Did you leap today? It is, after all, a leap year and today’s the leap day. A perfect day for a headline post. For those unfamiliar, this post generally contains headlines about California Highways that I’ve seen over the last month. It also serves as fodder for the updates to my California Highways site, 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. Speaking of the California Highways site: I’ve been busy working on updates, and all I have left is incorporation of this headline posts and checking the AARoads Pacific Southwest Forum.
So what has happened in February with me? Well, I received my sample ballot, which means I did my five-part deep dive analysis: I—State and National Offices (excluding judges); II—County and City (Los Angeles) Local Offices (excluding judges); III—Local and State Measures (nee Propositions); IV—Judicial Offices (County and State); and V—Summary. We also saw a few shows: The Wiz at the Pantages; The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On at Canyon Theatre Guild; and Matthew Bournes’ Romeo + Juliet at the Ahmanson Theatre.
The podcast continues apace. Two more episodes dropped in February, and I’ve got more recording to schedule with Tom. Season 2 scripts are done; I’ll start writing Season 3, covering Routes 3 through 7, once I’m past the highway page updates. Episode 2.07 prompted a friend at Caltrans to offer to do an interview to talk about Fastrak and tolling in California; we’ll coordinate that as a bonus episode. Please tell your friends about the podcast, “like”, “♥”, or “favorite” it, and give it a rating in your favorite podcatcher. Yes, the sound quality of the episodes does get better — we were learning. 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 Podcasters, or you can subscribe through your favorite podcatching app or via the RSS feeds (CARxR, Spotify for Podcasters) . The following episodes have been posted this month:
- CA RxR 2.08: Route 1: Marin and …. Episode 2.08 of California Highways: Route by Route continues our exploration of Route 1. We’ve now crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, and are continuing north from the Marin Headlands, up along the coast through Sausalito and Marin, Muir Beach and Stinson Beach, Point Reyes, Bodega Bay, Jenner and Fort Ross until we reach the Marin Headlands. As always, we’ll cover the history of the route, and some current projects along the route. (Spotify for Podcasters)
- CA RxR 2.09: Route 1: The Redwood Forest. Episode 2.09 of California Highways: Route by Route continues our exploration of Route 1, as we complete discussing present-day Route 1 in Mendocino County from Gualala to Leggett and current Route 1’s end at US 101. Along the way, we’ll discuss the communities of Gualala, Point Arena, Albion, Mendocino, Fort Bragg, Westport and Rockport, and Leggett. As always, we’ll cover the history of the route, and some current projects along the route. (Spotify for Podcasters)
Looking forward, episode 2.10 will conclude the exploration of Route 1 by exploring a former portion of Sign Route 1: The Lost Coast. This will focus on what is now Route 208 and Route 211. The season will conclude with two episodes on Route 2: One on the flatlands from Santa Monica to Glendale; and one on the mountain segments along the Angeles Crest Highway.
Well, you should now be up to date. Here are the headlines that I found about California’s highways for February. Note that there aren’t as many this month: There are fewer major projects of interest, as I tend not to note resurfacings or most storm repairs that are fixed by the time I do the end of the month post.
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. 🎥 indicates a primarily video article. ]
Highway Headlines
- News Flash • Funding Approved for Highway 49 Evacuation Rout. (Nevada County) The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has approved a project to widen Highway 49 between Ponderosa Pines Way just north of Alta Sierra to Wolf Road in Grass Valley. The $101.5 million project includes the addition of shoulders and a center two-way left turn, which will allow safer operations for vehicles entering and exiting the highway. The improvements will also reduce wildfire evacuation times if the need arises. The commission approved the project at its December meeting; no timeline has been set yet as to when construction will begin Supervisor Ed Scofield serves as chairman of the Nevada County Transportation Commission, who submitted the project for funding in coordination with Caltrans District 3.
