Headlines About California Highways – September 2025

[cahwyguy]

We’ll start with the most important thing: The Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) starts tonight. I’ve already posted my traditional New Years post. But as a reminder: (1) Happy New Year — May the New Year be a sweet and happy one for you and those you love; and (2):

If I have offended any of you, in any way, shape, manner, or form, real or imagined, then I apologize and beg forgiveness. If I have done anything to hurt, demean, or otherwise injure you, I apologize and beg forgiveness. If I have done or said over the past year that has upset, or otherwise bothered you, I sincerely apologize, and will do my best to ensure it won’t happen again.

If you have done something in the above categories, don’t worry. I know it wasn’t intentional, and I would accept any apology you would make.

I know that for some of you, we disagree on politics. My hope is that in the coming year, we can turn down the partisan tone and learn to compromise and do what best for the country; that we can in (in the 250^th year of this nation) put loyalty to the Constitutional Rule of Law over loyalty to a particular leader or party so that our unique political experiment can survive another 250. I hope, in political discussions, we can keep the focus on debating ideas and issues, and not devolve into attacks on people. And now, on to the highways:

I’m continuing to work on podcast episodes. I’ve written the episodes on Routes 8 through 10, and made numerous changes to a lot of pages as a result of those changes. I’ve done the deep dive related to Routes 11 and 110, and will write that episode next. After that, deep dives on all things related to Routes 12-14. Tom is reviewing the episodes, and we hope to start recording Season 4 in the next few weeks. I did do an interim update of the maps page to add all the resources uncovered related to the recent bonus episode. I plan to refocus on doing page updates before writing the back half of Season 4, so that will start after this post.

Speaking of the podcast: We’re experimenting with a new approach to recording, as FCC was sounding increasingly muddled. We started using new recording software  (Zencaster) for the bonus episode posted in August. It seems to be better, although I still need to adjust microphone distance. We were going to use it for the recent bonus episode, but our guest could not get her microphone working with Zencastr, so we fell back to FCC. We’ll try Zencastr again for Season 4.

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 3.15: LA Metro Archives (Bonus). A New Year’s Gift for you: Our last Bonus Episode of Season 3. Episode 3.15 features an interview with Claire Kennedy, Archivist for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Agency (LA Metro). In this role, Claire manages the LA Metro Archives, which date back to the 1800s and the earliest horse-drawn transportation in the city. These archives cover not only the wide variety of transit agencies in Los Angeles, but also the highway and road system as Metro is the Regional Transportation Agency. These archives are a public resource, and are open by appointment; information on how to make an appointment is in the podcast (and below). Note that we had some trouble with Zencastr this episode; we fell back to FreeConferenceCall.com. We’ll pick up in the October with Season 4, which will cover Route 8 through Route 14. (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 September.

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

• ＄ California highway, falling into sea, needs a $2-billion tunnel fix (Los Angeles Times). In March 1972, Kurt Stremberg’s parents gave him a predawn ride from their house in northwest California to his friend’s home in the tiny town of Klamath, about 20 miles south of Crescent City on Highway 101. Stremberg, then 24, and his buddy were going to hitch a ride on a log truck bound for San Francisco, catch a flight to Europe, and see the world. His parents, Edwin and Aili Stremberg, said a quick goodbye, then started driving home. It was still dark. And raining hard. In the few minutes it had taken to drop their son off, a landslide-plagued portion of the highway — ominously named Last Chance Grade — had crumbled. The Strembergs’ Ford sedan went over the cliff, killing them both.
• Highway 101 and Rocks Road intersection to close permanently (KSBW). California Highway Patrol announced that a longtime safety intersection on Highway 101 in San Benito County will close permanently. The intersection at Highway 101 and Rocks Road will close permanently on September 12, 2025. The center median crossover will be removed to ensure the area is no longer accessible. “This location has long been a safety concern due to its design and collision history,” said CHP. CHP said that within 24 hours, two separate crashes were reported in the area. “We understand this change may be an adjustment for some motorists, but safety remains our top priority. Please plan ahead and use alternate routes when traveling in this area,” added CHP.
• Long-closed Calif. mountain route surprise reopens after years (SF Gate). A long-shuttered stretch of highway that cuts straight through Angeles National Forest above Los Angeles has finally reopened. A roughly 10-mile stretch of Angeles Crest Highway, which runs roughly east-west through the national forest for over 60 miles from the wealthy suburb of La Cañada Flintridge to the small mountain town of Wrightwood, reopened with little notice on Friday after being closed for several years. Before the surprise return on Friday, the portion of the two-lane highway had been closed since the winter of 2022-2023, when “relentless storms” collapsed roadways, caused rockslides and damaged retaining walls, according to Caltrans.
• Caltrans Reopens More Than 10 Miles of Angeles Crest Highway (Caltrans). Angeles Crest Highway (State Route 2/SR-2) is now open to the public in both directions between Interstate 210 and State Route 138. Caltrans has reopened more than 10 miles of Angeles Crest Highway in the Angeles National Forest after the completion of emergency repairs, reestablishing access for visitors. Relentless storms from the 2022/2023 winter season caused extensive damage, prompting the closure of Angeles Crest Highway between Islip Saddle (post mile 64.1) and Vincent Gulch (post mile 74.7). Runoff and slides from severe storms created large washouts and undermined the roadway at postmiles 65.29 and 66.34 and created a series of small erosion gullies at postmile 65.80, leaving the guardrail system without support from the side slopes.
• Caltrans To Begin Pavement Rehabilitation Project on State Route 165 (Caltrans). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is preparing to begin a maintenance project that will improve the roadway surface of State Route 165 (SR-165) between Almond Drive and Santa Fe Grade Road near the City of Los Banos. Work will include the repair of roadway surface locations using hot-mix asphalt, along with the removal and installation of new shoulder backing, signage, and rumble strips. Overnight, alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound SR-165, will be required for the safety of motorists, roadway workers and equipment. Beginning Wednesday, September 3, 2025, crews will work night shifts from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., for approximately 85 working days – Sundays through Thursdays – with completion expected in late November 2025. Roadside message signs will be placed on SR-152 and SR-165 to alert motorists of scheduled highway lane closures.
• I-5 closure in San Diego to affect southbound drivers this weekend (NBC 7 San Diego). A stretch of southbound Interstate 5 will be closed alongside the eastern reaches of La Jolla and Pacific Beach over the upcoming weekend to allow for road and drainage improvements to the regional route, Caltrans advised Wednesday. The closure, extending from state Route 52 to Mission Bay Drive in San Diego, will be in effect from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, according to the state agency.

• O.C. Jones Completes Part of Caltrans’ Konocti Corridor (Construction Eqpt. Guide). O.C. Jones & Sons delivered this summer Segment 2C of the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) Konocti Corridor Project — the $85 million first phase that widens a 3-mi. segment of State Route 29 from one lane in each direction to a four-lane highway. Planning is now ongoing for the second and third phases of the project along an 8-mi. section of SR 29 between Lower Lake and Kelseyville in Lake County to improve safety for motorists. The combined cost of the remaining two segments is approximately $200 million. This project is a cooperative effort among Caltrans, the Lake County Area Planning Council (LAPC) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which provided the initial construction funding. The partners are working to secure funding to complete the project.
