🚘 Headlines About California Highways – January 2026

[cahwyguy]

The march of time continues. It’s hard to believe we’re at the end of January already; time is relentless in marching forward. As always, I’ve been spending the time reading the news and looking for articles related to California Highways, saving them away for this headline post. This post will also mark the start of working on the next round of updates for the highway pages: I typically do two to three headline posts in each update round. Speaking of the “March of Time”: 2026 marks the 30^th Anniversary of the California Highways website. The changelog for 1996 shows the first “official” changes in October 1996, although it notes that “Changes before early 1996 were not specifically noted, although this site, in various forms, dates back at least as far as 1992, and possibly as early as 1986. Searching on Google Groups uncovers an early posting of the state highway list in December of 1992 to the Usenet Group ca.driving. In 1995, there was a posting of the highway list in response to a question, showing a last modified date of 1994. By October 1996, postings were being made showing the existence of the California Highways page off of Pacificnet.The earliest capture of the site on the Wayback Machine is in December 1998.” So welcome to the start of the 30^th Anniversary year, or perhaps the 40^th Anniversary year, of California Highways!

The timing of the switch to highway site updates is good, as I just finished writing the last episode of Season 4. We’re starting to plan a few bonus episodes that don’t take as much research and writing; after which I’ll turn my attention to Season 5, covering Routes 15 through 23. I particularly like ep 4.12, which covers the unbuilt freeways of the San Fernando Valley, using the first segment of Route 14 as the starting point.

Season 4 of the podcast continues, and we’re now using new recording software  (Zencaster). I think it sounds better, but I would love to hear from the listeners. Let us know what you think. It looks like the regular audience is between 60-70 folks, and I’d love to get that number up (as of today, we’re at 53 for 4.06, 56 for 4.05, 51 for 4.04, 68 for 4.03, 79 for 4.02, and 121 for 4.01), although the numbers don’t included those who listen directly from the CARouteByRoute website (as I don’t know how to get those stats). I have no idea why there was so much interest in Route 8 in San Diego. You can help our listening audience grow. 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:

• January | CA RxR 4.06: I-10: San Bernardino Freeway. Episode 4.06 continues our exploration of Route 10.  Episode 4.05 covered the first segment of Route 10: The Santa Monica Freeway between Route 1 and the I-5/US 101 junction. This episode, 4.06, covers the second segment of Route 10, from US 101 to the Arizona Border. Along the way, we explore the former I-110 segment, Route 10S, and do a deep dive into the US highways that shaped this segment of I-10: US 60, US 70, and US 99. We explore the historical routing of those highways across this segment. We also look at some of the names on the highway, and current projects along the highway.In the next episode, 4.07, we’ll turn our attention to Route 11. We’ll start by exploring LRN 11, and then look at the original Sign Route 11. This was originally tied closely with the development of US 66, and became today’s Route 110. We’ll also talk about the current Route 11. (Spotify for Podcasters)
• January | CA RxR 4.05: I-10: Santa Monica Freeway. With Episode 4.05, we turn our attention to Route 10. This first episode on Route 10 starts with an exploration of the 10th route (the last ordinal route we’ll do), which was the Emigrant Gap Highway, and became the basis for LRN 37. This became part of the Lincoln Highway, then US 40, and is now part of I-80 from Sacramento to Nevada. We look at LRN 10, which became Route 198 from US 101 near San Lucas to Sequoia National Park. We then explore Sign Route 10 (which we discussed in our episode on I-5 in Los Angeles county), which ran from US 101A to US 101, later becoming Route 42 and US 101 Bypass, and eventually I-105 and I-5. Lastly, we turn to post-1964 Route 10, which is today’s I-10. In this episode, we focus on the first segment:  “From Route 1 in Santa Monica to Route 5 near Seventh Street in Los Angeles”, which is today’s Santa Monica Freeway. We look at its origins as Sign Route 6, which became Sign Route 26 along LRN 173, LRN 166, and LRN 171. We focus on LRN 173 (LRN 166 and LRN 171 were discussed in our episode on I-5 in Los Angeles county, as well as our episode on Route 6), which was Olympic Blvd. We explore the history of the Santa Monica Freeway segment, the experiments tried along this highway, some significant projects along this segment, and some significant names on this segment.We will complete our exploration of Route 10 in Episode 4.06, which explores the San Bernardino Freeway: Its origins in LRN 26 and LRN 64 and the Ramona Airline. The history and strange intertwinings of the US highways that were signed on Route 10: US 60, US 70, and US 99. The transition to I-10 and the story of Route 10S. Lastly, we’ll cover projects and names on the segment. (Spotify for Creators)

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 January 2026.

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. ＄＄ paywalls require the use of archive.ph. ☊ indicates an primarily audio article. 🎥 indicates a primarily video article. ]

Highway Headlines

• Calif. mountain highway used by millions ‘destroyed’ by heavy rainfall (SF Gate). Toward the end of August, outdoorsy Angelenos rejoiced when the entirety of the region’s 66-mile forest highway finally reopened after a yearslong section closure. But now, just a few months later, a chunk of the highway is already closed again — and likely will be for a while. Angeles Crest Highway, also known as state Route 2, is currently closed between Cedar Springs, near its intersection with the long-closed northern end of state Route 39, all the way east to where the highway hits state Route 138 near the Cajon Pass. In total, it’s a roughly 27-mile closure, pocked by washed-out roads, crumbled asphalt and other recent storm damage.
• New traffic light in operation at State Route 32 and County Road P in Glenn County (Lake County News). Caltrans reported that the newly installed traffic signal at the intersection of State Route 32 and County Road P in Glenn County was activated on Wednesday and is now fully operational. Drivers traveling through the intersection should be alert to the new traffic pattern and obey all signal indications. The signal installation is part of a safety improvement effort to improve traffic operations and reduce collisions along the SR 32 corridor between Orland and Hamilton City. The project also included shoulder work, pavement improvements, Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades and roadway striping.
• 🎁 Congestion pricing after one year: How life has changed (The New York Times – Gift Article). One year after the start of congestion pricing, traffic jams are less severe, streets are safer, and commute times are improving for travelers from well beyond Manhattan. Though these changes aren’t noticeable to many, and others feel the tolls are a financial burden, the fees have generated hundreds of millions of dollars for public transportation projects. And it has probably contributed to rising transit ridership. The program, which on Jan. 5, 2025, began charging most drivers $9 during peak travel times to enter Manhattan below 60th Street, has quickly left its mark. To assess its impact, The New York Times reviewed city and state data, outside research, and the feedback of more than 600 readers with vastly different views of the toll.