- ＄Fight over I-15 express lanes exposes rift between freeway widening and California climate, pollution goals. (Los Angeles Times) Express lanes on eight miles of the truck-choked Interstate 15 will break ground this year and, officials promise, speed up commuters’ slog through the Inland Empire’s ever-growing sprawl of warehouses, subdivisions and polluted air. But its contentious approval by the California Transportation Commission last month exposed a deepening rift in the state between its climate goals and the list of freeway widening projects that some say are gliding through without scrutiny and threatening the health of the people who live near them. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now looking into allegations that the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and the California Department of Transportation may have misled it about the potential environmental harm the project could cause communities that breathe in some of the nation’s worst air. Both say the project was vetted thoroughly and is sound.
- Metro Releases New Lower 710 Freeway Proposal; Agency Still Plans to Widen 710, Doesn’t Rule Out Residential Demolitions. (Streetsblog Los Angeles) Remember when community pressure killed Metro and Caltrans’ planned $6+ billion widening of the lower 710 Freeway? That was less than two years ago. Metro and Caltrans canceled their plans to demolish hundreds of homes, apartment buildings, and businesses in Black and Latino neighborhoods. At the time, Metro proclaimed it had turned over a new leaf, and was now centering equity and supporting multimodal transportation, and that Metro home demolitions for freeway expansion were a thing of the past. This week, Metro is back with a new proposal to widen the lower 710 Freeway. But wait, there’s some lipstick on this pig! In truth, it’s not as bad as the mega-widening that Metro was hell-bent on a couple years ago, but there’s still harmful freeway widening.
- Caltrans announces completion of environmental documents for Highway 37 work. (The Bay Link Blog) Caltrans announced on Friday the completion of environmental documents needed to begin design work on the SR-37 Flood Reduction Project in Marin County. The Fairfield Daily Republic reported on the Highway 37 issue in its Friday edition(link is external). Caltrans also announced that several new agencies are joining the short- and long-term efforts to improve the 21-mile corridor that runs between Vallejo and Novato. The Resilient SR-37 Partnership agencies include Caltrans, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Transportation Authority of Marin, Napa Valley Transportation Authority, Solano Transportation Authority, Sonoma County Transportation Authority and Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART).
- Richmond-San Rafael Bridge managers reexamine westbound lane options. (Marin Independent Journal) Bay Area transportation planners are taking another look at what it would take to open the westbound shoulder of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge for commuter traffic. The emergency and maintenance lane on the bridge’s upper deck was converted into a bicycle and pedestrian path that is protected by a moveable barrier in 2019 for a four-year trial period. The controversial path remains open pending a final report that could determine the fate of the test project. Critics, mostly commuters and their employers, say traffic is worse than ever, while supporters maintain the path is a successful multimodal connection between the North Bay and the East Bay.
- Slide on Highway 1 in Big Sur moves closure north of Paul’s Slide. (KSBW) A new slide along Highway 1 in Big Sur has moved the highway closure further north of Paul’s Slide. According to Caltrans, the slide happened near Big Creek Bridge, located 45 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The highway was already closed at Paul’s Slide, where damage from the 2023 storms forced Caltrans to reroute Highway 1 away from the cliff. There is no estimated time for reopening this new slide on Highway 1.
- Traffic Alert: 6 month detour on Hwy 41 in South Valley due to bridge construction. (KMPH-Fox 26 News) Construction of a bridge on Highway 41 near Stratford began on Tuesday and is expected to take about 6 months to complete. Caltrans announced the replacement of the Kings River Bridge on Hwy. 41 to ensure the safety and reliability of the highway. State Route 41 will be closed both northbound and southbound from just north of the Kings River at post mile 30.6 to post mile 32.6.
- Garlic Shoppe, landmark off Highway 101, to move from its location. (SF Gate) The iconic Garlic Shoppe in Gilroy is being forced to say goodbye to its original store and pack up and leave. The landmark store is best known for selling everything from garlic and spices to jams, sauces, and even garlic ice cream. “Very depressing, we’ve been here for 39 years. Alex is 62, and I’m 63. We are planning to retire a few years…now we have to basically start all over again,” Charlie Larson, co-owner of Garlic Shoppe, said. Located at the intersection of two of the busiest highways in the area, highway 101 and State Route 25, the shop is recognizable to thousands who travel the route.