• After two years in limbo, the $1.3 billion Otay Mesa East Port of Entry back on track (WGNO). The Otay Mesa East Port of Entry should have been open by now charging commuters a toll in both directions but the project has been mired by financing delays, design flaws and future staffing concerns. However, it appears all those issues have been resolved and the people behind the project — the California Association of Governments (SANDAG) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) — are full steam ahead looking to break ground by the end of the fall this year.
• Hwy. 183 improvement project through Castroville’s main street continues (Monterey Herald). An important local and regional connector between the Salinas and Monterey Bay areas is undergoing a transformation to make it a safer and more accessible thoroughfare through the unincorporated Monterey County town of Castroville. Major rehabilitation of Highway 183 continues with construction on Merritt Street in Castroville to enhance multimodal travel, according to Caltrans. The next phase of work will result in daytime sidewalk and curb work this week with no night work scheduled. The State Route 183 – Merritt Street – Castroville improvement project aims to enhance safety, ride quality and accessibility along Merritt Street – Highway 183 – through Castroville from mile 8.3 to 9.98. Improvements include pavement rehabilitation, bridge repairs, upgraded transit stops, ADA-compliant sidewalks, bicycle lanes and intelligent traffic systems.
• Dangerous U.S. 101 median in San Benito to close (KSBW Monterey Salinas via MSN). In San Benito County, Caltrans plans to permanently close the center median crossover at the U.S. 101 Intersection at Rocks Road and Cannon Road. Several turns and maneuvers will be eliminated, including through traffic across the median, left turns from U.S. 101 to Rocks or Cannon Roads, and U-turns on U.S. 101 at the intersection. The closure of this median is a response to the intersection’s history of dangerous collisions, with the goal of improving safety for drivers. Heidi Crawford, a Caltrans representative, said, “There’s been extensive collision history in this location, along with a recent fatality.”
• Highway 101 project will modify traffic pattern at Rocks/Cannon roads (Morgan Hill Times). Caltrans will soon begin work to modify the intersection of U.S. 101 at Rocks Road and Cannon Road in San Benito County. The project will include the closure of the median opening on Highway 101, and the elimination of all through passage and left turn maneuvers from Rocks and Cannon roads onto the southbound freeway, says an announcement from Caltrans. The intersection is located south of San Juan Bautista, just east of Monterey RV Park. Rocks Road is on the southeast side of U.S. 101, and Cannon Road is directly across on the southwest side of the highway.
• Skanska Completes $137M State Route 71/91 Interchange (Construction Eqpt. Guide). Global construction and development firm Skanska announced the substantial completion of the State Route 71/91 Interchange Improvement Project in Southern California. Skanska was awarded the $137 million project by the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) to reconstruct the SR 71/91 interchange, one of the most congested corridors in Southern California. “The completion of this project delivers a new direct connector from eastbound SR-91 to SR-71, significantly improving traffic flow at one of the region’s busiest highway interchanges,” said James Bailey, executive vice president of Skanska USA Civil’s West Coast operations. “The success of the project was driven by our commitment to safety while working in challenging conditions adjacent to active freeways. Thanks to the skilled project team and close coordination with RCTC and Caltrans, we were able to overcome numerous challenges and deliver effective solutions.” The construction of the project included: …
• ☊ The Grand Boulevard Initiative: Turning El Camino Real into a street for everyone (SamTrans/Wheeltalk Podcast). The Grand Boulevard Initiative: Turning El Camino Real into a street for everyone This heavily traveled corridor stretching the length of San Mateo County was once a trade route linking Ohlone villages along the Peninsula. When the Spanish arrived, it became known as El Camino Real — the King’s Highway — carrying travelers between California’s missions. Centuries later, this highway remains a backbone for commerce and travel. But today, it faces modern challenges: congestion, safety concerns, and the need to better serve all who rely on it. The Grand Boulevard Initiative (GBI) aims to reimagine this historic roadway as a modern “complete street” designed for everyone—walkers, bikers, transit riders, drivers, and local businesses.
• Highway 101 project will modify traffic pattern at Rocks/Cannon roads (Gilroy Dispatch). Caltrans will soon begin work to modify the intersection of U.S. 101 at Rocks Road and Cannon Road in San Benito County. The project will include the closure of the median opening on Highway 101, and the elimination of all through passage and left turn maneuvers from Rocks and Cannon roads onto the southbound freeway, says an announcement from Caltrans. The intersection is located south of San Juan Bautista, just east of Monterey RV Park. Rocks Road is on the southeast side of U.S. 101, and Cannon Road is directly across on the southwest side of the highway. With the closure of the median, left turn options from U.S. 101 to Rocks Road and Cannon Road, as well as u-turns, will be eliminated, Caltrans added.
• Legislature passes bill paving way for Highway 37 improvements (The Bay Link Blog). Today’s passage by the California State Senate of Assembly Bill 697 — sponsored by the Solano Transportation Authority, authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson of Solano County and passed by the Assembly in a 70-0 vote earlier this summer — marks a major advance for long-running efforts by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC); Caltrans; the California State Transportation Agency; transportation agencies in Solano, Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties; and state resources agencies to start work on a suite of projects to enhance North Bay marshlands and wildlife habitats, reduce flooding, improve traffic flow along the 10-mile stretch of State Route 37 between Sears Point in Sonoma County and Mare Island in Vallejo, and introduce transit service between Vallejo and Novato.
• US 80 (Arizona) (FB/ADOT). US Route 66 is known as the Mother Road – the very symbol of the rise of the automobile era and cross-country travel. But, did you know that farther south there existed an equally important route that was once Arizona’s mother of highways? That highway was US Route 80, and it ran across the bottom half of the state through the communities of Douglas, Bisbee, Tombstone, Benson, Tucson, Florence, Mesa, Phoenix,  Buckeye, Gila Bend, Sentinel and Yuma. That same alignment still exists—it just now consists of Interstate 10, State Route 77, State Route 79, US 60, State Route 85 and Interstate 8.
• Yuba Pass Separation – Route 20 (FB/Caltrans District 3). A birds eye view, and a closer look, at the Yuba Pass Separation Overhead Bridge Project along I-80 at the junction with State Route 20. The new eastbound bridge is taking shape as crews make progress each week.
• Big Sur Regent’s Slide Updates (FB/Caltrans District 5). Highway Highlights – September 10, 2025: – A suite of monitoring technologies has confirmed that the slope is stable, and the shear dowels are effectively securing the mountain. – Crews are utilizing controlled explosives to break down larger rocks in strategic areas. – Excavation has reached an elevation of 545 ft elevation, working toward 150 ft to reach the rock outcropping and reconnect Hwy 1.
