Between 1970 and 1979, State Highway 67 was realigned between Archie Moore Rd and Mussey Grade Rd. This realignment left two sections of paving with white striping intact. Most likely, the paving dates to around 1948 when State 67 was realigned around San Vicente Reservoir.
At Kay Dee Ln, only a section remains intact.East of Kay Dee Ln, another section with striping intact.Old C-monument right of way markerPavement here is broken up as the alignment rejoins State 67.
Realigned sometime in the 1930’s, the original alignment of US 99 is still visible near the intersection of Valley Blvd and Pepper Ave. Little remains of the original paving of US 99 through the Los Angeles area, so this is a special section.
Looking west along the original paving.
Original paving, looking east.
Cross section of the original paving. Note the lack of rebar. This is most likely from the 1910’s.
Around late 2007, Valley Blvd was again realigned to better accommodate traffic at the I-10 interchange. Sections of the 1930’s paving are now sticking out from under the asphalt.
Colton welcome sign and old Valley Blvd.
Concrete from the 1930’s visible under the asphalt cover.
Long before the Isabella Reservoir was built in the 1950’s, State Highway 178 passed through the Kern River Valley on an alignment much different than it is today.
With the current drought, Lake Isabella is a puddle of what it used to be…but it’s amazing what the lake has hidden all these years. The lake has not been this low since 1977 and is the second lowest level since the dams were finished in 1953.
In April, I took two trips back to the areas near where the original towns of Isabella and Kernville stood before the lake covered them and their history. Unfortunately during my visit, the actual townsite of Isabella was still under several feet of water but the remains of the trees that use to shade the town are clearly visable sticking out of the lake in several photos.
Map to April 2014 photos
location 1
Location 1
Location 2 – Notice the high water mark
location 3
Location 4 – Kissack Cove
Location 5
Location 6
Location 7 – 1940
Location 7 – 2014
Location 8 – 1940
Location 8 – 2014
Location 8 -2014
A sign of the times…very dry indeed.
Isabella Auxiliary Dam 2014. Eerie to drive at the base of the dam when there should be 50 feet deep water here!
Thanks to Joel Windmiller for his assistance and historical photos of Old Isabella.