- ＄ We can’t widen our way out of congestion. So why are we adding lanes?. (Los Angeles Times) This is the familiar promise for traffic-clogged freeways — and one that is provoking controversy in the Inland Empire: Transportation officials say commuters will benefit when express lanes are added to the truck-clogged Interstate 15, burdened with diesel-burning big rigs traveling to and from mammoth distribution centers.
- Marin gets $37M for road safety, trash capture projects. (Marin Independent Journal) Marin County has been selected for a $37 million state infusion to support a variety of road safety projects, and a major effort to keep highway litter and pollutants from entering waterways. Projects include a roundabout at the intersection of Manuel T. Freitas Parkway and Highway 101 in San Rafael, as well as retaining-wall and pavement repair in West Marin, among others. The largest chunk of cash from the California Transportation Commission is a $21 million award to install devices that capture trash at major junctions in the county’s stormwater system along highway corridors. The devices are planned to be installed along Highway 101, Interstate 580 and Tiburon Boulevard. They will treat the runoff from 210 acres of Caltrans right of way, as well as runoff from the adjacent cities and towns, said Julian Kaelon, spokesperson for the Marin County Department of Public Works.
- Yes, Merging Onto The 110’s Arroyo Seco Parkway Is Terrifying. We Have Pictures And Stories. (LAist) If there’s one thing that connects most drivers in Los Angeles, it’s probably the feeling of angst as they merge onto the Arroyo Seco Parkway — that section of the 110 Freeway that cuts through neighborhoods like Highland Park and Mount Washington. That stretch of road is narrow and winding, and the on-and off-ramps appear suddenly around bends with short runways and blind curves. If one is attempting to get on from spots in Highland Park, for example, a driver must wait for a brief break in the traffic, hold their breath, put the pedal to the metal and hope for the best. It’s not for the faint of heart.
- As LA Is Stripped For Parts, City Is On A Mission To Curb Copper Wire Thefts. (LAist) Copper wire thieves have damaged the LA Metro system, darkened swaths of neighborhood streetlights, and swiped cell phone towers for years. Now, L.A. City Councilmembers Traci Park and Kevin de León are calling for a new LAPD task force to fight back against the spike in copper crime that’s costing the city millions of dollars each year. “The city, quite literally, is being stripped for parts,” de León’s motion said. Park, whose 11th district includes West L.A, Venice, and Brentwood, told LAist copper wire theft is one of the most serious problems the city is facing.
- ＄ New Highway 37 planning structure elevates focus on environment, San Pablo Baylands. (Press Democrat) The people who are planning the long-needed improvements on heavily congested Highway 37 are faced with more than just the amount of time commuters spend in gridlock each day en route to and from jobs in Marin and Sonoma counties. There also are climate and environmental concerns along the sensitive shoreline of San Pablo Bay — the focus of tidelands restoration investments topping $600 million already. The diminished marshes and wetlands that once lined the greater San Francisco Bay are productive habitats that foster wildlife, filter water, sequester carbon and can help buffer the land from sea level rise. But the varying needs don’t always line up easily. What solves one problem could exacerbate another. And there is distrust among some who believe a short-term plan to widen the eastern stretch of 37 between Sears Point and Mare Island on slightly raised berms does more harm than good, despite the cost and time involved in a long-term plan to raise the whole highway.
- Los Gatos to build bike path over highway. (San José Spotlight) Los Gatos is carving a new path along Blossom Hill Road in the name of public safety. The Highway 17 Bicycle & Pedestrian Overcrossing project, located between the east and west sections of Roberts Road, will be constructed next to the Blossom Hill Road bridge sitting over the highway. The roughly 20-foot-wide bridge will be designated solely for cyclists and pedestrians. The project aims to increase safety for all travelers, including children walking or biking to nearby schools. The bridge’s design, created by San Jose-based BKF Engineers, will be finalized in March, and includes paths leading up to the bridge. Los Gatos doled out more than $1 million from the town’s general and traffic mitigation funds and received a more than $2.75 million grant from Measure B — a county transportation sales tax passed in 2016 expected to generate $6.3 billion over 30 years.
