California Highways (www.cahighways.org): Route 211

1963-1965 Routing

Post-1964 Legistlative Route Graphic In 1963, Route 211 was defined as "Route 99 near Delano to Route 65." This was a portion of former Route 65 on Famoso-Porterville Highway on LRN 136, with a planned bypass route for Route 65 around Ducor and Terra Bella. In 1965. Chapter 1372 deleted that definition of Route 211 and added the route to Route 155.

Post-1964 Legistlative Route Graphic The following was noted by Scott Parker on AARoads:
(Source: Scott Parker on AARoads, "Re: Bitterwater Road, Old SSR 178, more LRN 137, and the 1914 Salinas River Bridge", 2/22/2017)

"There was never any field signage of the original Route 155 from Route 204 to the point where it was realigned toward Delano, which occurred in late 1966. Also involved in that process was the former Route 211, which headed east from Delano to the diagonal road that paralleled the (former) SP tracks northeast to Route 65 at Ducor. That diagonal alignment was the original Route 65 route, which diverged from US 99 near Famoso, where former US 466/present Route 46 intersects Route 99 today. In one fell swoop in 1966, Route 155 was commissioned from the turning point on Route 211 (which was never signed in the field) eastward on Garces Highway to the original Route 155 (former LRN 142) alignment, continuing northeast and east on the original alignment to the Lake Isabella area and its Route 178 terminus. The Route 211 designation was deleted from the books (but later re-used in Humboldt County). The portion of Route 155 from Bakersfield to the realignment point was subsequently relinquished."

Post-1984 Routing

In 1984, Chapter 409 redefined the route as "Route 1 near Rockport to Route 101 near Fernbridge". This was the result of a diversion of Route 1 was diverted to terminate at US 101; this was an unconstructed segment of Route 1 (SB 2471, Chapter 409). It is unconstructed from Route 1 to Ferndale. Traversable local roads between the US 101 and the Mendocino County Line include Chemise Mountain Road, Kings Peak Road, Wilder Ridge Road, and Mattole Road. These roads are not constructed to state highway standards and are unacceptable candidate highways for the state highway system. Between the Mendocino County Line and Route 1, the existing road is primitive and unsuitable for use as a state highway.

Will the "Lost Coast" highway ever be constructed? The consensus is that it is unlikely. Tom Fearer noted on AARoads that the terrain is far from conducive for building anything but a road that hugs the terrain. The Lost Coast would require massive excavation of mountains that are at times thousands of feet high. The terrain of Santa Lucia Range is essentially compacted mud which is why both regions are so slide prone, especially during rainy winters. Scott Parker added that when the Lost Coast extension of Rolute 1 was projected back in 1959 (now Route 211), much of the impetus from that came from logging interests looking for a more efficient way of hauling redwood out to the mills along US 101. As the construction needs for redwood have long passed, and most of the mills are out of operation, there is little call and even less need for such a road. Occasionally there have been proposals for a southward extension of Route 211 from Ferndale (principally as a recreational route), following forest roads and eventually cutting back to US 101 near Garberville. He agreed with Tom's description of the area as a huge mudpatch (resulting in extensive road closures during rainy periods), and that the cost of grading and ballasting would be out of line for the likely traffic levels for such a highway. The final nail in the coffin is the chances of satisfying current environmental requirements plus the requirements of the Coastal Commission.
(Source: AARoads Discussion: "Re: Highway 1 through the lost coast", 1/20/2019)

Rte 211 1963-1965 The 1963-1965 definition of Route 211 between Delano and the Famoso-Porterville Highways was part of LRN 136, defined in 1933. This portion is now Route 155 (which continues to the E to meet the former LRN 142 portion of Route 155). The portion along the Famoso-Porterville highway and Richgrove Drive was LRN 129, also defined in 1933. This was once Route 65. The Richgrove Drive portion is now County Sign Route J35.

The post-1984 routing was originally part of LRN 56, and was to have been signed as part of Route 1.

LRN 56 (Sign Route 1, eventual Route 211) was extended north to Ferndale to LRN 1 (US 101) in 1933. Prior to 1933 the legislative description of LRN 56 had it's north terminus in Carmel and south terminus in San Luis Obispo. Tom Fearer notes that close examination of the map displayed in the August 1934 CHPW shows Route 1/LRN 56 as a functionally existing highway from Westport north to Fortuna. He also notes that the 1934 Division of Highways State Map shows State maintenance of Route 1/LRN 56 from Mendocino north to Fort Bragg. It also shows from Fort Bragg northward the implied route to Upper Mattole, and from Upper Mattole the implied through highway through the Lost Coast to Ferndale. Tom also examined the 1935 Goshua Highway Map of California, which shows Route 1/LRN 56 ending at Westport and the road continuing north to Kenny on Usal Road. From Kenny the highway to Thorn Junction appears to have followed Briceland Road to Thorn Junction. From Thorn Junction to Ettersburg the highway follows Ettersburg Road. From Ettersburg to Honey Dew the through highway follows Wilder Ridge Road. From Honey Dew the through route in the Lost Coast follows Mattole Road to Ferndale and the north segment of Route 1/LRN 56. The 1935 Goshua Map doesn't offer any evidence that Route 1 was signed by the California State Automobile Association in the Lost Coast. Tom notes that the first Division of Highways Map to display a rough planned general alignment of Route 1/LRN 56 in the Lost Coast was the 1953 edition.
(Source: Tom Fearer, Gribblenation Blog, "Paper Highways; California State Route 1 through the Lost Coast")

In 1956, a spur of LRN 56 was added to connect Route 1 to US 101 at Leggett. Per the May/June 1958 CHPW, the Westport-Leggett spur of LRN 56 was ultimately signed as part of Route 1 and was part of Federal Aid Secondary Rte 504. Mendocino County is said to have pushed during the fall of 1955 to have the planned Westport-Leggett Spur of LRN 56 added Federal Aid Secondary system. The article goes onto cite that part of the 1951 legislation that added the Westport-Leggett Spur of LRN 56 was that the State would not have to maintain the roadway until it was brought up to Division of Highways standards. Maintenance of the Westport-Leggett Spur of LRN 56 began on July 1, 1957.
(Source: Tom Fearer, Gribblenation Blog, "Paper Highways; California State Route 1 through the Lost Coast")

In the 1964 Renumbering, the spur to Leggett was renumbered to Route 208 (although it was not signed as such). In 1984, Route 208 was officially transferred to Route 1, and the "lost coast" was transferred to Route 211.