• Caltrans to begin $4.5 million Curves Warning Signs Project on eight different highways (Action News Now). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans District 2) is teaming up with Highway Specialty Company, Inc. for a major project to enhance road safety. The $4.5 million Curve Warning Signs Project will see new signs installed and existing ones updated on multiple highways across Northern California, which includes: Highway 32 Highway 36 Highway 44 Highway 70 Highway 89 Highway 139 Highway 147 Highway 299
• Felton sidewalk project to start this fall, more ahead (Santa Cruz Local). This fall, construction is expected to start on a sidewalk on Highway 9 between Graham Hill Road and San Lorenzo Valley High School. It’s part of a four-year process of safety upgrades for walking and biking on the highway in Felton. Caltrans and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission have planned two projects on Highway 9. A new sidewalk to San Lorenzo Valley schools is expected to finish by 2027. The project includes:
• State Route 9 Felton Safety Improvements (Caltrans). This project proposes to construct a sidewalk from the San Lorenzo Valley High School toward the intersection of Route 9 and Graham Hill Road on the southbound side of Route 9. As part of this improvement, shoulder widening will be constructed so that a minimum 4-foot wide shoulder is provided on the southbound side of the highway at all locations where the sidewalk is constructed at the highway grade. In locations where the new sidewalk alignment is above the highway and behind existing retaining walls, no shoulder widening is proposed. Signage and/or rapid flashing pedestrian beacon improvements will be evaluated for the project between postmiles 6.3 and 6.45 (South of Graham Hill Road). Detailed proposals for this location will be developed during the Project Approval and Environmental Document phase. If the sidewalk cannot be constructed all the way to Graham Hill Road, the sidewalk and shoulder improvements will be carried to a logical stopping point. A signalized flashing beacon pedestrian crossing will be added at or near the terminus of the sidewalk improvements if they are stopped prior to Graham Hill Road / Felton Empire Road. These design details will be further evaluated during the (PAED) Project Approval and Environmental Document phase of the project.
• 1940s Map of Orange County (FB/Larry Elliott). 1949 map of OC before freeways
• Gorgeous coastal bridge on Calif.’s Highway 1 gets a death sentence (SF Gate). California’s Mendocino Coast is a precipitous reminder that there’s no farther west to go. Here, the land plunges into the Pacific, met by dramatic bluffs as Highway 1 clings to the edge. Albion — 17 miles south of Fort Bragg, the county’s coastal hub — is easy to miss: a headland jutting west into the sea, an inland road leading to a town center of just over 150 residents. The clearest marker for the community is the Albion River Bridge. One hundred fifty feet above the water, it carries Highway 1 across the river mouth, with Albion’s homes visible on the bluffs to the east, campgrounds tucked below, and the river itself stretching west to the sea.
• Bill seeking to speed up Highway 37 widening project heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk (CBS San Francisco). A bill seeking to speed up a project to widen Highway 37 in the North Bay by waiving certain environmental rules is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, after being approved by the legislature. Assembly Bill 697 by Asm. Lori Wilson (D-Solano County) passed the State Senate on Thursday. The bill passed in the Assembly earlier this year with a 70-0 vote. “AB 697 helps deliver on the promise to residents in the North Bay that we will provide solutions to the crippling congestion on Highway 37,” Wilson said in a statement. “At the same time, this legislation reflects the balance we must strike — improving mobility and quality of life for commuters while protecting sensitive ecosystems.”
• ＄ Reviews mixed for latest Tiburon Boulevard plan by Caltrans (Marin I-J). Officials in southern Marin are praising Caltrans’ latest repaving plans for Tiburon Boulevard, while urging the agency to prioritize the project’s second phase to improve bus stops, bike lanes and reduce congestion. The agency’s 100% design plans for phase one do not include adding bike lanes on the mile-long stretch between Blackfield Drive and Trestle Glen Boulevard. Cycling advocates are urging Caltrans to reconsider. The comments are in recent letters sent to the agency. Kimberly McGrath, superintendent of the Reed Union School District, wrote that it “agrees with Caltrans that eliminating bike lanes for this short segment is the best way to ensure student safety in Phase I.”
• Murphys residents frustrated over new median on Highway 4 (KCRA). Murphys residents are expressing frustration after Caltrans installed a median on Highway 4 near the town’s main shopping center, which they say is causing safety concerns and impacting local businesses. “It kind of just randomly popped up out of nowhere,” said a Murphys resident. Mike Croshaw, owner of Sierra Hills Center and Market, said, “Nobody said a word, [it] happened overnight.” He noted the median is deterring customers, adding, “We’ve seen a huge impact on just customers every day. So we won’t know for another three or four days to see what the first week has done, but it’s huge.”
• Highway 1 To Reopen (LAist). Topline: Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the stretch of Highway 1 closed in Big Sur will reopen Friday at 6:30 a.m.. Caltrans crews have been working overtime to reopen the vital roadway, he said, noting that the project is more than a week ahead of schedule. About the closure: The road has been closed from Limekiln State Park to Palo Colorado in Monterey County and in recent years rains have forced the closure of that particular stretch multiple times because of erosion and rocks washing onto the road. On March 30, a rockslide totally closed the southbound and about 6 feet of pavement and retaining wall fell into the ocean.
• Caltrans is Creating a Smoother Roadway in Northern Inyo County (Sierra Wave). Drivers on U.S. 395 north of Bishop will experience a much smoother roadway after Caltrans and American Pavement Solutions complete the Mill Creek Chip Seal Project. The highway maintenance project will seal cracks or fissures in the pavement to rejuvenate and extend the lifespan of the highway between Pleasant Valley Dam Road and the Mono County line. American Pavement Solutions was awarded the $2.2 million contract for the project. The chip seal work will require a layer of emulsified liquid pavement applied to the roadway followed by a layer of gravel using a spreader. Those layers will then be compacted on the roadway with rollers, smoothing out the highway surface.
• $4.5M Caltrans project launches to warn of highway curves in Shasta, Siskiyou (Record Redding Searchlight via MSN). The California Department of Transportation plans a $4.5 million project to add and replace curve warnings signs along highways that pass through Shasta County, Siskiyou County and other parts of the North State. Construction begins Monday, Sept. 15 on Caltrans District 2’s Curve Warning Signs Project. Workers will place new curve warning signs and replace old signs, relocating them if necessary, Caltrans said in an announcement issued Wednesday. Motorists will encounter one-way traffic control at various locations with up to 5-minute delays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays on highways 32, 36, 44, 70, 89, 139, 147 and 299, according to the announcement.
• Remembering California’s Award-Winning I-680 HOV and Express Lane Conversion Project (Roads and Bridges). The 2025 Roads & Bridges Top 10 Awards submission deadline is fast approaching. While R&B already highlighted past winners in our July/August print issue, we’re not done celebrating our favorite road and bridge projects from the past 25 years. In 2021, Interstate 680’s HOV Lane Completion and Express Lane Conversion Project earned the No. 1 Road Award. The San Francisco Bay Area connector gained three miles of express lanes and eight miles of high-occupancy vehicle lanes. The I-680 project created a 25-mile continuous express lane from Martinez to San Ramon. It also eliminated a lane drop at North Main Street, which was a primary cause of congestion and bottlenecks for the 270,000 daily motorists on the corridor.
