Category Archives: Old Alignment

California, Highways, History, Los Angeles County, Old Alignment, Ridge Route, Roads, Southern California, US 99

Views From The Ridge Route

2 Comments

In December 2019 and January 2020, I had the chance to take a couple of trips over the Ridge Route. Once this current situation is over, I fully intend to get back up there for a multitude of reasons. As I cannot get up there at present and we’re all still on some form of “lockdown”, I thought I’d share some of the photos I took up there. The Ridge Route is a very scenic route, far more than I-5 or even the “new” alignment of US 99. They all have their merits but the Ridge Route gets the best of the views. Just an FYI, some of these pics may be from earlier trips. Maybe you be the judge? Which is your favorite?

Care to help preserve the road? Head on over to the Ridge Route Preservation Organization to see what you can do to help and perhaps have the opportunity to traverse the Scenic and Historic Ridge Route.

  • Deadman’s Curve in Grapevine Canyon
  • Near Tejon Summit
  • Toward Liebre Summit
  • Toward Black Mountain
  • Down Serpentine Grade
  • South of Reservoir Summit
  • North of Reservoir Summit

Highways, History, Image, Los Angeles County, Old Alignment, Ridge Route, Roads, US 99

Featured Image – 1/19/2020

Image Leave a comment
Old Ridge Route between Reservoir Summit and Kelly’s Halfway Inn. Taken 1/19/2020.
Caltrans, District 6, District 7, Grapevine, Highways, I-5, Image, Kern County, Old Alignment, Ridge Route, Roads, US 99

Featured Image – 12/23/2019

Image Leave a comment
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.

District 8, Highways, Image, Old Alignment, Riverside County, US 60, US 70

Featured Image – 3/30/2019

Image

Old US 60 / 70 in Chuckwalla Valley between Desert Center and Blythe.

District 6, Grapevine Canyon, Highways, History, I-5, Image, Kern County, Old Alignment, Ridge Route, US 99

Featured Image – 12/11/2018

Image
Original paving in Grapevine Canyon

This is a section of abandoned roadway, paved in 1919, within Grapevine Canyon, near PM 8.0 on the east side of the canyon. This section was bypassed in 1933 by a newer alignment of US 99.