• New Traffic Pattern – Route 47 (FB/Port of Los Angeles). ⚠️ Reminder: A new traffic pattern is coming to the SR 47 Interchange at the Port of Los Angeles. Get project information and traffic updates here: https://portofla.org/sr47
• ＄ The best public U.S. transportation museums to visit in 2026 (East Bay Times). Some folks yearn to see Michelangelo’s “David” at the Galleria dell’Accademia. For others, basking in awe over a Union Pacific “Big Boy” — the largest steam locomotive ever built — is as high as art can get. For dads and their hapless families who get dragged into such stuff, Yahoo has published a helpful guide to the “Best Transportation Museums to Visit in the U.S.” The list spans from institutions for U.S. Air Force war machines to Hollywood-movie vehicles in Las Vegas. (The Batmobile!) It includes two museums in California: a classic-cars mecca in San Francisco, and a trove of historic sea vessels in San Diego.
• ＄ Thrill-seekers, residents clash as the Mulholland ‘Snake’ reopens – Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles Times). Its serpentine curves have entranced drivers for decades, and even lured some to their death. For motorcycle and car enthusiasts, riding the hair-raising turns of the 2.4-mile section of Mulholland Highway known as “the Snake” can feel akin to a religious experience. When the road reopened after a nearly seven-year closure in December, its devotees returned in droves. “It is so gratifying, so tactual, it clears my head and reinvigorates my soul,” said Malibu resident Doug Baron, who fell in love with the canyon road while cruising it alongside childhood friend Chad McQueen in the late 1970s.
• El Camino Real sees renewal project (The Bay Link Blog). Caltrans will begin construction on the State Route 82 (El Camino Real) Roadway Renewal Project this winter, marking a major rehabilitation to a vital section of SR-82 traversing Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo and Millbrae. Over the coming months and years, the $173 million State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP) effort will deliver critical infrastructure upgrades, including improved visibility for drivers, enhanced drainage to mitigate localized flooding, and upgraded sidewalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian facilities to ensure full compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. The project is included in the MTC’s Bay Area Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Plan Bay Area 2040. Aging eucalyptus trees along the sidewalks will also be removed, and the canopy reinvigorated with more than 300 new trees, preserving the historic significance of the Howard Ralston Eucalyptus Rows.

• ＄ Repairs to storm-damaged stretch of Highway 116 could take a year, Caltrans says (Mercury News). Repairs to storm-damaged Highway 116, a key thoroughfare along the lower Russian River in western Sonoma County, could take a year to complete once the work begins, with travel limited to one direction at a time until then, Caltrans officials said Tuesday. That word came a day after the rain-saturated soil beneath a stretch of the highway just west of Monte Rio gave way about 4 p.m. Monday, spilling into the swollen Russian River. The earth, likely loosened by the surging waterway and runoff from the recent storms, dragged down some trees, a portion of the guardrail and 75-100 linear feet of the road, eating into the eastbound lane.
• Sonoma County Highway Eroded by Storm Raises Concerns About Fire Evacuation (KQED). Storm damage to a section of heavily trafficked Highway 116 in Sonoma County has some officials worried that long-term repairs could leave it hampered during an evacuation for an emergency such as a wildfire. Soil under the road became soaked with rainwater on Monday and collapsed into the Russian River, which had risen over 20 feet, dragging down a section of the thoroughfare’s guardrail along with a few trees, just west of Monte Rio. With part of one lane eroded, it’s now down to one-way traffic control. Repairs could take up to a year, according to Caltrans. Because the road is narrow, bordered by a steep mountain on one side and the river on the other, restoration crews are more limited than they would be in a more open area. And a “slip-out” or “wash-out,” when the slide happens under the road, is also more complicated.
• Caltrans shares initial plans for two construction projects affecting SR 49 corridor (The Union). Approximately 50 people attended a public meeting on Wednesday evening to talk with Caltrans staff and provide input for the SR 49 Grass Valley Wildfire Evacuation Project scheduled to begin construction in October 2027. Attendees viewed displays with photos and conceptual drawings of the project following a brief description by Mike Woodman, Executive Director of the Nevada County Transportation Commission, and Samuel Vandell, Project Manager and Engineer at Caltrans. Caltrans recently released the Draft Environmental Document (DED) for the proposed $107.4 million project which is still available for review and comments through January 12, 2026.
• Nevada County project proposal aims to improve Highway 49 evacuation route (CBS Sacramento). Improving evacuation routes in case of an emergency is the goal behind a new project proposal in Nevada County. It focuses on a stretch of Highway 49 between Auburn and Grass Valley. Caltrans hosted a public meeting on Wednesday night to share details and gather feedback on the plan. “These communities are just one wildfire away from a Caldor or a Dixie,” said Mike Woodman, the CEO of the Nevada County Transportation Commission. That fear is at the heart of planning for a large-scale evacuation in Nevada County.
• Eyes on the Street: Caltrans Santa Monica Blvd. Construction on the Westside (Streetsblog Los Angeles). In early December, Streetsblog shared photos of work underway on Caltrans State Route 2 Multimodal Project. At that time, project work was underway primarily along Alvarado Street in Echo Park. Today, Streetsblog spotted work underway on Santa Monica Boulevard in the Sawtelle neighborhood in West L.A. This project spans three separate locations. The scope includes plenty of sidewalk work (repairs and upgrades) and street resurfacing, plus some bus stop improvements, bike racks, and new bus lanes on Santa Monica Boulevard from Centinela Avenue to the 405 Freeway.
• 🚧 Construction Alert: Newhall Gateway Beautification Project 🚧 (FB/City of San Clarita). Construction on the Newhall Gateway Beautification Project will begin Monday, January 12, and will continue through Summer 2026. Motorists should expect delays in the area during construction. This project will enhance a primary entry point into Newhall by beautifying the existing on- and off-ramps at Newhall Avenue and State Route 14. Improvements include new landscaping, trees, cobblestone hardscape, decorative fencing, stamped concrete, upgraded irrigation systems, grading, refurbished retention basins and improved site drainage
• Alan Wong pushes for Great Highway closure re-vote in June (SF Examiner). Newly appointed District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong said Thursday that he intends to introduce a measure for the June ballot that would reopen to weekday vehicular traffic a portion of Great Highway that has been converted into a park. Wong unveiled a draft measure but did not yet have the support of three supervisors that he will need to qualify his measure, but he hoped to enlist them by the Tuesday filing deadline. Backed by supportive constituents, Wong told reporters at City Hall that data showed an increase in traffic incidents and injuries in his district following the closure of Great Highway,  which voters authorized via Proposition K in November of 2024.
