SR 156 project enhances safety and mobility for local families, but also strengthens our economy by improving the movement of goods throughout the state.” The Route 156 Improvement Project consists of two new lanes in each direction (east and west) between The Alameda and Fourth Street in northern San Benito County. The opening of all four new lanes is expected to reduce traffic congestion, improve circulation and enhance safety along the corridor, Caltrans staff said.
State Route 70 through Portola gets a makeover (The Plumas Sun). The stretch of State Route 70 that runs through Portola between Green Street and Second Street is getting an update this season. The roadway will be repaved and repainted. New striping will reduce through lanes from four to two, create new bike lanes with a buffer zone, widen the turn lanes and realign the traffic signals — all while maintaining current parking, said Caltrans Public Information Officer Kurt Villavicencio. His email to The Plumas Sun relayed details provided by Project Manager Azeddine Bahloul. The work is part of Caltrans’ “Cromberg Combined” project, which covers about 16 miles of State Route 70 in eastern Plumas County, from Cromberg to just past Portola. The $101 million project encompasses a variety of roadway improvements, according to the Caltrans website: Recycling and replacing old pavement, widening shoulders to current standards, replacing guard rail, and replacing or installing drainage systems and culverts. The work, begun in 2024, is expected to be completed by 2026.
This Sierra Nevada route named one of the most popular road trips in the US by HGTV (Reno Gazette-Journal via MSN). Few things are more synonymous with summer than the American road trip. HGTV, the media network focused on home and life topics, has gathered a list of the most popular road trips in the country, and one is a familiar path for those who live near Reno and Lake Tahoe. But, as is often the case, Nevada got short shrift in the write-up that mentions only California, when the road passes some beautiful Silver State scenery. Here’s what HGTV had so say, and what they missed.
Harlow Street – I-10 History (FB/LA Street Names). Harlow Avenue was designed as a frontage road in 1963. At the time, the Santa Monica Freeway (a.k.a. the 10) was being constructed, which was going to turn all the streets between Castle Heights and Durango (save Bagley) into dead ends. Harlow Avenue was thus laid out in order to connect the streets.
California Highway Crews Blast Rocks To Reopen Access To Yosemite’s East Entrance (Unofficial Networks). Every year as the snow melts and crews work to get the roads to our favorite national parks ready and open for the thousands of tourists that visit every month, California Department of Transportation District 9 encounters massive boulders dislodged over the winter on State Route 120 West near Yosemite National Park. While some of these boulders can be removed with equipment, the largest rocks, reaching up to RV sizes, need a different method of removal. Caltrans District 9 brings in a trained blasting team to safely execute detonations along the roadway.
Caltrans completes Highway 46 and State Route 41 interchange (Paso Robles Daily News). Caltrans, local officials, and community members gathered yesterday near Cholame in northern San Luis Obispo County to celebrate the completion of the Highway 46 East and State Route 41 interchange project. The new interchange includes a flyover ramp that allows travelers to safely transition from eastbound Highway 46 to northbound State Route 41. This grade-separated ramp enhances traffic flow and improves safety for travelers at this major regional intersection. The flyover ramp also includes transition ramps to westbound and eastbound Highway 46. The interchange officially opens to traffic today, June 12. Travelers on Highway 46 East will encounter two-way traffic on the new westbound lanes near the interchange until the eastbound lanes are completed later this summer.
New, safer Hwy. 46, Hwy. 41 interchange celebrated by CalTrans on Wednesday (Lompoc Record). Caltrans, local officials and community members gathered near Cholame in northern San Luis Obispo County to celebrate the completion of the Highway 46 East/State Route 41 interchange project on Wednesday. This new interchange includes a flyover ramp which allows travelers to safely transition from eastbound Highway 46 to northbound State Route 41, enhancing traffic flow and improving safety for travelers navigating this major regional intersection. The flyover ramp also includes transition ramps to westbound and eastbound Hwy. 46. Travelers on Highway 46 East will encounter two-way traffic on the new westbound lanes near the interchange until the eastbound lanes are completed this summer.