- First ‘turbo roundabout’ in California completed. (KSBW) California’s first “turbo roundabout” was completed in San Benito County on Thursday, announced Caltrans. The roundabout located at the intersection of Highway 156 and Highway 25 opened back in August. According to Caltrans, signalized intersections turned into roundabouts reduce fatal and injury crashes by 78 percent. In addition, Caltrans said intersections can improve traffic flow, reduce delays and cut vehicle emissions. The roundabout cost a total of $14.9 million, $11.1 million for construction and $3.8 million for support costs.
- As Last Chance Grade Crumbles, Caltrans Considers Two Solutions: Save the Redwoods League. (Redheaded Blackbelt) In Northern California, the famed coastal Highway 101 winds through some of the world’s last ancient coast redwood forest. For decades, a 3.5-mile section of the highway between Eureka and Crescent City, known as Last Chance Grade, has been plagued by landslides and frequent closures, with no viable alternate routes for the local community, commerce or tourism. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has been working with local stakeholders for 10 years on a solution. Tragically, their final two roadway alternatives will have substantial impacts on nearby old-growth redwood forest. The remaining alternatives are 1) an end-to-end re-engineering of the section of 101 crossing the Last Chance Grade slide, or 2) building a 1.1-mile tunnel under Redwood National and State Parks to bypass the landslide zone. These roadway alternatives are among the least environmentally harmful solutions for the long-term restoration of Last Chance Grade, and Caltrans published a detailed assessment of each in its draft Environmental Impact Report in December 2023.
- ＄＄ Highway 41 road work in Kings County CA to close beach route. (Fresno Bee) A section of Highway 41 in Kings County that carries San Joaquin Valley residents to the coast will close for five months of road work, Caltrans said Friday. More than 8 miles of Highway 41 in Kettleman City will close in both directions starting Feb. 26, the California Department of Transportation said. Highway 41 near Kettleman City is a common route for people from the Fresno area who are headed to the coast for destinations like Pismo Beach, Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. The road work is meant to resurface and restore the highway between Quail and Nevada avenues to extend its life, officials said in a news release. The length of the closure could be extended depending on weather. Caltrans recommended commuters who might normally use that stretch of highway detour using Highway 198 in the Lemoore area to reach Interstate 5, which connects to Highway 41 south of the road work in Kettleman City. Those who live locally were expected to have access to local roads. Caltrans said the road work will be marked by signs.
- Sinkhole closes busy 405 Freeway off-ramp in Los Angeles for up to a month; drivers should seek alternate routes. (ABC7 Los Angeles) A large sinkhole in the Sepulveda Pass has shut down a 405 off-ramp for up to a month. The pavement began cracking last week, on the northbound off-ramp to Skirball Center and Mulholland Drive but Caltrans says the sinkhole emerged on Monday. Drivers are urged to find alternate routes, while crews repair the road. The city of L.A. says it has repaired more than 4,000 potholes ahead of this latest storm.
- Major California thoroughfare will be dug up for months-long construction project. (Golden Gate Media) Palo Alto residents and commuters, brace yourselves for upcoming changes on Southbound State Route 82 (SR-82). The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has officially initiated the SR-82 El Camino Real Pavement Rehabilitation and Improvement project, a comprehensive effort aimed at enhancing the roadway infrastructure. The project, which began on February 12, 2024, involves extensive concrete removal and replacement activities at driveways, sidewalks, and ADA ramps along SR-82. To facilitate these improvements, Caltrans has implemented daytime shoulder lane closures on Southbound SR-82 between Palm Drive and California Avenue in Palo Alto. The closures are scheduled from Monday through Friday, starting at 7 AM and concluding at 5 PM. This closure schedule will remain in effect until the completion of the project.