• Work begins on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge open road tolling project (The Bay Link Blog). Changes are coming soon to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge toll plaza, the first of the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA)-managed bridges to be transformed as part of a multi-year conversion to Open Road Tolling (ORT). Pre-construction began in late 2025. Work to re-stripe lanes on the bridge approach and to erect a new gantry structure over the westbound lanes to accommodate tolling equipment is now set to begin in March 2026, weather permitting. Visit the Caltrans District 4 website for additional details on the construction schedule. ORT is the future for all toll bridge plazas in the Bay Area – and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge will be the first to see the transition to ORT.
• ＄ $200M going for road upgrades (San Mateo Daily Journal). Almost $200 million has been allocated to numerous roadway infrastructure projects throughout San Mateo County, many of which are meant to not just alleviate traffic congestion but also improve non-vehicle infrastructure, such as bike lanes and crosswalks. The funds were allocated by the San Mateo County Transportation Authoring and come from Measure A and Measure W, sales taxes dedicated to transportation. Patrick Gilster, TA director of planning and fund management, said the program funds are starting to address not just large highway corridors but also local road needs. “This is the largest single call for projects the Transportation Authority has ever done,” Gilster said, adding that the scale of the funding levels are “very exciting.”
• ＄ Corte Madera path project gets $60K funding boost (Marin I-J). The Corte Madera Town Council has approved an additional $60,000 to complete a path project along Paradise Drive. The project will place a 1,700-foot pedestrian and bicycle path from Westward Drive to Robin Drive. It also will include crosswalks and striping improvements. The road segment is adjacent to Marin Country Day School and Marin Montessori School but has no sidewalk. “We’ve gotten a lot of requests over the years,” said Chris Good, the director of public works. “Paradise Drive, people drive really fast and currently there’s just the dirt shoulder that a lot of times has cars parked in them. So anyone walking along the road is basically right along the edge of it.”
• Route 47 – New Ramp Opened (FB/Port of Los Angeles). The Port of Los Angeles today opened the new northbound on-ramp to I-110 and southbound off-ramp from SR 47 at Front Street/Harbor Blvd. as it enters a new phase of construction near the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro as part of the SR 47 Interchange Project. https://portofla.org/sr47rampsopen Photos: January 2026 aerial view of the SR 47 Interchange Project area at Harbor Blvd. in San Pedro. Darker asphalt shows the new northbound on-ramp to I-110 and southbound off-ramp from SR 47. Photo credit: Port of Los Angeles.
• RCTC Awards $156 Million for Two Major Regional Projects to Enhance Safety and Connectivity (Riverside County Transportation Commission). During its December 10 meeting, the Commission approved more than $156 million in construction contracts for two regionally significant projects: Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway and SR-60/Potrero Boulevard Interchange – Phase II. These projects aim to enhance roadway safety, improve travel reliability, and support economic growth in two of Riverside County’s fastest growing regions. “Safe and reliable transportation is the foundation of our daily lives – connecting us to school, work, and the people who matter to us the most,” said Supervisor Karen Spiegel, RCTC Chair and Vice Chair of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. “The Mid County Parkway Ramona Expressway will address critical safety improvements in one of the most traveled corridors in our region. Phase II of the Potrero Interchange will enhance regional mobility throughout the San Gorgonio Pass. Together, these two projects will a create a safer and more connected Riverside County for us all.”
• Metro Recommends Heavy Rail Subway for Valley-Westside Sepulveda Transit Project (Streetsblog Los Angeles). Metro is poised to approve a heavy rail subway project running in a tunnel from Westwood to the San Fernando Valley. This very likely means the dreadful monorail alternative is dead. The mega-project is called is the Sepulveda Transit Corridor. Ultimately, it will extend from the middle of the San Fernando Valley, through the Santa Monica Mountains, to Westwood, and to LAX. On the way are connections to Metro’s G Line, D Line, E Line, and to mid-Valley Metrolink and Amtrak. As part of a Public-Private Partnership (P3) process, Metro selected two private sector teams to develop designs for the Sepulveda project:
• 🎥 State Route 2 Update 🚧 (FB/Caltrans District 8). Over the holiday period, severe winter storms caused significant damage along multiple sections of SR-2. Our district continues to work closely with District 7 for slope failures, roadway damage, drainage impacts, and debris accumulation that will require extensive repairs to ensure the route can be safely reopened. Our teams are actively assessing conditions, developing repair plans, and coordinating the resources needed for this complex recovery effort. Due to the extent of the damage and possible future weather impacts, the route will be closed from Big Pines to SR-39 indefinitely. Blocking access from LA County to San Bernardino County.
• Pacific Coast Highway to be fully reconnected for first time in 3 years (KSBW 8). For the first time in three years, Highway 1 will be fully reopened from the Big Sur coastline to San Luis Obispo County. According to Big Sur Chamber of Commerce President Kirk Gafill, he was told the Regent’s Slide area of Highway 1 in Big Sur will reopen fully to all traffic beginning Wednesday afternoon. Governor Gavin Newsom sent a media release confirming the reopening of the road. Adding that Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide would reopen at noon on Wednesday. This will reconnect through traffic between San Francisco and Los Angeles along the Big Sur coast.
• Caltrans meeting for Proposed Hwy 49 Grass Valley Wildfire Evacuation Route Project tonight (Yubanet). Caltrans is announcing the Draft Environmental Document (DED) for the proposed $107.4 million State Route 49 (SR 49) Grass Valley Wildfire Evacuation Route Project is now available for review and comments. A public meeting also is scheduled for the project. Attendees can view displays to see the latest updates about the project, ask questions to Caltrans staff and provide input to the project team. The meeting will be held Wednesday, January 7 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Nevada County Government Center Board of Supervisors’ Chamber located at 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City.
• Theft, vandalism delay state Route 36 slide work (MSN/Eureka Times Standard). Theft and the destruction of machinery is impacting ongoing work to address a slide on state Route 36, Caltrans said Wednesday in a social media post. The slide, located along Route 36 near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park, has been the site of emergency repairs for months. But efforts are being hampered by vandalism and theft. “Thieves have targeted an excavator, a skip loader, and changeable message signs, stealing fuel and batteries worth thousands of dollars. When crews arrive at disabled equipment, it slows our efforts to keep the highway open and drives up project costs,” a Facebook post by Caltrans District 1 said. “We’ve also seen other vandalism in this corridor, including equipment at postmile 25 that was broken into with ignition systems destroyed, and a changeable message sign on another Route 36 project that was shot with a shotgun last year,” the post said.