Eastbound, Westbound State Route 131 (Tiburon Boulevard) Utility Potholing Project Continues in Marin County (Caltrans). Caltrans will continue a utility potholing project in both directions on State Route 131 (Tiburon Boulevard) from the US-101 exit to Main Street (approximately four miles). Workdays are Mondays through Fridays as well as Sundays, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Workers are performing potholing on SR-131 to safely locate underground utilities (water, electrical, gas, telecommunications, and fiber optic lines) in preparation for the upcoming paving project of SR-131 scheduled in 2026. Eastbound and westbound lanes of SR-131 will be subject to one-way traffic control. Only one lane will be open at a time, with traffic alternating directions through the work zone. Work is scheduled to be completed by July 2025.
Caltrans targets I-15/SR-78 bottleneck with new express lanes (KPBS Public Media). Commuters in North County know full well the traffic headache caused by the Interstate 15 and state Route 78 interchange. Caltrans plans to build a connector express lane from I-15 to SR-78 through San Marcos, and a draft environmental impact report (EIR) was recently completed. “This project will reduce congestion and travel times in the area, as well as encourage the usage of carpool,” Caltrans North County Corridor Director Victor Mercado said. Right now, to get onto SR-78 from the express lanes on I-15, drivers have to cross over five lanes of traffic and, at the same time, dodge incoming traffic from West Valley Parkway.
Some freeway & highway proposals that died the death they deserved instead of marring California (Manteca Bulletin). California is considered the birthplace of the modern freeway with the opening of the Pasadena Freeway in 1938 on the Highway 110 route. But before then, the state in the 1910s through the 1930s was busy converting dirt roads between towns and trans-mountain routes that started centuries earlier as trade routes by indigenous Californians that then evolved into wagon routes. Highway 108 with lofty Sonora Pass at 9,623 feet was a former trade path as was Highway 120 that reaches 9,943 feet before descending Tioga Canyon. Tioga Pass in the 1930s become the highest paved segment of the California highway system.
Caltrans revises Tiburon Boulevard makeover (Marin I-J). Caltrans will expand its plans and timeline to upgrade Tiburon Boulevard, the agency told an overflow crowd at a forum this week. The announcement on Wednesday came after local officials, bus services, homeowner groups and cycling advocates criticized the project over safety concerns. Caltrans wants to add bikes lanes in both directions on the thoroughfare. “We have to work more with you guys to flesh out all of these issues and figure out what is really the best project,” said Wajahat Nyaz, Caltrans district deputy director of design. “So our proposal line right now is to phase it, to do it in two phases.”
＄ Transportation Authority Board approves $187.1M budget (San Mateo Daily Journal). The San Mateo County Transportation Authority Board of Directors has approved a $187.1 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026, advancing a range of transportation improvements across the county, officials announced. Approved during the Board’s June meeting, the budget allocates funding from Measures A and W to support pedestrian and bicycle upgrades, transit connectivity, highway congestion relief, and grade separations.
STA to discuss support for I-80 toll lane pilot program (Solano Daily Republic). The Solano Transportation Authority board on Wednesday will consider its draft Overall Work Plan for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years. The board meets at 6 p.m. in the STA Office boardroom. The open session follows a closed session at 5:30 for the evaluation of the executive director. Also on the agenda is consideration of sending a letter of support to the Bay Area Infrastructure Financing Authority for a three-year, weekend pilot program to collect toll charges on the Interstate 80 high-occupancy lanes. “The Interstate 80 Express Lanes Project in Solano County is part of a multi-agency effort designed to improve travel times and reliability, as well as incentivize mode shift,” the staff report to the board states.
ↈ Traveling through Time Documentary on SR 70 Butte County (YouTube/Caltrans District 3). “Traveling Through Time” explores the history of State Route 70—also known as the Feather River Highway—in Butte and Plumas counties. This film tells the story of the Feather River Canyon, from its first inhabitants, the Maidu, through 19th- and 20th-century exploration and development. Discover the canyon’s unique geology, gold mining history, the plotting of the Beckwourth Trail, and the remarkable engineering achievements of the railroad, powerhouses, and highway.
