Category Archives: Los Angeles County

Archives, California, District 7, Highways, History, I-5, Image, Los Angeles County, Roads, Southern California, SR-14, US 6, US 99

Featured Image – 7/22/2021

Image Leave a comment
US 6 / US 99 Interchange in 1955. Courtesy – Caltrans

In 1955, the first section of the Golden State Freeway opened. It was a short section, running from near Weldon Summit to Foothill Blvd. The freeway was the first major attempt to improve traffic in the Newhall Pass area and it did help for a time. The freeway remained until the early 1970’s when the new I-5 / State 14 interchange was constructed and the old freeway was reconfigured to become the “Truck Lanes”.

Today, the original interchange still remains, though not entirely used. The lower level, formerly the US 6 West to US 99 South connector, is now partially filled in. The second level still carries Sierra Highway with the top level carrying the I-5 Truck Lanes. The Newhall Pass has undergone many changes in its time as a transportation corridor for Los Angeles. This one was but one of those. The photo was taken on November 22, 1955.

Historic Highway 99 Association of California, History, Los Angeles County, Presentation, Santa Clarita

August Presentation

On August 3, 2021 at 6 pm, the Historic Highway 99 Association of California will have a guest speaker. Please join Historian Evan Decker; President of Mentryville, California Inc for a presentation and Q & A on the History of Mentryville, California on August 3rd at 6pm. Mentryville is a historic ghost town known as the site of the “birthplace” of the Oil Industry in California in 1876 with the drilling of California Star Oil No. 4. Q & A to follow.

Register using the link below:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMkd-2hqDoqEty9IHOFgyUWO0ns2_ZKrq_7

For more information:

https://www.mentryvillecalifornia1876.com/

Geology, Highways, Image, Los Angeles County, Old Alignment, Ridge Route, Ridge Route Preservation Organization, Roads, US 99

Featured Image – 4/7/2021

Image 2 Comments

Today’s featured image is a video. This was taken just a few days ago on the Old Ridge Route near Swede’s Cut. A rockfall in January 2021 has partially blocked the roadway with more material coming down in the near future. The rock, located in the Ridge Route member of the Ridge Basin Group, isn’t all that stable. Landslides still plague I-5 despite more modern construction methods.

For additional information check out the
Ridge Route Preservation Organization

History, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Roads

Air Raid Sirens

Link 1 Comment

Curious about those sirens around Los Angeles? This person mapped them all and has information about each one as well.

http://wirechief.com/sirens/map.htm

Castaic, District 7, Highways, Historic Highway 99 Association of California, I-5, Los Angeles County, Meeting, Old Alignment, Old Bridge, Roads, US 99, Website News

Ridge Route Alternate Presentation

Leave a comment

On Tuesday, April 6 at 6pm, I will be giving a presentation via Zoom on the Ridge Route Alternate section of US 99 during the regular monthly meeting of the Historic Highway 99 Association of California. It will cover the history of the roadway from its original construction through to its replacement by I-5 from Castaic to Tejon Pass. The presentation will include some rarer photos of the route and have time at the end for questions. Come join us and learn a bit about the history of US 99 in Southern California!

To register for the presentation, use the link below:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwlf-6srDIqHdRkYBHsG8jzi8D68Gtys-dF