• ＄ Regent’s Slide fixed; CA Hwy 1 to Big Sur reopens Jan. 14 (Sacramento Bee). Travelers will once again be able to drive the entire Big Sur coast when a troublesome slide area of Highway 1 reopens, which is expected to happen at noon Wednesday. That means for the first time in exactly three years, drivers will be able to make the trip from Cambria to Carmel, since the first in a string of slides closed that part of the highway on Jan. 14, 2023.
• Route 66 at 100: Visit the end of the road in sunny Santa Monica, California (National Geographic). A century after Route 66 officially opened in 1926, the road’s final stretch through Los Angeles County, from Pasadena to Santa Monica’s golden sands, remains wonderfully in tact. Long before John Steinbeck dubbed Route 66 “The Mother Road” in his 1930s dustbowl novel The Grapes of Wrath, the Indigenous Tongva and Chumash people forged trade routes along the paths Route 66 takes through California’s Mojave Desert and into the still genteel urban landscape of Pasadena, where it becomes Colorado Boulevard.
• ＄ California Highway 1 through Big Sur to fully reopen this week (Los Angeles Times). Highway 1 through Big Sur fully reopened Wednesday after three years of closures from landslides and rockfalls, allowing for an uninterrupted drive along the state’s iconic coastline between Carmel and Cambria. Local businesses that struggled during the closure say they’re prepared for a surge in visitors as the famed route reopens. But even after the extensive and expensive repairs, officials and locals know that more closures remain a real possibility, especially during the rainy season. First, it was a series of strong atmospheric rivers that set off a troublesome landslide in January 2023, again splitting up the world-famous drive along Big Sur’s iconic coastline. Then, a second winter of drenching storms triggered two more slides, including one that completely buried another section of California’s Highway 1 under 300,000 cubic yards of dirt, rock and debris. To make matters worse, weeks later Mother Nature appeared to take a bite out of a cliffside lane near the Rocky Creek Bridge. But now, for the first time in three years, the coastal two-lane highway is completely open for an uninterrupted drive of the roughly 100 miles between Carmel and Cambria.
• ＄ Highway 37 bridge project in Novato gets $25M influx (Marin I-J). A plan to raise a bridge in a flood-prone area of Highway 37 in Marin County is in line for a $25 million funding boost. The Transportation Authority of Marin is set to transfer the funds to the California Department of Transportation for the Novato Creek Bridge replacement project. The funds are part of the county’s share of Regional Measure 3 bridge toll revenue administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. “What’s exciting about the new Novato Creek Bridge is that it’s going to be the first component of the entire 21-mile Highway 37 corridor that is constructed at the ultimate height,” said Marin County Supervisor Eric Lucan, whose District 5 includes Novato. “We’re going to see that segment right here in Marin, in an area that has experienced a lot of flooding and forced closures. We’re looking forward to it.”
• Great Highway measure fails to qualify for June 2026 ballot (SF Examiner). Newly appointed District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong did not meet a Tuesday deadline for getting the three signatures from fellow supervisors he needed to qualify a June ballot initiative seeking to reopen Great Highway to vehicular traffic during weekdays. The lack of buy-in from colleagues came despite Wong making public appeals for support, including at a press conference Tuesday afternoon in which he reiterated claims that some dispute that traffic injuries have increased in his district since a stretch of Great Highway was turned into Sunset Dunes park. Wong’s district includes the Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods west of 19th Avenue. Mayor Daniel Lurie appointed Wong on Dec. 1 to fill the vacant seat previously occupied by former Supervisor Joel Engardio, who was recalled for sponsoring Prop. K.
• ＄ Sunset recallers launch effort to reopen Great Highway after supervisor’s plan crashes (SF Standard). The endless saga surrounding the Great Highway — San Francisco’s version of “War and Peace” — is about to get another bloody chapter. A group of west-side residents tied to the 2025 recall movement against former Sunset Supervisor Joel Engardio is taking over the campaign to reopen two miles of the coastal highway to cars on weekdays. Their effort began Tuesday, just as the clock wound down on Supervisor Alan Wong’s effort to secure support from board colleagues to put the Great Highway issue back on the ballot. Wong gave up the push after failing to convince a minimum of three supervisors to lend their signatures to his proposal for a June voter referendum to overturn Proposition K.
• World’s largest wildlife crossing set to open this fall, price tag climbs (KTLA 5 LA). What will eventually be the largest wildlife crossing in the world is running behind schedule and over budget due to a host of factors, including severe weather and tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump, project managers tell KTLA. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, currently under construction over the busy 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, northwest of Los Angeles, has been decades in the making. The ambitious and complex project will connect the Santa Monica Mountains to the south with hills and open space north of the freeway, allowing wildlife such as cougars and bears to safely cross without the risk of becoming roadkill – as they do now. When construction broke ground on Earth Day in 2022, the goal was to complete the 200-foot-long, 165-foot-wide bridge by 2025. That timeline held until spring 2024 when officials, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, started projecting a ribbon-cutting in “early 2026.” Since then, the target has shifted to November 2026. Here’s why:
• Highway 1 through Big Sur reopens after three years of landslide repairs (LAist). Topline: The iconic Highway 1 in Big Sur reopened today – months ahead of schedule – after undergoing repairs from landslide damage. For the first time in three years, residents and visitors will be able to travel along the scenic 7-mile stretch of road between Carmel and Cambria. Background: Back-to-back destructive landslides caused the coastline road to be closed for repairs since January 2023. The coastal road is no stranger to closures due to landslide damage. The U.S. Geological Survey identified 75 miles of the Big Sur coastline as one of the most landslide-prone areas in the western United States, officials said. What we know: Caltrans removed about 6,000 cubic yards of mud and debris to clear the way for drivers using remote-controlled bulldozers and excavators. Crew members also installed steel bars into the hillside slopes to prevent future landslides.
• Safety concerns prompt midsize cities to reconvert their 1-way streets (AP News). Excessive speeding was so common on parallel one-way streets passing a massive electronics plant that Indianapolis residents used to refer to the pair as a “racetrack” akin to the city’s famous Motor Speedway a few miles west. Originally two-way thoroughfares, Michigan and New York streets switched to opposite one-way routes in the 1970s to help thousands of RCA workers swiftly travel to and from their shifts building televisions or pressing vinyl records. But after the RCA plant closed in 1995, the suddenly barren roads grew even more enticing for lead-footed drivers — until last year, when city officials finally converted them back to two-way streets. “The opening and conversion of those streets has just been transformative for how people think about that corridor,” said James Taylor, who runs a nearby community center.