＄ Moorpark Los Angeles Avenue construction: Will it delay commutes? (VC Star). A construction project on State Route 118 in Moorpark is expected to start on June 19, initially backing up foot traffic but not daytime vehicle commutes. The $29.4 million pavement rehabilitation project of Los Angeles Avenue, also known as Highway 118, will span 2.4 miles, from Spring Road to Montair Drive, according to a news release from the California Department of Transportation. The overall work is expected to last until fall 2027.
Orange County SR 55 Improvement Moves Forward (Construction Eqpt. Guide). The Costa Mesa Freeway (State Route 55) is undergoing a significant upgrade to improve traffic flow and reduce travel time in the 4 mi. stretch between Interstate 405 and Interstate 5. The roadway has four regular lanes and one carpool lane in each direction as well as merge lanes between some interchanges. The upgrade being led by contractor Security Paving Co. Inc. of Westlake Village, Calif., integrates an additional regular lane and an additional carpool lane in each direction. The project also will add merge lanes on northbound SR 55 between the interchanges at MacArthur Boulevard, Dyer Road and Edinger Avenue to facilitate merging and improve roadway safety. The improvements are intended to help increase access to job centers, health care facilities, educational institutions and John Wayne Airport, as well as other important destinations in and around the region. The cities along this high-traffic corridor include Irvine, Santa Ana and Tustin, and the project timeline began in August of 2022 and runs through 2027.
＄ Construction postponed on Interstate 5 exit near border (San Diego Union Tribune). Construction work on the final Interstate 5 exit before drivers reach the U.S.-Mexico border has been postponed until sometime next week, Caltrans officials said Tuesday. The Camino De La Plaza off-ramp at south I-5 in San Ysidro was supposed to be closed at 9 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday for pipe installation, officials said. But that work will now be scheduled at a later time yet to be announced. When the closure does go into effect, motorists who do not exit in time will be directed across the border into Mexico, officials warned. Signs will be posted ahead of the closures to alert drivers, officials said.
Can new highway lanes end Los Gatos’ beach traffic nightmare? (San José Spotlight). A long-awaited project to alleviate Los Gatos beach traffic has received funding — but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the money needed to address bumper-to-bumper gridlock on summer weekends. The VTA board of directors has allocated $11.3 million for the State Route 17 Corridor Congestion Relief Project as part of its budgets for fiscal year 2025-26 and 2026-27. The project aims to solve one of Los Gatos’ biggest challenges plaguing the town for decades — beach traffic jamming streets to escape the Highway 17 bottleneck between Lark Avenue and the Highway 9 interchange at Saratoga–Los Gatos Road. The plan would add a third lane in both directions between Lark Avenue and the interchange, extend merging lanes, reconstruct on and off ramps and construct safer sidewalks and bike lanes along Saratoga-Los Gatos Road.
Caltrans explains delays, increased costs for Highway 50 construction project as frustrations grow (MSN/KCRA). Sacramento’s Fix50 construction project, aimed at replacing pavement and improving carpool lanes on Highway 50, is now expected to take a year longer and cost $28 million more than initially planned, causing frustration among local residents. Carli Stevens, a Sacramento resident, described the situation as “a nightmare” and “a very long, slow, frustrating process.” “You have to understand this is about a 14-mile project,” Dennis Keaton, a Caltrans official, said. “When you’re going into this size of a project, what you’re talking about is concrete that has to be removed.” The project was initially set to be completed by next July, but the timeline has been pushed to the summer of 2026.
New interchange linking 91 and 71 freeways in Corona opens amid hopes to ease traffic (ABC7 Los Angeles). A new connector bridge that allows drivers on the eastbound 91 Freeway to more easily access the northbound 71 Freeway opened to drivers in Corona on Saturday morning. “The 91 corridor, as everyone in Southern California knows, is one of our most congested corridors,” said Aaron Hake, executive director of the Riverside County Transportation Commission. “Over 300,000 cars a day use this corridor.” Hake said the freeway as originally constructed forces drivers transitioning from the eastbound 91 Freeway to the northbound 71 to make a hairpin turn, which increases congestion on the freeway.