- Reading the News: Highway Widenings Are Undermining Climate Goals. (NRDC) Top Line: Highway expansions that cram even more cars onto congested roads are undermining our climate goals and worsening air quality at a time when we need to go all-in on investing in clean transportation. Several media outlets have recently applied welcomed scrutiny to highway widenings. In California, three projects are under the spotlight from air quality regulators for some questionable claims that Caltrans has made, understating the environmental impacts of highway expansions.
- San Jose preps plan to rework one of its most dangerous roads. (San José Spotlight) One of San Jose’s most dangerous roads is gearing up for a major upgrade. King Road, a six-mile street bounded by Berryessa Road to the north and East Capitol Expressway to the south, is slated for improvements. The city’s transportation department is finalizing a plan that targets safety and traffic flow. From 2018 to 2023, eight people, including an infant, were killed on King Road and 21 were seriously injured due to collisions from 2018 to 2022, according to city data. Rosie Lopez, manager of medical clinic Milagros de México, located at the intersection of Story Road and King Road, said the street needs more safety features to address its danger. “(Drivers) don’t keep their distance,” she told San José Spotlight. “There’s no safety.”
- ＄ Plans to extend Highway 101 express lanes. (San Mateo Daily Journal) After higher-than-expected revenue was reported from the new Highway 101 express lanes, critics are concerned the news will embolden regional agencies to expand the effort north of Interstate 380 in the near future. A San Mateo County Transportation Authority meeting earlier this month involved discussions on the financial state of the current express lane effort that began last March and runs about 22 miles from the Santa Clara County line to Interstate 380. About $20 million in revenue was projected for the entire fiscal year, although based on current estimates, the figure could be about 40% higher. But Mike Swire, member of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority Citizen Advisory Committee, said it’s important the board focuses not just on whether the effort is a financial success, but whether it reduces traffic congestion.
- New ‘turbo roundabout’ open at Highways 25/156. (Gilroy Dispatch) All lanes are now open at the new “turbo roundabout” intersection at Highways 25 and 156 in San Benito County. The California Department of Transportation released a how-to video on Youtube—in both English and Spanish—advising travelers how to approach and navigate the new intersection, which is the first of its kind in California. The roundabout has been under construction for more than a year, and replaces the previous red-light control system at the busy intersection. Caltrans said the previous Highway 156/25 intersection configuration had seen twice as many collisions as similar intersections in California in recent years. The new multi-lane roundabout with raised lane separators and abundant signage is designed to keep traffic flowing in all directions and reduce the number and severity of collisions, according to Caltrans.
- San Mateo County leaders considering adding toll lane on Highway 101. (NBC Bay Area) San Mateo County leaders are considering to build a brand-new express lane along a stretch of Highway 101 between San Bruno and San Francisco. The idea is to try to reduce congestion on a stretch of highway just past SFO. But critics say building a brand-new express lane will create more problems than it will solve. “We believe widening the highway is a terrible option. It’s bad for the climate. It’s bad for low income and diverse neighborhoods living adjacent to highway and dealing with extra air pollution, and it will negatively impact Caltrain, which will lose ridership,” said San Mateo County climate advocate Mike Swire.
- ＄ Wohler Road Bridge to undergo history-making $18 million seismic retrofit. (SOURCE) Seismic upgrades coming to a landmark one-lane Russian River bridge is expected to be the most expensive bridge retrofit in Sonoma County history and disrupt traffic in the area through 2025. Construction on the historic Wohler Road Bridge, which crosses the Russian River 10 miles northwest of Santa Rosa, is slated to begin this summer. However, work could start as early as April depending on the water level of the river, according to Janice Thompson, Sonoma Public Infrastructure’s deputy director of engineering and maintenance. The 102-year-old span will receive new reinforcements to its steel truss and foundation along with other retrofitting that will help the bridge meet current seismic design standards.
- Locals and travelers split on Highway 46 needing repairs with a new road project. (KSBY) Overnight drivers traveling on Highway 46 in Paso Robles will start seeing some lane closures beginning this Sunday. The lane rerouting is estimated to last until Fall 2024. Caltrans District 5 says the work will take place during the overnight hours on Sundays from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and Mondays through Thursdays from 9 p.m. through 5:30 a.m. This is to lessen the impact on travelers.