• Granite wins $66M Caltrans highway contract (GVA Stock News). Granite (NYSE:GVA) announced it has been selected for a contract valued at approximately $66 million by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for a highway improvement project in Nevada County, California. Project funding is to come from Federal and State sources, and will be included in Granite’s 2025 fourth quarter CAP. The project will expand State Route 49 to four lanes with a center turn lane, improving safety, traffic flow, and local access. The new alignment will include:
• Bridge suicide barrier moves forward (Moorpark Acorn). Work has restarted on a long-awaited suicide deterrent fence along the Arroyo Simi Bridge in Moorpark. Construction first kicked off in November after a contractor delay, and sections of the fence were already visible before holiday and weather setbacks temporarily halted progress. Drivers can expect overnight closures this week as crews continue the installation. The Arroyo Simi Bridge, which spans the junction of the 23 and 118 freeways and rises about 90 feet above Princeton Avenue, has been the site of multiple suicides since its completion in 1993. According to California Highway Patrol records, at least 14 people have died by suicide on the bridge, including three since 2018. Other fatalities have resulted from accidents or undetermined causes. Local officials and residents have long voiced concern about the bridge’s height and accessibility, calling for permanent safety measures to prevent further tragedies. In response, the California Transportation Commission allocated $6.8 million in 2022 for the design and construction of a suicide deterrent fence.
• Highway 1 Reopens Through Big Sur Months Ahead of Schedule (The Santa Barbara Independent). After years of closures and detours, Highway 1 through Big Sur reopened Wednesday, restoring one of California’s most iconic routes nearly three months ahead of schedule. The reopening, announced January 14, reestablishes uninterrupted travel between Carmel and Cambria for the first time in almost three years, following extensive repairs at Regent’s Slide and Paul’s Slide — two massive landslides that severed the highway in January 2023 and again in February 2024. “We have this ribbon of highway that runs right on the edge of the continent,” said Kevin Drabinski, public and legislative affairs representative for Caltrans District 5. “And we do our part to keep that highway open because it’s so vital to residents and businesses on the coast.” For Santa Barbara and the Central Coast, the news landed with particular resonance. The closure had cut off a vital economic and recreational artery linking Southern California to Big Sur’s campgrounds, surf breaks, trailheads, and small businesses.
• One-way traffic control coming to Miner Slough Bridge (Daily Republic). Caltrans will start repair work Tuesday on the deck of Miner Slough Bridge. It’s on State Route 84. The project includes a repaving of the deck. Work is from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be daytime lane closures with one-way traffic control from the entrance of Holland Road to the other end of the bridge on Ryer Road. All work is dependent on weather. Large trucks are advised to attempt to make tight turns and use caution when approaching the Miner Slough Bridge for your safety and the safety of people on the road.
• 🎁 Suicides Were Frequent at the Golden Gate Bridge. Not Anymore (The New York Times Gift Article). The Golden Gate Bridge, the iconic span that hangs between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, has been the site of more than 2,000 confirmed suicide leaps since its completion in 1937. The true death toll is certainly higher, since not all jumps are witnessed and not all bodies are recovered. In 2006, at least 34 people jumped to their deaths by crossing the four-foot rail and plunging more than 200 feet into the strait below. It was also the year that Paul Muller and two others with family members who had jumped from the bridge decided to do something. That something slowly evolved into a complicated, miles-long series of stainless-steel nets — a “suicide deterrent system” — now strung on both sides of the bridge. It is out of sight to the millions of people who cross the bridge every year, but plainly visible to anyone standing at the rail, looking down.
• State Route 37/SR-37- Fairgrounds Drive Interchange- Vallejo Solano Transportation Authority and Caltrans Begin the Next Phase of Construction (Caltrans). The Solano Transportation Authority (STA), in close coordination with its transportation partner, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is continuing construction work on the new State Route 37 (SR 37)/Fairgrounds Drive Interchange Project in Vallejo. The interchange improvement project will enhance motorist safety and improve bicycle and pedestrian access with construction of a new divergent diamond interchange. This is the first-ever divergent diamond interchange (DDI) constructed in the Bay Area and only the second-ever constructed on a major highway in California.
• Caltrans warns of weather impacts on roads after Hwy 273 flooding in Shasta County (MSN/KRCR Chico Redding). Heavy rain this week led to flooded roadways in Shasta County, including on Highway 273. Caltrans District 2 Public Information Officer Chris Woodward told the Northstate’s News that, this past weekend, the storm delivered an inundation of water to the Highway 273 areas. He said flooding depends on the geography, as well as the amount of water that comes down in a specific amount of time. The storm on Dec. 21, he said, brought rare conditions. “[Hwy] 273 does have some streams and tributaries that are kind of around in the area as well,” Woodward said. “We have drainage systems on the highway system in the area. There are also drainage systems adjacent on city and county properties.” Woodward said of the rain on Dec. 21, “That convergence line lined up for many hours and dropped a whole lot of rain in a short period of time.”
• Caltrans reopens stretch along Topanga Canyon Boulevard (MSN/My News LA). A 3.6-mile stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard running from Pacific Coast Highway to Grand View Drive, in the Topanga community, is reopened Monday. That stretch of state Route 27 was closed early Saturday to allow crews to install an 84-inch reinforced concrete pipe underneath the north-south artery designed to increase capacity to carry water and mud during rain storms and reduce the amount of debris flow onto the roadway. The transportation agency has plans to install more sections of concrete pipe under the mountainous roadway, and states that the boulevard remains an active work zone that will be closed to the public from midnight to 5 a.m. daily. During such times, crews will utilize one-way traffic control with a pilot car.
• 🎥 ＄ Take a trip down Highway 1 now that it is fully reopened for the first time in 3 years (Los Angeles Times). Highway 1 through Big Sur fully reopened Wednesday after three years of closures due to landslides and rockfalls, allowing for an uninterrupted drive along the state’s iconic coastline between Carmel and Cambria. Local businesses that struggled during the closure say they’re prepared for a surge in visitors as the famed route reopens.
• As a Bay Area highway landmark decays, new owners take over property (SF Gate). If, while driving between San Francisco and Sacramento in 1930, you were suddenly struck by a powerful hankering for dairy, there was only one place on your mind: the Milk Farm. Its reputation was legendary. Pony rides, apple pies and 10 cents for all the milk you could drink. In the early days of the American highway system, there were few places like the Dixon roadside stop — and even if you never had the chance to eat at the famous restaurant, you’ve no doubt seen the sign on Interstate 80, its cheerful cow leaping over the moon since 1963. Decades of wear and tear have taken their toll on the Bay Area landmark, though, and with new ownership, locals are once again fretting over the future of their iconic emblem.