Ħ Sacramento Planning Map (FB/Don Benning). 1950s Planning Map for the Freeway System in Sacramento, www.cahighways.org I see partials for I – 5 both north and south of downtown. The I- 80 route would get an overhaul. The Elk Horn / N. Highlands Expressway will see some major changes at the Spruce and what would become the Greenback Lane extension. The concept for the Arcade Freeway is interesting.
＄ Caltrans to spend $500M on road that could soon be underwater (Sacramento Bee). Caltrans has proposed a $500 million project to widen a wine country highway that the agency said could be underwater in 25 years. Members of the California Transportation Commission will decide at a public meeting beginning Thursday whether to award Caltrans and local agencies a $73 million grant that would cover some of the cost to widen Highway 37 — a roadway linking Vallejo to Sears Point across the Napa Sonoma Marsh, much of which is only one lane in each direction. In the long term, Caltrans has a plan to replace the current road with an elevated causeway that would move vehicles above the wetlands below. That project would cost more than $10 billion and is not funded.
Is a California highway project ‘dumping half a billion dollars into the ocean’? (MSN/Sacramento Bee). Caltrans has proposed a $500 million project to widen a wine country highway that the agency said could be underwater in 25 years. Members of the California Transportation Commission will decide at a public meeting beginning Thursday whether to award Caltrans and local agencies a $73 million grant that would cover some of the cost to widen Highway 37 – a roadway linking Vallejo to Sears Point across the Napa Sonoma Marsh, much of which is only one lane in each direction. In the long term, Caltrans has a plan to replace the current road with an elevated causeway that would move vehicles above the wetlands below. That project would cost more than $10 billion and is not funded.
Caltrans works to replace iconic Castroville sign over Merritt Street (MSN/Monterey Herald). The iconic “Castroville – The Artichoke Center of the World” sign over Merritt Street in Castroville is the focus of a Caltrans Clean California Beautification project, which has started working to replace it with a newly designed structure. The California Beautification program started in 2021 and is a $1.2 billion multiyear initiative aimed at removing trash, improving community aesthetics, engaging underserved communities, and creating thousands of job opportunities across California.
Highway 37 project in line for $73M grant (Marin I-J). A major project to relieve bottlenecks and protect against flooding on Highway 37 could get a big funding boost. The California Transportation Commission staff is recommending the project receive $73 million in Senate Bill 1 gas tax funds. The funding is part of a $810.5 million “Trade Corridor Enhancement Program” grant package being allocated across the state. The three-phase Highway 37 project — which will widen a 10-mile stretch from Sears Point to Mare Island, among other improvements — is one of 24 projects recommended for funding. The Senate Bill 1 funding will specifically support the estimated $251 million phase 2 of the project, which focuses on the eastbound improvements.
Highway interchange construction is under way (Gilroy Dispatch). Crews are pictured June 13 moving dirt on the west side of the interchange of Highway 101 and State Route 25 in south Gilroy. Construction began earlier this month on the long planned new interchange project, which is designed to ease congestion, improve safety and better connect South County residents to jobs, schools and services. The lead agency on the project is the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Construction of the $136 million project is expected to last through 2027.
Caltrans Admitted the Highway 37 Widening Would be Underwater. Why Bother Deleting the Internet Presentation That Admits It? (Streetsblog California). In a move reminiscent of the federal purge of useful information from the internet earlier this year, Caltrans has deleted a presentation from its website – an explainer on proposed Highway 37 road widening in Napa County. The timing of the deletion, the week before the California Transportation Commission is set to vote on whether or not to award the project $73 million, and days before the Sacramento Bee covered the project, is suspicious to say the least. But don’t worry, plenty of people saved the project before it was deleted. You can download it here. If you’re interested, the original link for the presentation was here.
Caltrans Enhances Pedestrian Safety on State Route 120 In Oakdale (Caltrans). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is continuing its efforts to improve pedestrian safety and streamline traffic flow on State Route 120 (SR-120) in Oakdale. In early June, Caltrans upgraded the crosswalk at C Street to a ladder design with reflective markings to enhance visibility. Yield lines and “Yield Here to Pedestrians” signs were added on both the eastbound and westbound approaches. To encourage use of this improved crossing, Caltrans will remove the rarely used crosswalk at B Street on Thursday, July 24, 2025. This adjustment will help maintain steady traffic flow while guiding pedestrians to the safer, upgraded crossing one block away.