• ＄ Port of L.A. plans to raise Vincent Thomas bridge faces headwinds (Los Angeles Times). As officials ponder whether to spend at least a year and $1.5 billion more on an already ambitious upgrade of the Vincent Thomas Bridge, locals are asking if the mess they will have to endure during construction will be worth it. Soon after the California Department of Transportation shared plans to fix up the more than 60-year-old bridge that connects downtown Long Beach to San Pedro and Terminal Island, the Port of Los Angeles piled on with even bigger plans. Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of L.A., suggested Caltrans also raise the height of the symbol of the locality by 26 feet.
• Bay Bridge western span rehabilitation project underway (The Bay Link Blog). Caltrans is undertaking a two-year bridge joint rehabilitation and reconstruction project on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to improve the condition and safety of the bridge joints on the western span. The project, which began last month, is critical to the rehabilitation of finger joints and the reconstruction of selected bridge joints on both the upper and lower decks of the bridge. The bridge joints are vital to allowing the bridge to expand and contract with temperature changes while maintaining structural integrity. Work will be completed in two phases:
• Caltrans To Modify SR-4 Traffic Safety Project in Murphys (Caltrans). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is planning a modification to the recently installed, raised concrete median on State Route 4 (SR-4) at Big Trees Road/Tom Bell Road in Calaveras County. The median along SR-4 was implemented as a safety improvement to reduce conflict points for motorists entering and exiting adjacent businesses. This safety countermeasure was selected following a comprehensive review of collision data, identifying a significant crash history, including a fatal head-on collision during the study period. Caltrans maintains that the action taken was appropriate due to the high number of incidents taking place in the study area. “Safety remains a top priority for Caltrans,” said Grace Magsayo, Caltrans District 10 Director. “The department will continue to implement transportation projects designed to enhance safety.”
• Highway 166 closure at California Aqueduct begins Sept. 22, lasting 75 days (Bakersfield Now). Caltrans, in partnership with Granite Construction, has announced a full closure of Highway 166 at the California Aqueduct in Kern County. The closure is set to begin on Monday, September 22, and is expected to last for 75 consecutive days, with an estimated reopening date of Friday, December 12. The closure will affect both directions of Highway 166 between Old River Road and Interstate 5 and will be in place 24/7 throughout the construction period. The project involves rehabilitation and seismic retrofitting of the aqueduct bridge.
• Enviro Groups Urge Gov to Reject Legislation Advancing Road Widening in Sonoma County Swamp (Streetsblog California). Environmental groups have been waging war against the proposed expansion of State Route 37 in Sonoma County on several fronts, including at the California Transportation Commission and in the legislature. Now, with legislation that would allow the state to grant a critical environmental permit for the project sitting on the governor’s desk, they are asking Governor Gavin Newsom to veto it. Assembly Bill 697 would authorize the construction of additional travel lanes on State Route 37 between Vallejo and State Route 121 in Sonoma County by allowing the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue a “permit for the incidental take of fully protected species.” Normally, such a permit requires a study and a remediation plan, but legislation passed in 2023 created a streamlined process for certain situations. That 2023 law specifically excluded projects that “increase highway or street capacity for automobile or truck travel,” but AB 697 circumvents that exception for SR 37.
• Highway 97 wildlife crossing almost complete (KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2). A major wildlife conservation project in Siskiyou County is nearing completion. Caltrans District 2 recently shared a drone image of the nearly finished wildlife crossing over U.S. Highway 97, a heavily traveled route in Northern California. Once complete, the structure will provide a safe passage for deer, elk, and other native species, helping them cross the highway without risk of vehicle collisions. The overpass is designed to reduce the number of wildlife-related accidents along this busy corridor, which has historically seen frequent incidents involving large animals. Caltrans says the project not only protects local wildlife populations but also improves driver safety by lowering the risk of high-speed collisions, particularly in rural stretches where visibility may be limited.
• Caltrans to begin $4.5 million curve warning signs project (KRCR Chico-Redding via MSN). Caltrans District 2 and Highway Specialty Company are set to begin work on the $4.5 million Curve Warning Signs Project. The purpose of the project is to place new curve warning signs, relocate existing complaint curve warnings signs and replace existing non-compliant curve warning signs at various locations on State Routes 32, 36, 44, 70, 89, 139, 147 and 299. These are located in Shasta, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity counties. According to Caltrans, work is planned to begin on Monday. As a result, motorists will experience one-way traffic control at different locations with up to 5-minute delays, Mondays through Fridays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Caltrans is asking drivers to slow down and drive carefully in and around construction areas, follow speed limit reductions in place and allot extra time for delays. They added that the project is currently expected to be finished by early summer of next year.
• Caltrans Lake Tahoe roadwork updates for SR28, Fanny Bridge and US50 projects (South Tahoe Now). Caltrans is advising motorists of various lane closures next week due to multiple construction projects in the Lake Tahoe region. In Tahoe City along State Route 28 (SR 28), pavement operations continue for a $31.7 million Caltrans pavement rehabilitation project. The contractor for this project is Mercer Fraser Company of Eureka. Work is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday, September 14 through Thursday, September 18 and from 7 p.m. Thursday, September 18 through Friday, September 19 at noon between Tahoe State Park and Commons Beach Road. Access to cross streets and driveways will remain open, however no street parking will be permitted in the construction zone.
• Will traffic on Highway 50 ever end? Sacramento history suggests the answer is ‘no’ (Sacramento Bee via MSN). If you’re eager for a powerful case of déjà vu, you could try reading old newspaper stories about Highway 50. “Stuck in the driver’s seat for 15 years, David Rice watched Highway 50 change from a smooth-sailing freeway to a roiling, grinding sea of traffic that made him feel like a sardine in his Toyota tin can,” Stuart Leavenworth reported in The Sacramento Bee. The highway hadn’t changed much since the 1970s, Leavenworth wrote, even as more and more people moved into the capital region and contributed to gridlock. The proposed solution – adding high-occupancy vehicle lanes – would “require a multi-year reconstruction of downtown freeways, snarling traffic.”
• ＄ Laguna weighs whether to move forward with Laguna Canyon Road plans (Los Angeles Times). Laguna Beach continues to have conversations regarding Laguna Canyon Road, chiefly whether to bring it under city ownership and what to do with it if that happens. One of three primary pathways in and out of the coastal community — the others being Coast Highway in both directions — the city has shown interest in acquiring the roadway to effectuate changes that would promote, above all, fire safety. Discussion around improvements in the canyon, including undergrounding utility lines, multi-modal transportation options — bike paths and sidewalks — and traffic calming measures such as crossings and signal enhancements, have been attached to a city effort referred to as Laguna Canyon Road: Protect and Connect.