• More Projects on the Way for Gold Country Corridor (Yubanet). Caltrans announced the completion of the $33.2 million State Route 49 (SR 49) Safety Barrier Project in Placer County, which will improve operations and reduce crashes along the corridor. Improvements include a new concrete center barrier between Lone Star Road and Lorenson Road/Florence Lane to reduce the potential for cross centerline collisions. The project is a result of several years’ worth of engagement with various community groups and state partners, including the California Highway Patrol, the Nevada County Transportation Commission and Placer County. “This project showcases Caltrans’ commitment to the Safe System approach, prioritizing safety first and focusing on eliminating the most serious crashes,” said Caltrans District 3 Director Sergio Aceves. “It’s an important step in the department’s goal of reaching zero fatalities and serious injuries on all state highways by 2050.”
• ＄ Marin-Sonoma Narrows project costs climb as work goes on (Marin I-J). All lanes of a Highway 101 widening project between Marin and Sonoma have been open since late September, but construction isn’t over and costs are creeping up. Since the final phase of the Marin-Sonoma Narrows project got underway in 2022, inclement weather and unplanned work have challenged the crews, according to the California Department of Transportation. The last phase, called the “MSN B7” project, installed carpool lanes on 3.5 miles between Novato and the Sonoma County line. With construction cost overruns and change orders, the final phase is expected to increase about $2.5 million to nearly $108 million. The most significant increase is because of cross-slope correction on the highway where the new pavement meets the asphalt that was installed in an earlier phase. The job will smooth out the drive by grinding the pavement to level the grade, which was misaligned because of unforeseen site conditions. The cost of the unexpected work is estimated at $1.3 million.
• Caltrans finishes $33M project on crash-plagued area along Highway 49 (SF Gate). A $33.2 million road project in an area known for serious crashes on state Route 49 has been completed, Caltrans announced Tuesday. Caltrans said the upgrades include a new concrete safety barrier and roundabouts along the stretch between Lorenson Road and Florence Lane and Lone Star Road in Placer County, where cars have crossed into oncoming traffic. The concrete barrier was added in the middle of the road, stretching for 1.3 miles, to help prevent cross-centerline crashes along the corridor, Caltrans said. According to a study from Caltrans, the corridor, which runs through rural Sierra Nevada foothill communities north of Auburn, had a history of cross-median crashes. During a three-year period from January 2015 to December 2017, Caltrans reported 34 collisions.
• Wildlife bridge faces $21-million cost overrun (The Acorn). Despite recent talk to the contrary, there are no new delays in the timeline for completion of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills, according to the project’s most prominent spokesperson, though economic headwinds have added perhaps $21 million to the original price tag of $92.6 million. Beth Pratt, California’s regional director for the National Wildlife Federation, went live on the project’s Facebook page on Jan. 20 to address what she called “misinformation put out about the crossing recently.” Standing atop the surface of the bridge that spans the 101 Freeway at Liberty Canyon—and is currently being covered with native plants—Pratt said that on such major construction projects “overages happen all the time.” She added, “And given the times we’re living in, that we’re possibly looking at about a $21 million increase from 2021, even factoring in for inflation, that’s not that bad.”
• New Concrete Safety Barrier and Roundabouts Improve Safety Along State Route 49 in Placer County (Caltrans). Today, Caltrans announced the completion of the $33.2 million State Route 49 (SR 49) Safety Barrier Project in Placer County, which will improve operations and reduce crashes along the corridor. The project is a result of several years’ worth of engagement with various community groups and state partners, including the California Highway Patrol, the Nevada County Transportation Commission and Placer County. “This project showcases Caltrans’ commitment to the Safe System approach, prioritizing safety first and focusing on eliminating the most serious crashes,” said Caltrans District 3 Director Sergio Aceves. “It’s an important step in the department’s goal of reaching zero fatalities and serious injuries on all state highways by 2050.” Improvements include a new concrete center barrier between Lone Star Road and Lorenson Road/Florence Lane to reduce the potential for cross centerline collisions. Roundabouts were constructed at each intersection along with new pavement, striping, curb and gutters, sidewalks, lighting and signage.
• 23 Freeway bridge fence underway (The Acorn). Work has restarted on a long-awaited suicide deterrent fence along the Arroyo Simi Bridge in Moorpark. Construction began in November after a contractor delay, and sections of the fence were already visible before holiday and weather setbacks temporarily halted progress. Drivers faced overnight closures last week as crews continued the installation. The Arroyo Simi Bridge, which spans the junction of the 23 and 118 freeways and rises about 90 feet above Princeton Avenue, has been the site of multiple suicides since its completion in 1993.According to California Highway Patrol records, at least 14 people have died by suicide on the bridge, including three since 2018. Other fatalities have resulted from accidents or undetermined causes. Local officials and residents have long voiced concern about the bridge’s height and accessibility, calling for permanent safety measures to prevent further tragedies. In response, the California Transportation Commission allocated $6.8 million in 2022 for the design and construction of a suicide deterrent fence.
• Caltrans’ Fix 50 project 2 years behind schedule, $40M over budget (ABC 10). Caltrans’ Fix 50 project started, by contract, in July of 2020, set to affect Highway 50 roughly from I-5 on the west to slightly past the Watt Avenue exit on the east. The original completion target, according to Caltrans, was late 2024. Now, it’s set to end this summer, and the delays have frustrated drivers. “Due to the complexity of the work, weather delays, delays in acquiring permits and agreements to proceed with segments of the work, and other impacts, the schedule has been pushed out and the budget has increased,” said Caltrans spokesperson Sergio Ochoa Sánchez. Working in the wrong weather conditions can result in problems, he said.
• Possible relief for State Route 52 gridlock as expansion plan moves forward (CBS 8). East County commuters who spend hours stuck on State Route 52 may soon see some relief. Transportation officials are exploring a proposed improvement project aimed at easing congestion along the highway in and out of Santee. Caltrans says SR-52 traffic is uniquely directional, with heavy westbound congestion during the morning commute and eastbound backups in the evening. The proposed plan, still in its early stages, would better match those traffic patterns by adding managed lanes for carpools or buses and potentially a reversible lane in the median. The City of Santee has pushed for improvements for more than a decade, and momentum is building with support from Caltrans and SANDAG.