＄ Agoura Hills wildlife crossing project preps for partial road closures (Los Angeles Times). When you’re trying to build a mountain over one of the country’s busiest freeways, it’s easy to be envious of original creation stories, when natural spaces were formed with just a wave of the hand. In those stories, there were no overhead wires to bury or water lines to move. There weren’t vehicles to divert, underground creeks that required stabilization, majestic oaks that had to be saved or soils that required inoculation with local microbes. But such are the looming challenges for the designers and builders of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, the world’s largest and most ambitious crossing designed to give wildlife a safe and nature-mimicking passage over the 10-lane 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills.
Ħ Why is there no freeway from Roseville to Folsom? (ABC 10 Sacramento). Today’s Why Guy question comes from Bob Niles via Facebook, who asks, “Why is there no freeway from Roseville area to Folsom/El Dorado Hills area?” Bob, the Why Guy likes the question. If you live in Roseville and you want to get over to Highway 50 to head to South Lake Tahoe, your option is Hazel Avenue to Greenback Lane to Folsom Boulevard…or some variation of that route. That’s 15 miles, but could seem longer with traffic. There was a proposal for a connector highway once, according to Mark Rackovan, Public Works Director for Folsom. The plan was to extend Hwy. 65 eastward to Auburn-Folsom Road and then south through Folsom. He thinks it was supposed to connect to Hwy. 50 at or near Prairie City Road.
ↈ State Route 52 roller coaster is getting smoothed out (NBC 7 San Diego). The decades-old problem of dips and bumps makes for a dangerous and uncomfortable ride between Interstate 805 and state Route 163. But NBC 7’s Todd Strain shows us that the days of the dips may be coming to an end.
Major Funding Secured for the Mile-Long Highway 101 Tunnel That Will One Day Bypass Last Chance Grade (Lost Coast Outpost). From the Office of Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire: In a major milestone for the community of Del Norte, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Chris Rogers announced a $40 million investment approved by the California Transportation Commission today to jumpstart the design phase of the long-awaited Last Chance Grade Project. For decades, a 3-mile segment of Highway 101, just south of Crescent City, has been in a losing battle with the elements—with some of the most geologically unstable soil on earth crumbling, sliding, and washing away during heavy winter storms. As the lifeline that connects Del Norte County to rest of the state, this decades-long repair project is a critical economic investment for the North Coast.
The Golden Gate Bridge is dangerously woke, CEO warns (SF Standard). The head of the public agency that operates the Golden Gate Bridge wants to rescind policies that discourage racism, sexual harassment, and implicit bias due to fears that the Trump administration will slash federal funding. Denis Mulligan, CEO of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, issued a memo Friday that noted a provision in federal law could make grant recipients liable for returning funds and paying penalties if they’re found to be “promoting” diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Rather than risk future funding, Mulligan is attempting to preemptively distance the agency from resolutions and a strategic plan that, in some cases, simply states that racism and discrimination are bad. Mulligan said he did not consult attorneys but initiated this direction on his own.
＄＄ East Bay official wants new Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (Mercury News). Rather than fight over who gets to use the bridge, Richmond Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda said his goal is to get a new one built that adequately meets the needs of all who travel the expanse.
New Richmond-San Rafael Bridge wanted by East Bay politicians would come with a hefty price tag, officials say (ABC7 San Francisco). For almost 70 years, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge has served a vital role connecting the East and North Bays. But now, with persistent traffic issues and infrastructure that’s in need of repairs, some are calling for the bridge to be reconstructed. “These are the first conversations that we’re having and now more people are going to know about it. Our congressman is aware of it, our state senators are aware of it, our state assemblymember is aware of it,” said Richmond Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda. Zepeda is the person leading the latest call for a new bridge.