- Family Home of “Malibu Hillbillies” Hits Market for $1.6M. (Hollywood Reporter) “I won’t sell,” “Malibu” Millie Decker once told a reporter. “I’ve told them that already!” Mildred Mae Meek Lewis Mandeville Decker, known as the “last of the Malibu hillbillies,” was true to her oath and kept her family’s ranch high in the Malibu mountains until her death at 98 in 2018. Now, the Decker Family Trust is selling a rustic cottage and 7.8 acres off Decker Canyon Road for $1.6 million. Note: This is the “Decker” of Decker Canyon, Route 23.
- Ridge Route Preservation Organization – February 2024 Storm Report. (Ridge Route Preservation Organization) On Saturday, February 10, two board members (Michael Ballard and Jaime Crawford and two volunteers, went on a survey trip over the Ridge Route to assess the damage from the February 4-9th storm. We were surprised by what we saw, most of which was encouraging. The southern gate was partially blocked by a rockslide, which wasn’t a good start. It was easily cleared by our crew and we moved north to the early 2023 landslide. The work done in late January by the RRPO to cover the slide and divert water did seem to help quite a bit. After making minor repairs and adjustments, we continued north towards Serpentine Drive. A minor slide from early 2023 showed no additional signs of movement but was still partially blocking the roadway.
- Centennial Corridor’s completion is reason to celebrate — and to wonder how it might have been better (Bakersfield.Com). Our orange traffic cone nightmare is about to come to an end. Until the next orange traffic cone nightmare comes along. In a city growing as quickly as Bakersfield has grown over the past two decades, highway construction never really ends. It just eases off occasionally to catch its breath. Another momentary construction pause will be upon us after next weekend’s celebratory ribbon-cutting for the Centennial Corridor freeway connector, which, depending on where you choose to begin counting, traces its history back 68, 19, or 10 years.
- Centennial Corridor now open, construction with nighttime closures continue (Bakersfield Now). The City of Bakersfield said the Centennial Corridor is officially open to westbound traffic from the Westside Parkway and eastbound Westside Parkway to Highway 58, 99, and Ming Avenue. It opened on Saturday, Feb.,18, causing some confusion as city officials didn’t name an official date prior. Drivers can access the corridor from westbound Highway 58 heading towards the Westside Parkway and from the eastbound Westside Parkway to Highway 58, Highway 99, and Ming Avenue.
- Your freeway exit may have vanished: Centennial Corridor navigation will require adjustment for some. (KGET) It took eight years to join the east and west halves of State Route 58 by way of the Centennial Corridor. Will it take eight years for drivers to get accustomed to it? Probably not, but it might take a while. We tend to navigate this 150-square-mile city on autopilot when we’re on roads we’ve traveled hundreds of times. Now, since the Centennial Corridor opened for business — a mile and a half of concrete linking Bakersfield’s previously severed 58 Freeway — getting from point A to point B demands, in some cases, ditching old habits.
- Bakersfield Opens New Centennial Corridor Freeway (Streetsblog California). This morning Caltrans and the city of Bakersfield celebrated the opening of the Centennial Corridor freeway. The new $1.5 billion freeway closes a gap in Highway 58, extending it about two miles northwest from its prior terminus at Highway 99 to meet with the Westside Parkway. As with many freeway mega-projects, the Centennial Corridor freeway took a long time. Much of the federal funding was approved two decades ago, at the hand of the area’s Congressmember William Thomas, who retired in 2007. Construction took place in a few phases, lasting over a decade.
Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer)
- The history of the US Route System in Las Vegas, Nevada.The city of Las Vegas, Nevada since the inception of the US Route System in 1926 has been a hub of the overall system. Las Vegas was initially a served only by US Route 91 but would be joined by US Routes 466, 93 and 95 before the end of the 1930s. Much of the US Route System in Las Vegas historically has been tied to the corridors of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street. Despite the passage of time and emergence of the Interstate System the city of Las Vegas remains an important waypoint on the US Route System. This blog will examine the history of the US Route System in Las Vegas from the end of the Auto Trail era to modern times.