• ＄ Project to add a lane, making a safer 5 Freeway between 405 and 55, gets underway (Orange County Register). $716 million project is getting underway to add lanes to the 5 Freeway where it runs through Irvine and Tustin. The Orange County Transportation Authority, along with Caltrans and local leaders, celebrated breaking ground on the work on Friday, Jan. 23, from a property overlooking the 5 between the 405 and 55 freeways, where it will be improved. More than 275,600 motorists travel the stretch each day. The project will add a lane in each direction and more space for merging and getting on and off the ramps to local streets. The work will also add bike lanes, rebuild sidewalks and make other improvements to those city streets. The transportation authority’s CEO, Darrell Johnson, called the project “a targeted investment versus a complete freeway rebuild.”
• ＄ Fake ivy installed along U.S. 101 in downtown Los Angeles to deter graffiti (Los Angeles Times). In a bid to foil graffiti vandals, the California Department of Transportation has installed artificial ivy along U.S. 101 in downtown Los Angeles ahead of the FIFA World Cup starting in June and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Video posted to Instagram recently showed Caltrans crews bolting the fake foliage to retaining walls along a stretch of the freeway known as “The Slot” — a section of depressed highway that cuts through downtown Los Angeles and that once featured historic murals from the 1984 Olympics that are now covered with spray paint. “Due to a mural and related agreements at this location and several walls along U.S. 101 in downtown Los Angeles, Caltrans is not legally allowed to paint over or remove graffiti,” Caltrans said in a statement to ABC7. “As a temporary measure, to protect the mural artworks, Caltrans has been installing artificial ivy, which has aesthetic benefits and acts as a graffiti deterrent and is a more environmentally friendly solution to graffiti removal.”
• ＄ California’s Highway 1 fighting a losing battle against climate change (Los Angeles Times). California marked a milestone this month with the return of an uninterrupted Highway 1 through the perilous, yet spectacular cliffs of Big Sur. The famed coastal road was closed for more than three years after two major landslides buried the two-lane highway, and it took unprecedented engineering might and precarious debris removal to once again connect northern Big Sur with its southern neighbors. But no one expects this will be the end of Highway 1’s battle with the forces of nature, especially in a world facing the intensifying effects of human-caused climate change.
• ＄ Highway 121 reopens in Schellville after monthslong Caltrans project (Sonoma Index-Tribune). A section of Highway 121 in Schellville reopened this month to two-way traffic following the completion of a monthslong Caltrans bridge project. The work, which was completed Jan. 23, was part of a larger plan to repair both the Arroyo Seco Bridge and the nearby Yellow Creek Bridge, which were both built in the early 1920s and no longer met safety standards, according to Caltrans officials. The Arroyo Seco Bridge underwent construction in October forcing a full closure of the road throughout the month. After it reopened, construction shifted on Nov. 3 to the Yellow Creek Bridge, where only one-way traffic was permitted.
• ＄ The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is on track for fall opening (Los Angeles Times). To the 300,000 drivers who stream through Agoura Hills on the 101 Freeway every day, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing looks relatively unchanged from last summer, except for some leggy native shrubs growing along the outer walls. While activity seems to have halted on what is touted to be the world’s largest wildlife crossing, there’s been lots of slow, expensive work at the site that’s hard to spot from the freeway, said Robert Rock, chief executive of Chicago-based Rock Design Associates and the landscape architect overseeing the project. This includes:
• 1G670 SR-79 Shoulder Widening Safety Project (Temecula-Aguanga) (Caltrans District 8 Email). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) contractor crews are continuing a $61M project on State Route 79 in Riverside County near Aguanga, stretching from north of the SR-371 junction to south of Pauba Rd. One lane will be closed, requiring traffic to be directed by flaggers in both directions. Temporary signals will also be used for traffic control during this project. Work will take place both day and night. All work is dependent on weather and materials, which means the schedule may change.
• SR-37/Fairgrounds Dr. Interchange Project (Solano Transportation Authority). The Solano Transportation Authority (STA), in partnership with the City of Vallejo, Caltrans, and Solano County, is leading construction on the State Route 37/Fairgrounds Drive Interchange Improvements Project. This project will include roadway improvements along portions of Fairgrounds Drive and Redwood Parkway/Redwood Street, as well as several nearby intersections and interchanges within the City of Vallejo. Specifically, this project will widen and improve 1.5 miles of Fairgrounds Drive, extending from the State Route 37 interchange to the Redwood Parkway/Interstate 80 Interchange. The project will implement a Diverging Diamond Interchange design that will significantly improve traffic flow and safety, while reducing congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. At the end of the project, it will be both safer and easier for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists to access and navigate.
• ＄ San Rafael moves toward designing path under Highway 101 (Marin I-J). San Rafael is moving ahead with plans to create a path that will connect a neighborhood to transit, shopping, schools and parks. The route would run between the Rafael Meadows community off south Merrydale Road on the west side of Highway 101 and Civic Center Drive on the east side. The estimated $3.5 million project is planned as a 10-foot-wide multiuse path along the south side of the SMART train tracks. The City Council approved a contract on Jan. 20 with CSW Stuber-Stroeh Engineering Group to design the path and produce environmental reporting. The contract is for up to $469,963. “The project would improve access to people walking, biking or using other non-motorized forms of transportation by filling a critical gap under Highway 101 at the Marin Civic Center Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit station,” said Grey Melgard, a city civil engineer.
• ＄ Golden Gate Bridge suicides decline 87% since barrier (Marin I-J). The steel-mesh suicide barrier installed on the Golden Gate Bridge two years ago has proved to be effective. Four people died after jumping from the span last year, an 87% decline from the annual average of 30 fatal falls before the barrier, according to bridge officials. “It’s almost zero — that’s phenomenal,” said Dayna Whitmer, whose 20-year-old son Matthew jumped from the bridge in 2007. Whitmer said searchers never recovered her son’s body, robbing the family of whatever closure that could have provided. The Whitmers turned to the Bridge Rail Foundation, a nonprofit organization that advocated for the barrier.
• Hwy 49 Corridor Improvement Project Will Improve Safety and Mobility in Nevada County (Yubanet). Today, Caltrans in collaboration with the Nevada County Transportation Commission (NCTC), announced the start of the $124.9 million State Route 49 (SR 49) Corridor Improvement Project, which will improve safety and mobility within Nevada County. The project was funded in part by $7.9 million from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. Upcoming work includes constructing a two-way left-turn lane, right-turn lanes, 10-foot shoulders and a northbound slow-moving truck lane along SR 49 between Allison Ranch Road/La Barr Meadows Road to the McKnight Way interchange in Grass Valley. An additional southbound truck-climbing lane will be constructed within the project limits along with a new entrance to the Nevada County Transit Operations Center.