‘Vision 980’: Caltrans studies Oakland’s Interstate 980 and possibilities for its future (ABC7 San Francisco). Interstate 980 goes through Oakland, but there’s a possibility that that will change in the years to come. The “Vision 980” study is now being done by Caltrans to explore ways the interstate could be transformed. Right now there are three “Corridor Scenarios.” “One of them is enhancing what is already there without actually removing or adding to the infrastructure. Scenario two is covering the roadway. That’s like covering the area downtown, where the area is depressed, and parks can go on top of that for example. And then scenario three is remove the entire freeway,” said Becky Frank, who is the senior transportation planner with Caltrans, working on the study.
Golden Gate Bridge District Drops DEI Language, Fearing Loss of Federal Funds (KQED). The board that oversees the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District voted Friday to approve a compromise resolution that declares the agency’s support for human rights while rescinding previously approved policies that supported diversity, equity and inclusion. The move was designed to adhere to new Trump administration funding rules that would deny federal grants to agencies that have adopted DEI policies. The funding rules are based on the administration’s position that diversity, equity and inclusion policies are discriminatory and illegal under federal law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
＄ Highway 37 project awarded $73 million state grant (Press Democrat). The California Transportation Commission has unanimously approved $73 million in funding for a Caltrans project that aims to decongest Highway 37. The commission voted on the allocation on Thursday afternoon in Sacramento. The funding is based on gas tax revenue collected as part of Senate Bill 1. Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters urged commissioners to approve the grant, saying commuters lose up to 90 minutes a day in slow traffic on the route between Marin and Solano counties.
Big Win for Del Norte: $40 Million State Investment Propels Last Chance Grade Project Forward (Senator Mike McGuire). In a major milestone for the community of Del Norte, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Chris Rogers announced a $40 million investment approved by the California Transportation Commission today to jumpstart the design phase of the long-awaited Last Chance Grade Project. For decades, a 3-mile segment of Highway 101, just south of Crescent City, has been in a losing battle with the elements—with some of the most geologically unstable soil on earth crumbling, sliding, and washing away during heavy winter storms. As the lifeline that connects Del Norte County to rest of the state, this decades-long repair project is a critical economic investment for the North Coast.
I-80 express lane running between Fairfield and Vacaville is now open (Times Herald). The new eastbound Interstate 80 express lane running between Fairfield and Vacaville is now open to High-Occupancy Vehicle traffic as of Saturday morning, according to a Caltrans news release. Roadway construction on the new express lane is ongoing and electronics and hardware for collecting tolls are still being installed. In the meantime, this lane is available to vehicles with two or more people on board weekdays from 5 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. The new lane runs on eastbound I-80 from the Airbase Parkway in Fairfield to Interstate 505 interchange in Vacaville.
Redwood City receives grant for Woodside/Highway 101 project (Daily Journal). Redwood City received a $14.2 million state grant to fund a major upgrade proposal to the Woodside Road/Highway 101 interchange to address the congestion-prone, high-traffic area, a major step in moving the project forward. The grant was awarded by the California Transportation Commission’s Trade Corridor Enhancement Program, which supports infrastructure improvements to increase efficiency and safety. The proposed State Route 84/Highway 101 Interchange Reimagined Project will address significant freight movement challenges, and the entire project will cost around $348 million. With the state grant award, the project has now secured all the funds needed to move forward.

Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer)

Trona-Wildrose Road and Trona Road. Trona-Wildrose Road and Trona Road is a combined highway corridor which traverses some of the most remote regions of the Mojave Desert. Both roads are heavily tied to the founding of the community of Trona in 1913 but functionally existed all the way back to the plight of the Death Valley 49ers. The combined highway corridor is approximately 66.7 miles long from Panamint Valley Road in Inyo County and US Route 395 near Johannesburg of Kern County. Trona Road from Poison Canyon westward approximately 7.8 miles is carried as part of California State Route 178.
Blackie Road (Monterey County). Blackie Road is an approximately five-mile highway located in Monterey County. The corridor originates at US Route 101 in Prunedale and terminates to the west at California State Route 183 in Castroville. Blackie Road was the original road which connected the communities of Castroville and Prunedale. The corridor was bypassed in 1933 when Legislative Route 22 was extended from Prunedale west Castroville via San Miguel Canyon Road and Castroville Boulevard.
