Category Archives: Caltrans

Caltrans, District 7, East Los Angeles, Highways, History, I-10, I-5, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Road Signs, Roads, Southern California, SR-26, SR-60, US 101, US 60, US 70

East Los Angeles Interchange Signage

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In 1958, when the East Los Angeles Interchange started to be built, the routes that were planned to go through it were a little different that what is there today. I-10 was originally to be State 26 and I-5 was a part of US 99. US 101 remained the same. State 60 was to be State 26. The routing of the interstates through cities wasn’t quite settled yet and many of the roads were planned to be State or US routes.

After the signs were installed, some of them were temporarily overlaid until the Pomona Freeway connections were completed. A portion of the original route planned for that freeway, State 26, was visible. While some have speculated it was actually US 60 underneath there, reverting to State 60 after the 1964 route renumbering, these plans show otherwise. How far east the State Route 26 signage would have gone does remain unknown. It is likely it would have gone at least as far as the 57, if not all the way to the 71, as US 60 was effectively terminated at the present junction of I-10 and State 71 about 1960.

1958 plans for signage at the I-5/I-10/US 101/SR-60 Interchange (58-7vc41)
1958 plans for signage at the I-5/I-10/US 101/SR-60 Interchange (58-7vc41)
Plans in 1960 reflecting the shift to more Interstates routes (60-7vc5)
Plans in 1960 reflecting the shift to more Interstates routes (60-7vc5

For additional photos and information about the interchange, head on over to the East Los Angeles Interchange page.

East Los Angeles Interchange Complex
Caltrans, District 11, Highways, History, I-5, Image, Mission Bay, Roads, San Diego, San Diego County, SR-274, US 101

From the Archives – 1956

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Looking south toward Mission Bay. Courtesy – Caltrans

The first section of the San Diego Freeway in San Diego (US 101 at the time) to be constructed was the Mission Bay Bypass in 1954. Elements of this construction can still be seen today, such as some older curbing at the intersection of Damon Ave and Santa Fe St. North and south of this small section of freeway, it was still a narrower four-lane roadway with some expressway sections. Between 1966 (north) and 1969 (south), the adjacent sections were constructed, completing I-5 in the City of San Diego.

District 7, Highways, Image, Los Angeles County, Roads, San Gabriel Mountains, San Gabriel River, Snow, Southern California, SR-39

Featured Image – 2/20/2020

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Looking up the canyon from the West Fork San Gabriel River Bridge (53-2244). Taken in 2016.

Looking toward South Mount Hawkins in the West Fork San Gabriel Canyon from State 39. This road was planned to be improved but landslides prevented this work from being completed. In the case of this area, almost all of the low lying areas not covered in snow are landslides in one form or another. Even Crystal Lake, where this roadway is headed, exists because of landslides.

Caltrans, District 12, Highways, History, Image, Newport Beach, Orange County, SR-1, SR-55

Featured Image – 2/11/2020

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1970’s proposal for the State 1 and State 55 Interchange (Pacific Coast Freeway and Newport Freeway). Courtesy – Caltrans

Back in the 1970’s, California was “all about the freeway” it seemed. Build them so that people could go anywhere using one. Anywhere, at times, meant an offshore causeway (Pacific Coast Freeway) or over high mountain ranges where even a two-lane roadway has problems (Angeles Crest Expressway), regardless of the costs or necessity. One of these plans, the Pacific Coast Freeway, never really came to fruition. Portions were indeed built, such as the interchange with I-5 near Dana Point and through the Oxnard Plain. The section that was proposed to go through Newport Beach would be the end of the plan. Local opposition was quite heavy, which cascaded to every city along the path also saying no to the project. The image above is an artists rendering of what would have been the State 1 and State 55 interchange near the present intersection of Newport Blvd (State 55) and Hospital Road.

Caltrans, District 6, District 7, Grapevine, Highways, I-5, Image, Kern County, Old Alignment, Ridge Route, Roads, US 99

Featured Image – 12/23/2019

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1932/34 concrete at the divergence of the lanes at Grapevine.

Here at Grapevine, a small section of concrete is visible adjacent to the southbound lanes of I-5. This is a section of former US 99. A small color difference can be noticed between the two lanes that are visible. This difference is due to age. The lanes to the left were constructed in 1932 when Grapevine Grade was realigned, bypassing the original 1914 Ridge Route grade. This was built as two lanes as a temporary measure to expedite the opening of the new route. Right after it was opened, a third lane was added, the lane on the right, creating a three-lane roadway with a common passing lane in the center, or “suicide lane”. This condition persisted until 1943 when the road was widened yet again to four lanes. In 1959 – 1960, these lanes were bypassed by the current southbound lanes of I-5. Today, they remain as one of the last remnants of the 1932-1959 version of Grapevine Grade.