• Caltrans Beginning Safety Project to Install Solar-Powered LED Wrong-Way Signs (Pain In The Pass Store). New wrong-way lights and signs are being installed on various offramps starting soon. You will start seeing blinking red lights in the near future. Caltrans and the UC Davis Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) Research Center today released two reports highlighting ways to prevent rare but often deadly collisions involving wrong way drivers. One of the prevention measures included in the three-year pilot program—reflectors that alert drivers they are entering the roadway in the wrong direction—was so successful at deterring wrong way drivers that Caltrans has already installed the reflective markers on hundreds of miles of highways. In San Diego, the number of wrong way drivers decreased by 44% after the reflectors were installed. “Adding the two-way reflective markers proved to be so effective that Caltrans updated its statewide design standards,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “It’s a low-cost measure we can use throughout the state to deter wrong way drivers and potentially save lives on California’s highway system.”
• You’ll finally be able to drive to L.A. on Highway 1 again next year (SF Standard). Daydreaming about a road trip to L.A. along California’s beautiful Pacific Coast Highway? After more than two and a half years of closures, it should be possible once again by March. Caltrans announced Monday that Regent’s Slide, the massive movement of earth that closed a 6.8-mile section of the road south of Big Sur in February 2024, will finally be cleared. The agency said crews have stabilized the roadbed by installing several thousand dowels deep into the earth, allowing repair work to proceed. They’ve since removed more than 300,000 cubic yards of material from the site, with 250,000 more yet to be cleared. (For context, that total amount would fill more than three Salesforce Towers.) When completed, the highway will look much as it did before, only slightly inland of its former route.
• ‘We’re dying’: Highway 1 in Big Sur closure to continue through winter (SF Gate). On Jan. 15, 2026, Highway 1 on the Central Coast is set to reach a milestone that nobody anticipated or wanted: three years of closure on a 6.8-mile stretch of road just north of San Simeon blocking through traffic coming south from LA or north from San Francisco. The historic closure in Big Sur has cost $82 million in attempts to reopen the signature swath of coastal highway, according to Caltrans officials. The closure could end next year. On Monday, Caltrans announced that it plans to reopen the stretch of Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide “to through traffic by the end of March 2026.” But then came the caveat:
• After years of closures, Highway 1 in Big Sur eyed for full reopening (KSBW). Caltrans announced when Highway 1 in Big Sur is expected to be whole again for the first time in over a year. Caltrans announced Monday that Regent’s Slide is expected to reopen by the end of March 2026, barring any delays. Regent’s Slide has been closed since Feb. 9, 2024, after a slide closed the area. “We are doing everything in our power to return this vital section of roadway to residents, businesses, and travelers who have demonstrated patience and understanding during the repair effort,” said Caltrans District 5 Director Scott Eades. “Our work is dedicated to them, and this Regent’s Slide reopening estimate allows people to plan ahead and prepare for when Highway 1 is fully reopen once again.”
• Once Called The ‘Bridge To Nowhere,’ L.A.’s Only Suspension Bridge Will Close For At Least A Year — Here’s What To Know Right Now (Secret Los Angeles). Did you know that the Vincent Thomas Bridge over the L.A. Harbor is the only suspension bridge in the Greater Los Angeles area, and one of the only ones in Southern California? While it may not draw the same attention as the Golden Gate, this overlooked bridge between San Pedro and Terminal Island has made frequent cameos in numerous blockbuster films over the years. Caltrans is preparing to launch a $706 million remodel of the Vincent Thomas Bridge, which will see it close for over a year starting in 2026.
• ＄ Vincent Thomas Bridge project moves forward as added height issue lingers (Daily Breeze). The design phase for the Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement Project — a massive project set to close the bridge to traffic for more than a year beginning in late 2026 — is 95% complete, the California Transportation Department said this week. The agency is developing comprehensive plans — including for detour routes — along with specifications and cost estimates as the process moves forward. In order to potentially lessen the full closure time, however, Caltrans officials are also planning to carry out “several preliminary construction tasks” needed to prepare the bridge for the work, and those are anticipated to begin in the spring. “The completion of these tasks will significantly expedite the later deck replacement,” the update said, and will require nightly and weekend one-directional closures of the bridge.
• ＄ Port of L.A. plans to raise Vincent Thomas bridge faces headwinds (Los Angeles Times). As officials ponder whether to spend at least a year and $1.5 billion more on an already ambitious upgrade of the Vincent Thomas Bridge, locals are asking if the mess they will have to endure during construction will be worth it. Soon after the California Department of Transportation shared plans to fix up the more than 60-year-old bridge that connects downtown Long Beach to San Pedro and Terminal Island, the Port of Los Angeles piled on with even bigger plans. Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of L.A., suggested Caltrans also raise the height of the symbol of the locality by 26 feet.
• Historic Report Reveals Scale of Displacement From 710 Freeway Construction in Pasadena (Pasadena Now). A new historical study reveals the extent of community displacement caused by construction of the 710 Freeway in Pasadena, documenting the loss of 188 buildings that once housed families and businesses. The report by Architectural Resources Group will be presented at a special meeting Wednesday of the city’s Reconnecting Communities 710 Advisory Group. Senior Associate Architectural Historian Elysha Paluszek is expected to deliver the findings during the meeting at City Hall, which begins at 6:45 p.m. The study examined the relinquishment area where the freeway cut through established neighborhoods. Researchers found 117 residential buildings containing 168 housing units were demolished.
• Highway into popular California lake closes indefinitely after storm (SF Gate). A significant route to Big Bear Lake, one of the most popular lakes in Southern California, is closed indefinitely after a cataclysmic storm last week. On Sept. 18, a major storm ripped through Southern California, triggering floods and mudslides in the San Bernardino Mountains. The storm closed over 30 miles of Highway 38 due to excessive mud and debris while washing out a significant portion of the highway. “The combination of Tropical Storm Mario, heavy rainfall, and the El Dorado burn scar has left a trail of destruction in its wake, and one of the most dramatic impacts is the severe washout of SR-38,” Caltrans said on social media.
• Supervisors skeptical at idea of removing gas tax for ‘pay-per-mile’ prospect (The Union). The state of California has been exploring how taxing drivers by the mile instead of tax on each gallon of gas purchased would effect different communities, and the Board of Supervisors shared questions and concerns regarding possible solutions. Nevada County has experienced gas tax revenue fluctuations with the increase of electric vehicles used that do not require drivers to purchase gas at all, according to Trisha Tillotson, Nevada County’s Public Works Director Director. With increasing costs for road maintenance, counties around the state and across the country are looking at how to advocate for the need for more funds to provide for basic road maintenance, according to Tillotson.
• California Water Service to begin relocation of water utilities along Highway 70 near Binney Junction railroad underpass (Action News Now). Caltrans is notifying drivers about upcoming utility work on Highway 70 in Marysville that is set to begin on Monday. The California Water Service and its contractor will start relocating water utilities along Highway 70. Officials say the work will take place on B Street, stretching from 18th Street to 24th Street. It will start near Marysville High School and proceed southward, with the project expected to last four weeks. All construction activity will be confined to the shoulders, outside of travel lanes, ensuring there are no expected impacts on traffic.