• Gridley Sees Ongoing Delays from Highway 99 Project (The Gridley News). Construction continues on the $27.3 million State Route 99 Pavement Rehabilitation Project in Gridley as Caltrans crews make steady progress from the southern edge to the northern limit of town. Long traffic lines have been observed, with backups extending from the four-way stop at East Gridley Road and Magnolia Street to Highway 99 during non-rush-hour periods. The Gridley Herald reached out to Caltrans Public Information Officer Megan Reese with the California Department of Transportation regarding safety and the project timeline. “Caltrans understands the traffic impacts and community concerns related to the ongoing construction,” Reese said. “The State Route 99 project in Gridley is currently in active construction, with work expected to continue into winter 2026.”
• Caltrans analysis questioned in lawsuit to stop Highway 99 project in Fresno (Merced Sun-Star). The accuracy of an environmental impact analysis of Caltrans’ Highway 99 interchange expansion in south Fresno came into question at a recent hearing of a lawsuit vying to stop the project. The lawsuit filed by community advocate groups argues new interchanges would increase truck traffic pollution in neighborhoods already overburdened by poor air quality along Highway 99. Fresno Judge Geoffrey Wilson last Friday heard arguments from attorneys both for and against the South Fresno State Route 99 Corridor project, which would reconstruct two interchanges on American Avenue and North Avenue. The interchanges would be converted from two to four or six lanes, thereby connecting Highway 99 to local roadways in the small communities of Calwa and Malaga just south of Fresno.
• ＄ Repairs to storm-damaged stretch of Highway 116 could take a year, Caltrans says (East Bay Times). Repairs to storm-damaged Highway 116, a key thoroughfare along the lower Russian River in western Sonoma County, could take a year to complete once the work begins, with travel limited to one direction at a time until then, Caltrans officials said Tuesday. That word came a day after the rain-saturated soil beneath a stretch of the highway just west of Monte Rio gave way about 4 p.m. Monday, spilling into the swollen Russian River. The earth, likely loosened by the surging waterway and runoff from the recent storms, dragged down some trees, a portion of the guardrail and 75-100 linear feet of the road, eating into the eastbound lane.

Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer)

• The 1913-era Bridalveil Fall Bridges of Yosemite National Park. The Bridalveil Falls Bridges are three structures located in Yosemite Valley beneath the namesake Bridalveil Fall. These structures were designed/constructed as part of the Bridalveil Fall Road by Oscar Parlier in 1913 as the first reinforced concrete bridges in Yosemite National Park. The Bridalveil Fall Road was a short spur of the Wawona Road which was first proposed by the Washburn Brothers in 1881 and served wheeled traffic until sometime after the Wawona Tunnel opened in 1933. The Bridalveil Fall Bridges are now as part of a trail are the only known spans still standing from the era of United States Calvary oversite of Yosemite National Park.
• Walker Basin Road. Walker Basin Road is a rural highway located in the namesake Walker Basin in the Sierra Nevada of eastern Kern County. Walker Basin is named after famed mountain man and scout Joseph R. Walker. The roadway encompasses an area which once passed through the Joe Walker Mine and was part of a larger stage route to the original Kern County seat of Havilah.
• Raynor Ranch Road and the Stockton-Los Angeles Road.
  Raynor Ranch Road is a 3.7 mile remanent of the larger Stockton-Los Angeles Road along the Mariposa County and Merced County line. The Stockton-Los Angeles Road was commissioned as a major stage road between the cities of Los Angeles and Stockton in 1853.
• Caliente Creek Road. Caliente Creek Road is an approximately 19-mile rural highway located in the Sierra Nevada of eastern Kern County. Caliente Creek Road begins at the intersection of Walker Basin Road and Piute Mountain Road at northern extent of Twin Oaks. From Walker Basin the highway travels in a clockwise direction via canyons along the namesake Caliente Creek to Caliente-Bodfish Road. Caliente Creek Road is maintained as Kern County Road 487.
• West Westfall Road (Mariposa County). West Westfall Road is a six-mile rural dirt surface highway located in southern Mariposa County. As presently configured West Westfall Road begins at White Rock Road near the White Rock ghost town and terminates at Preston Road near the ruins of the Goodview Mine copper smelter. This roadway was likely developed during the 1870s amid the copper mining boom at Copper Hill. The corridor is named after Sierra Nevada foothill pioneer Fremont Westfall who used to raise cattle in the White Rock area.
• The Kearney Boulevard Arch (Fresno). Kearney Boulevard is a seventeen-mile-long scenic highway located in Fresno County. The original eleven miles of palm, eucalyptus and oleander lined highway was opened from Fresno Street in downtown Fresno west to the property of Martin Theo Kearney in 1887. Keaney’s so-called Chateau Fresno Park would be rebranded as “Kearney Park” following his death in 1903 and later became the first Fresno County Park in 1949. The Kearney Boulevard Arch at the westbound beginning of the corridor was erected by the city of Fresno in 1933.
• Crystal Cave Road (the former Colony Mill Road) and Crystal Cave. Crystal Cave Road is an approximately 6.5-mile highway which accesses the namesake cave in Sequoia National Park. Much of this corridor is comprised of a segment of the Colony Mill Road which was extended to the Giant Forest in 1903. The namesake Crystal Cave was discovered by U.S. Army members on a fishing trip in 1918. The cave was made accessible to the public when the Crystal Cave Road and Trail were constructed between 1939-1941.
• 🎂 Gribblenation at 25 (Adam). It’s been 25 years since three smart-ass kids, still in college or just out of college, decided to put together a website called Gribblenation. It was a loose collection of my own, Doug’s, and Brian’s websites and interests. Now, 25 years later, we’re still around. Over the years, our site has evolved. Some ideas stuck, while others fizzled, and some never took off. Life, kids, work, grad school, and everything else ended some things but opened many other doors that I don’t think any of us thought were possible 25 years ago.

This entry was originally posted on Observations Along the Road as 🚘 Headlines About California Highways – January 2026 by cahwyguy. Although you can comment on DW, please make comments on original post at the Wordpress blog using the link to the left. You can sign in with your LJ, DW, FB, or a myriad of other accounts. Note: Subsequent changes made to the post on the blog are not propagated by the SNAP Crossposter; please visit the original post to see the latest version. P.S.: If you see share buttons above, note that they do not work outside of the Wordpress blog.