The 1915-era Teilman Bridge (the only known Concrete Pony Truss Bridge in California). The Teilman Bridge is a semi-abandoned structure over Fresno Slough west of Burrell siding near the intersection of Elkhorn Avenue and Elkhorn Grade. This structure is the only known Concrete Pony Truss Bridge constructed in California and was designed by Ingvart Teilman. Teilman’s Bridge would open in late 1915 when the Elkhorn Grade was the primary road between Fresno and Coalinga. The structure would be replaced in 1991 but was left standing as it carries pipelines over Fresno Slough.
Tim Bell Road, the 1925 era Dry Creek Bridge and the site of Paulsell siding (Stanislaus County). Tim Bell Road is a ten-mile rural highway corridor located near Waterford of Stanislaus County. The highway begins at Warnerville Road near Paulsell siding of the Sierra Railroad and terminates in the city of Waterford at California State Route 132. This highway corridor is mostly known for the unique 1925-era arch spandrel Dry Creek Bridge. The Dry Creek span is distinct from other like 1920s era structures in California given it was a hybrid design which incorporated timber vertical spandrels. As of the release of this blog Stanislaus County has an active bid to replace Dry Creek Bridge with a modernized structure.
Prunedale Road (Monterey County). Prunedale Road is a short 2.6-mile-long frontage corridor of US Route 101 in the namesake Monterey County community of Prunedale. Prior to 1932 US Route 101 bypassed Prunedale in favor of the San Juan Grade to the east. Prunedale Road along with nearby Moro Road served as an alternative connecting highway between Salinas and San Juan Bautista. Following the realignment of US Route 101 onto the Prunedale Cutoff the former through route along Prunedale Road would be rendered as a western frontage.
Aquajito Road (Monterey County). Aguajito Road 4.5-mile roadway corridor extending from Del Monte Avenue in the city of Monterey to California State Route 1 and 68 near the Pebble Beach Golf Course. The corridor was largely developed when it was part of the property belonging to the Del Monte Golf Course. Camino Aquajito originally served as the eastern frontage of El Estero Park before being extended through the San Lucia Mountains above Monterey in the 1940s. Functionally Aquajito Road replaced Sylvan Road as the primary connecting corridor through the Santa Lucia Mountains near Monterey.
Moss Landing Road (Early California State Route 1). Moss Landing Road is located in Monterey County in the namesake community of Moss Landing. The corridor was part of the original Coast Road between Monterey-Watsonville and was added to the State Highway system in 1933. Moss Landing Road would briefly carry California State Route 1 beginning in August 1934. The alignment was short lived as the modern bypass was completed the in October 1934.
Big Creek Road (Sierra National Forest Route 9). Big Creek Road is an approximately 19-mile rural highway which is designated as Sierra National Forest Route 9. Big Creek Road begins at Trimmer Springs Road at the Pine Flat Reservoir. The mostly unsurfaced corridor follows Forest Roads 10S69 and 10S02 northward through Blue Canyon alongside Big Creek to the site of Bretz Mill. From Bretz Mill the highway continues westward on a paved portion of Forest Road 10S02 to a terminus located the Fresno County maintained Peterson Road and Cressman Road.
Ocean Avenue (Carmel-by-the-Sea). Ocean Avenue is a one-mile street located in and around the city of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The corridor was developed as part of a 1902 subdivision which formed the basis for the modern Carmel town plot. The routing of Ocean Avenue begins at California State Route 1 and extends west through downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea to Carmel Sunset Beach.
Panamint Valley Road. Panamint Valley Road is 13.9 mile long rural Inyo County highway spanning from California State Route 190 south to the intersection of Trona-Wildrose Road and Wildrose Road. The corridor was originally part of a trail which connected the community of Darwin east to Wildrose Station. Modern Panamint Valley Road was constructed during the late 1920s to facilitate travel between the Eichbalm Toll Road and Trona-Wildrose Road.
Tulare County Route J42. Tulare County Route J42 is a rural highway corridor mostly carried on Indian Reservation Drive in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Porterville. This highway provides a 14.62-mile connection from California State Route 190 near Porterville to the Tule River Indian Reservation. J42 was commissioned in 1972 and is one of the last two lettered County Routes in Tulare County still signed (the other being J37 on Balch Park Road).

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