• Stoddard Wells Road to temporarily close in Victorville amid $26.1M Caltrans project (VV Daily Press via MSN). Continued safety and pavement upgrades will force the closure of Stoddard Wells Road in Victorville. Caltrans announced that from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Sept. 29, and from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Oct. 1, Stoddard Wells Road off Highway 18/D Street will be closed. Construction work in the area will include cold plane and overlay, new ADA curb ramps, electrical upgrades and landscaping. During nighttime closures, D street will remain open with one lane available in each direction, while crews complete grinding and pavement work.
• After 61 years, NorCal county cleans up an ecological disaster (SF Gate). A major project began this week to remove 750 tons of metal and concrete that had been sitting in the riverbed of the North Fork of the American River for decades. The debris is all that’s left after a Christmas storm destroyed the Georgetown Bridge near Auburn, in the Sierra Nevada foothills, 61 years ago. Torrential rain in the days before Christmas 1964 had caused rivers to swell and stoked fears of flooding across Northern California and the Sierra Nevada foothills. Thousands of people in Yuba City evacuated their homes, while Marysville resembled an island in the midst of a swirling, frothing brown sea, the Sacramento Bee reported at the time. Higher up in the Sierra Nevada, on the Rubicon River, rain and snowmelt pounded against the Hell Hole Dam. But on the morning of Dec. 23, 1964, the partially built dam burst, releasing a “hurtling wall” of water downstream toward Auburn, where a surge of frothing, fast-moving water took out the Georgetown Bridge on Highway 49, near the confluence of the North Fork and the Middle Fork of the American River.
• ＄ Napa County scraps $10 million repair, transforms damaged road into scenic bike path (Press Democrat). Rather than spend $10 million to repair a landslide-damaged road north of St. Helena, Napa County supervisors have voted to turn the 2.5-mile stretch into a scenic bike path. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to formally close the portion of Old Howell Mountain Road between the St. Helena city limits and an area just south of Sulman Lane. The road has been shut since 2017, when storms triggered slides that left it unsafe to drive. Public Works Director Steve Lederer said county officials decided years ago that repairing the road for cars wasn’t financially feasible, and later embraced the idea of repurposing it as a trail. The Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District has agreed to take over management.
• ＄ Expanded carpool lane hours on Highway 101 anger commuters in Marin, Sonoma counties (Press Democrat). And you thought the movie “Cats” got bad reviews. Check out this feedback on the recent decision by Caltrans to nearly double carpool lane hours on Highway 101 in Marin and Sonoma counties: “Hate it. Has doubled my commute time.” “My commute from Santa Rosa to San Rafael has increased by 30 minutes.” “20-minute commute is now an hour.” “Made my commute noticeably worse. There is congestion where there didn’t used to be.” “I wake up an hour earlier and get home an hour to an hour-and-a-half later.” “Terrible decision, poorly thought out, illogical, a disaster all around.” “Caltrans made a horrible mistake.” “SUCKS!” Those are excerpts from the 150-plus Press Democrat readers who replied to a prompt to share their thoughts on the new carpool lane hours. The responses were remarkable for their negativity and near-unanimity. People really don’t like Caltrans’ new high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane hours, which on Sept. 8 were extended in the morning from 5 to 10 a.m., and in the evening from 3 to 7 p.m., in both directions, in both counties.
• Major Southern California mountain route wiped out by tropical storm remnants (KTLA). A portion of Highway 38, which connects Redlands and Big Bear, is closed indefinitely after crumbling under the heavy rain and flooding brought on by the remnants of a tropical storm that passed through Southern California last week. “The combination of Tropical Storm Mario, and the El Dorado Fire burn scar has left a trail of destruction in its wake, and one of the most dramatic impacts is the severe washout of SR- 38,” Caltrans District 8 posted on Monday, along with drone video of the damage. The closure extends from Mill Creek Road near Angelus Oaks to Lakewood Road near Big Bear.
• ＄ Will Caltrans, Newsom widen a sinking, flood-prone Hwy. 37? (Sacramento Bee). Gov. Gavin Newsom may greenlight a half-billion-dollar effort to widen a North Bay highway that Caltrans has acknowledged is sinking under its own weight. The plan before Newsom would raise low-lying parts of Highway 37 no more than 8 inches. A document from a 2011 meeting shows that a Caltrans official told attendees that the corridor needed to be raised at least 6 to 7 feet to accommodate sea level rise. By 2016, the consensus was that the highway needed to be raised 10 feet. Assemblymember Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City, has championed the plan to add lanes to Highway 37 as it arcs through a marsh between Solano and Sonoma counties. Each side will have a general-purpose toll lane and a carpool lane. Wilson has said this expansion will ease traffic for her constituents. Her bill — AB 697, which would streamline construction in the wetland habitat — sailed through the Assembly and the Senate unanimously. It is now awaiting Newsom’s signature.
• Highway to iconic California hiking and winter sports spot is completely washed away by landslide (Daily Mail via MSN). A major highway leading to California’s iconic Big Bear Lake has been closed indefinitely after getting washed away in a storm. Highway 38 from Angelus Oaks to Big Bear has been shut down after Tropical Storm Mario caused a road washout last week. The stretch of highway is a popular route to get to Big Bear Lake, which is known as
• Marin-Sonoma Narrows project: New HOV lanes 52-miles long open along Highway 101 in North Bay between Sausalito and Windsor (ABC7 San Francisco). Some long-awaited relief from some of the worst bottlenecks on Highway 101 in the North Bay. On Monday morning, Caltrans officially opened new HOV lanes on both sides of the freeway between Sausalito and Windsor. The new lanes are part of a major project aimed at improving commute times. It’s part of the the Marin-Sonoma Narrows project. The new lanes are at the the Northbound section of Highway 101 just north of Atherton Avenue and Southbound, just below Kastania Road.
• Bay Area drivers still furious after Highway 101 widening (SF Gate via MSN). After nearly 30 years in the works, Caltrans opened high-occupancy vehicle lanes on Monday to alleviate a notorious bottleneck that’s tormented travelers on Highway 101 between two Bay Area counties. But many commuters won’t share in the triumph. Earlier this month, Caltrans extended the weekday hours for accessing the lanes, prohibiting solo motorists during peak commuting hours. Caltrans spokesperson Matt O’Donnell told SFGATE in an email that it’s a “proud milestone” for the agency to see the long-awaited lanes debut between Marin and Sonoma counties. “It’s incredibly rewarding for Caltrans and its partners to see these HOV lane extensions fully operational after decades of planning, coordination, and dedication,” he wrote.