- The Colorado Street Freeway Extension (Interstate 5 Spur in Glendale and Los Angeles).The Colorado Street Freeway Extension is a 0.633-mile spur of mainline Interstate 5. The Colorado Street Freeway Extension connects from Colorado Street in Glendale west to Interstate 5 in Los Angeles via a crossing of the Los Angeles River. The Colorado Street Freeway Extension opened in 1958 as the Golden State Freeway (then US Route 99, US Route 6 and Interstate 5) was being constructed. The Colorado Freeway Extension would serve as a temporary realignment of US Route 99/US Route 6 off of San Fernadno Road and new alignment of California State Route 134. US Route 99 and US Route 6 followed the Colorado Street Freeway Extension to San Fernando Road until the Golden State Freeway was completed to the San Bernadino Freeway in 1962. The Colorado Street Freeway Extension would be assigned as part of the original California State Route 163 as part of the 1964 State Highway Renumbering but was quickly folded into California State Route 134 Spur by 1965. The corridor would be assigned as part of Interstate 5 Spur when the Ventura Freeway extension reached California State Route 2 (then at Verdugo Road) in 1969.
- Rattlesnake Bar Suspension Bridge. Rattlesnake Bar was a small mining community located at the Placer County and El Dorado County line along the North Fork American River. During 1863 a wooden bridge was constructed at Rattlesnake Bar to facilitate access to quarry at Coral Caverns (now Alabaster Caverns). The original wooden span was replaced in 1865 with a suspension bridge. The 1865 suspension bridge would be open to traffic until 1954 when it was destroyed by an overloaded truck. The site of the Rattlesnake Bar Suspension Bridge became part of the Folsom Lake reservoir in 1955 and can still be viewed when the water is low.
- Interstate 40 Spur in Barstow. Interstate 40 Spur is 0.794-mile hidden State Highway which exists in the city of Barstow, California. Interstate 40 Spur originates at National Trails Highway and follows Main Street west to the vicinity of Coolwater Lane. Interstate 40 Spur is a former segment of US Route 66 which was bypassed during July 1961. The purpose of Interstate 40 Spur is to permit movement from westbound Interstate 40 to northbound Interstate 15.
- The Centennial Corridor and West Side Parkway of California State Route 58.The West Side Parkway and Centennial Corridor are new limited access components of California State Route 58 in the Bakersfield area. The combined corridors replaced Rosedale Highway with full freeway access from California State Route 99 west to Stockdale Highway. The combined corridor was first conceived in 1973 by the Kern Council of Governments as part of the 1990 Transportation Plan & Program. The West Side Parkway would be completed on April 15, 2015, which would be followed by the dedication of the Centennial Corridor on February 9, 2024. The California Transportation Commission during late 2023 approved continuing to fund potential future projects to extend the West Side Parkway to Interstate 5.
- Yankee Jims Bridge. The Yankee Jims Bridge is a structure located on the North Fork American River of Placer County. What is now Yankee Jims Road was purchased by Placer County in 1906 from a local mining company. The original bridge along Yankee Jims Road failed in 1930 and was replaced by the current 204-foot-long suspension span. The Yankee Jims Bridge was added to the Caltrans Historic Bridge program in 1985 and presently has a sufficiency rating of 0.0. Placer County is presently planning to replace the Yankee Jims Bridge with a modernized arch span. The preferred design alternative would preserve the current Yankee Jims Bridge as a pedestrian structure.
- The Algodones Dunes Old Plank Road. The Old Plank Road of the Algodones Dunes of Imperial County is a unique piece of transportation history in southern California. The original 6.5 mile long two-track plank road would be completed by April 1915 and would fall under the maintenance of the California Highway Commission by the following June. The plank road in the Algodones Dunes would become part of Legislative Route Number 27 as part of 1916 Second State Highway Bond Act.