• Eastbound 10 Freeway truck-climbing lane aims to help traffic flow through Yucaipa, Calimesa (Redlands Daily Facts). Over the years we’ve heard complaints from many commuters about slow-moving trucks causing traffic backups and accidents on area freeways, including the 10 Freeway through Yucaipa and Calimesa. Now, that area should be safer for all and move faster with the recent opening of the 10 Freeway truck lane extension. A gathering was held last month to celebrate the completion and opening of the eastbound truck-climbing lane through Yucaipa and Calimesa. The new three-mile stretch should improve traffic flow by separating slower tractor-trailers from faster-moving vehicles in this area.
• Interstate 10 Eastbound Truck Climbing Lane Improvement Project (SEMA Construction, Inc.). SEMA’s work in Yucaipa, CA is helping San Bernardino County Transportation Authority improve flow and safety on busy Interstate 10. The project extends the existing Truck Climbing Lane by approximately 3 miles to further separate trucks and other slow-moving vehicles from faster moving vehicles through steep hills along the freeway. Rip rap installation beneath the bridge widening portion of the project will reinforce the structure against seasonal flows from Wilson Creek.
• I-10 Truck Climbing Lane (SBCTA). SBCTA in cooperation with Caltrans, extended the eastbound (EB) truck climbing lane (TCL) on Interstate 10 (I-10) from the existing EB off-ramp at Live Oak Canyon Road located in the City of Yucaipa, San Bernardino County, California to just east of the existing County Line Road EB off-ramp at the Riverside County line (Project) in the City of Calimesa. The extension of the TCL for approximately an additional 3-miles, which includes steep uphill portions, improves operations on the interstate by separating trucks and other slow moving vehicles from faster moving passenger vehicles. This Project reduces the frequency of truck-related accidents. The project began construction in March 2024 and was completed in August 2025.
• Portola Interchange (Riverside County Projects). The County of Riverside (County), in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the City of Palm Desert (City), proposes to construct a new interchange on Interstate 10 (I-10) at Portola Avenue. The limits of work for this project are along I-10, approximately from post mile (PM) 44.8 to PM 46.6. The project includes the construction of a new structure crossing I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), construction of associated on- and off-ramps, and the realignment of the adjacent frontage road, Varner Road. Auxiliary lanes in each direction of I-10 between the new Portola Avenue ramps and the adjacent interchanges at Cook Street and Monterey Avenue would also be constructed.
• Aesthetic Enhancements for Portola Avenue/I-10 Interchange (Palm Desert Government). REQUEST: Consideration for approval of aesthetic enhancements for the Portola 1-10 Interchange Project. Recommendation By Minute Motion, direct staff to proceed with font option 2 as outlined in the aesthetic enhancements signage proposal for the Portola 1-10 Interchange Project.
• ＄ What is happening with the planned I-10 at Portola interchange? (Palm Desert Sun). Q: What are the latest plans for an interchange for I-10 at Portola Avenue in Palm Desert? A: Due to funding issues, the Palm Desert City Council voted in January to put the project on hold but continue with the pre-construction phase, including design, so when additional funds for the $114.5 million interchange become available it is shovel ready and construction can begin right away. The challenge lies in finding funding sources, city officials say. Cost for the interchange has gone from a 2008 estimate of $72 million to $114.5 million in 2020, Deputy Director of Public Works Randy Bowman told council members during their Jan. 27 meeting.
• I-10 Express Lanes (SBCTA). SBCTA’s Interstate 10 Corridor Project is comprised of three phases of improvements to benefit the movement of both people and goods on this facility that is important to both San Bernardino County residents and to the local and national economy. The first phase, stretching 10 miles from the Los Angeles County line to I-15, opened in late August 2024. SBCTA is preparing for the second phase of the SB Express Lanes on Interstate 10, stretching 11.1 miles from I-15 to Pepper Avenue in Colton. Advertising for bids for the project are expected for summer of 2025 with construction slated to begin later that year. The third and final future phase of 12 miles will be from Pepper Avenue to Ford Street in Redlands.
• Interstate 10 Corridor Project – Montclair, CA (City of Montclair). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in cooperation with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), the council of governments and transportation planning agency for San Bernardino County, proposes to add Express Lanes through the entire length of the 33 mile stretch of Interstate 10 (I-10) from the Los Angeles-San Bernardino County line to Ford Street in Redlands. The Project includes transition areas extending from approximately 0.4 miles west of White Avenue in the City of Pomona to Live Oak Canyon Road in Yucaipa (the Project Limits), and will open to traffic in 2025,with a design year of 2045. The design year is the period of time during which the improvement is expected to work within specified parameters.
• Bay Area drivers still furious after Highway 101 widening (SF Gate). After nearly 30 years in the works, Caltrans opened high-occupancy vehicle lanes on Monday to alleviate a notorious bottleneck that’s tormented travelers on Highway 101 between two Bay Area counties. But many commuters won’t share in the triumph. Earlier this month, Caltrans extended the weekday hours for accessing the lanes, prohibiting solo motorists during peak commuting hours. Caltrans spokesperson Matt O’Donnell told SFGATE in an email that it’s a “proud milestone” for the agency to see the long-awaited lanes debut between Marin and Sonoma counties. “It’s incredibly rewarding for Caltrans and its partners to see these HOV lane extensions fully operational after decades of planning, coordination, and dedication,” he wrote.
• ＄ North Bay’s $1.5 billion Hwy. 101 widening project reaches final milestone with 3 lanes through Marin-Sonoma Narrrows (Press Democrat). Just before dawn on Monday morning, Caltrans achieved a major North Bay milestone — although there are still a few signs on Highway 101 indicating otherwise. “Right Lane Ends” warned a sign facing southbound motorists a mile south of Petaluma’s Kastania Road exit, just beyond a decommissioned gas station and the billboard for a long-gone “Cigarette Depot.” Drivers can now feel free to ignore that warning sign, which, as of early Monday morning, had become obsolete. The lane in question now keeps right on going. Nor, despite identical, out-of-date signage, does the right lane on northbound 101, across the highway from the old Birkenstock building, come to an end. By sunrise Monday, that dreaded three-lanes-down-to-two bottleneck was a thing of the past. The opening of those lanes, and closing of those chokepoints, marks the completion of the Marin-Sonoma Narrows project, which focused on a 16-mile stretch of the highway between Novato and Petaluma. Work on that project began in 2011 and has cost an estimated $762 million.
• Thirty-Day Closure of State Route 12/121 in Schellville, Sonoma County, to Replace Railings on Arroyo Seco Bridge (Caltrans). Caltrans will fully close State Route 12/121 for thirty days in October in the Sonoma County community of Schellville to allow workers to replace bridge railings on the Arroyo Seco Bridge, a two-lane, shoulderless bridge spanning Schellville Creek just east of Eighth Street. Detour map for the closure of SR-12/SR-121 in Shellville. Westbound traffic will be detoured onto Napa Road to Eighth Street, then back to Route 12/121. Eastbound traffic would follow this detour route in reverse.The full closure will begin at 12:01 AM Wednesday, October 1 and be in plance until until 5:00 AM, Friday, October 31, 2025. This section of state highway is a concurrent route, where State Route 12 and 121 share the same road, and where route numbers can be used interchangeably. Westbound traffic will be detoured onto Napa Road to Eighth Street, then back to Route 12/121. Eastbound traffic would follow this detour route in reverse.
• Caltrans to reopen Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide in Monterey County in March 2026 (CBS SF Bay Area via MSN). A closed portion of scenic Highway 1 in Monterey County is expected to reopen by the first quarter next year, Caltrans announced Tuesday. Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide is now expected to allow through traffic by the end of March 2026, although seasonal weather and additional slide activity could further delay the reopening, Caltrans said. Regent’s Slide, about 40 miles south of Carmel on the Big Sur coastline, originated on February 9, 2024, burying a section of the roadway and resulting in the closure of a 6.8-mile segment of Highway 1. The slide, along with a previously cleared slide six miles south, has prevented through travel on the Big Sur coast since January 2023. The picturesque stretch of Highway 1 has seen frequent slides in recent years, which have affected businesses that depend on tourism. Dormant and active landslides surround the tectonically active area, and the slide frequency has been exacerbated by recent winter storms.
• New stretch of California Highway 101 took 30 years to build. It’s finally open (SF Chronicle via MSN). Drivers on Highway 101 can now coast from suburban Novato to Sonoma County, along a newly-widened stretch that marks the end of a 30-year rebuild. The once-notorious Marin-Sonoma Narrows no longer befits its name, now redesigned with three lanes between Atherton Avenue and the county line. The new, high-occupancy vehicle lanes, which opened Monday at 5 a.m., link 52 miles of continuous carpool from Windsor to the Richardson Bay Bridge. Conceived to eliminate bottlenecks, accommodate a development boom in Wine Country and modernize stretches of freeway that lacked grade separations, the project had its genesis in the 1990s but had to be completed in phases, as funding became available. It cost more than $1 billion to fix 101 from Windsor to the Marin County border, and $762 million alone for the 16-mile “Narrows” portion.
• Caltrans 710 project land sales proceed in Pasadena (Hey So Cal via MSN). Several vacant Caltrans-owned homes in Pasadena are now available for sale to the public in an effort to add more affordable housing, city officials announced Monday. Officials said the sale of the properties will provide the city with a funding source for the acquisition or construction of affordable housing units. On June 23, the City Council OK’d the sale of 17 vacant properties acquired or set to be acquired from Caltrans under a 2022 state law. The 17 properties were targeted for demolition in connection with the construction of the State Route 710 North project.
• ＄ With solo drivers kicked out of California carpool lanes, how bad will traffic get for rest of us? (Los Angeles Times). A new era in commuting begins today for clean-air vehicles with new rules that kick solo drivers out of California carpool lanes and uncertainty over how it will impact commute times and traffic. As of Aug. 14, more than half a million motorists statewide had an active decal on their vehicle to access carpool lanes. California has an estimated 1,171 carpool lane-miles, with 803 miles in Southern California and 366 miles in Northern California, according to a UC Berkeley study. With more than 35 million total registered vehicles in California, that means 1% to 2% of the vehicle fleet will lose access to the carpool lane, said Antonio Bento, professor of public policy and economics at USC.

Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer)

• Ruth Hill Road (Early California State Route 180 along the Old Dunlap Road corridor). When California State Route 180 was commissioned in August 1934 the alignment in took in Sierra Nevada range was very different than from today. The original highway alignment from Squaw Valley (now Yokuts Valley) to east Grant Grove (then part of General Grant National Park) originally followed what is now Ruth Hill Road, Dunlap Road, Pinehurst Road (modern California State Route 245), Dark Canyon Road (partially now Forest Road 14S45). After funding fell through for the planned Kings Canyon Road the was corridor eventually picked up as a 30-mile-long cooperative project between the Division of Highways and Federal Government. The current alignment of California State Route 180 bypassing Squaw Valley and Dunlap was complete by 1941.
• Sample Road (Fresno County). Sample Road is a short rural Fresno County highway which connects Tollhouse Road (California State Route 168) east to Pittman Hill Road. This short highway corridor was originally constructed to service the Copper King Mine which was located on Pittman Hill. The highway corridor appears under numerous early twentieth century maps as the “Copper King Road.” The mining operations at Pittman Hill shuttered during 1917 and the service highway was eventually retitled as Sample Road. Modern Sample Road is often used by cyclists seeking a steep grade while traveling to Watts Valley or Tollhouse.
• San Joaquin & Eastern Road. San Joaquin & Eastern Road is a repurposed railroad grade in Auberry, California which has been rebuilt as a roadway. This road is named after the San Joaquin & Eastern Railroad which was in use between 1912-1933 during the early construction of the Big Creek Hydroelectric project. Said fifty-five-mile line originated in El Prado and snaked through the Sierra Nevada of Fresno County to the site of Big Creek Powerhouse #1. The so-called SJ&E was famous for having 1,073 curves, 43 trestles and grades as high as 5.3%.
• Former California State Route 180 on Dunlap Road. When California State Route 180 was commissioned in August 1934 the alignment in took in Sierra Nevada range was very different than from today. The original highway alignment from Squaw Valley (now Yokuts Valley) to east Grant Grove (then part of General Grant National Park) originally followed what is now Ruth Hill Road, Dunlap Road, Pinehurst Road (modern California State Route 245), Dark Canyon Road (partially now Forest Road 14S45). After funding fell through for the planned Kings Canyon Road the was corridor eventually picked up as a 30-mile-long cooperative project between the Division of Highways and Federal Government. The current alignment of California State Route 180 bypassing Squaw Valley and Dunlap was complete by 1941.
• Atwater-Merced Expressway. Atwater-Merced Expressway is a mostly unconstructed new highway located in Merced County. The planned scope of the expressway would connect from California State Route 140 south of Atwater to California State Route 59 near the University of California-Merced Campus. Phase 1A was completed during 2016 and included a new ramp at California State Route 99 along with a new segment of highway to Green Sands Road. Currently Phase 1B to Santa Fe Drive (County Route J7) is planned to break ground during late 2026 or early 2027.
• Pittman Hill Road (Fresno County). Pittman Hill Road is a 5.6-mile rural highway located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County. The corridor spans from Watts Valley Road north to Tollhouse Road near Humphreys Station. The roadway is named after nearby Pittman Hill which was the site of the Copper King Mine from 1900-1917. Pittman Hill Road was built to service access to said mine via Sales Creek and provide connectivity to Tollhouse Road.
• Hogback Drive (Fresno County and Tulare County). Hogback Drive is an approximately 4.6-mile rural highway located in the Sierra Nevada range of Fresno County and Tulare County. This corridor begins at California State Route 245 near Pinehurst in Fresno County. From the Pinehurst area the roadway heads south onto Hogback Ridge in Tulare County and terminates after approximately 4.6 miles at Whitaker Forest Road. The Tulare County portion is maintained as Mountain Road 254. Hogback Drive was constructed in the 1890s to facilitate travel between Camp Badger and the Hume-Bennett Logging Company town of Noble (now Pinehurst).

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