CA 39 Reopening Project Scoping Meeting

[Max Rockatansky]

Seems Caltrans is having a virtual public meeting regarding the prospect of reopening CA 39 at Islip Saddle.  The meeting is virtual and will be held at 6:30 PM on December 15.  The meeting registration link is below.  If I can find the time I plan to attend myself:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jnrKgQ0aTUy1Kf2tE6BSmA?fbclid=IwAR3TeQgt0uiukxwsXD7kv__NCXdRjL5RBGZNp5fRQ-_BAD7OWMOUPxzmOUo&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

[ClassicHasClass]

That'll be the day.

[Occidental Tourist]

Seems Caltrans is having a virtual public meeting regarding the prospect of reopening CA 39 at Islip Saddle.  The meeting is virtual and will be held at 6:30 PM on December 15.  The meeting registration link is below.  If I can find the time I plan to attend myself:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jnrKgQ0aTUy1Kf2tE6BSmA?fbclid=IwAR3TeQgt0uiukxwsXD7kv__NCXdRjL5RBGZNp5fRQ-_BAD7OWMOUPxzmOUo&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

God forbid the state should try to reopen highways.

[Max Rockatansky]

Bumping this up given virtual public meeting is tomorrow night.

[Plutonic Panda]

Hopefully it happens. It seems like this is a good level of support for it.

[Max Rockatansky]

D7 posted the presentation on YouTube:

[SeriesE]

D7 posted the presentation on YouTube:

Alternative 5 - full viaduct is my favorite, though it looks like it will cost the most.

However, given the current California political climate (filled with politicians that dislike building roads), it's very likely they will choose Alternative 1, no build alternative.

[Max Rockatansky]

I wonder about that.  The fires of recent years have strengthened local support towards reopening 39 as an evacuation route.  Similarly a lot of local state highway issues around me didn't get fixed in D6 until locals raised a fit after the winter of 2016-17.  Maybe things don't stay the same forever in this state, especially if there is a strong enough push?

[pderocco]

I like the Full Public Opening option. The Viaduct idea makes me nervous.

I'd like to see them not only open 39 to 2, but to continue it north down to Big Rock Creek Rd in Valyermo. That would make it much more useful. And that looks easier than the current project under consideration, since the slopes are much gentler.

It's too bad there are so many misanthropic zealots with power. The idea that a road project shouldn't be built if even a single member of a protected species would face an increased risk of being hit by a vehicle is unreasonable. No one would argue that a road shouldn't be built because some human would be exposed to such a risk. There's nothing wrong with taking reasonable steps to protect wildlife, but a project like this isn't going to drive bighorn sheep into extinction.

[Quillz]

Wasn't CA-39 opened briefly in 2003 to allow fire trucks to reach a fire in the area? I seem to recall hearing something about that, and there was no issue at the time. Hard to believe the connection hasn't been open since 1978. But this is still one of those "I'll believe it when it happens" moments.

[Max Rockatansky]

Received an email about another public hearing on 4/16.  The link to register for the Zoom call can be found below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m80OEuIlRTqkfQwhSPqImw#/registration

[Voyager]

Is it even worth opening at this point?

[Max Rockatansky]

One of the primary arguments is that it would provide fire egress from Wrightwood.  I'd settle for the argument that it would provide better means to access recreational areas.

[cl94]

Especially with all of the problems 2 has had in recent years, this would add a ton of redundancy to the network and potentially help California meet VMT goals. So there are real operational reasons to reopen it.

[Max Rockatansky]

My understanding is that 39 used to function like Angeles Forest Highway does as a handy alternate through San Gabriel Mountains.  I'm understand that a lot of people north of the mountains would use it bypass Cajon Pass and San Bernardino.

If this all comes to pass maybe it is time to start salting the Big Bear groups with suggestions about dirt 173.  Wouldn't be the first time I've heard suggestion that Lake Arrowhead needs better evacuation access.

[Quillz]

Is it even worth opening at this point?

Yes. Cuts down the drive to and from Wrightwood considerably if you're coming from the south. 

[Quillz]

My understanding is that 39 used to function like Angeles Forest Highway does as a handy alternate through San Gabriel Mountains.  I'm understand that a lot of people north of the mountains would use it bypass Cajon Pass and San Bernardino.

If this all comes to pass maybe it is time to start salting the Big Bear groups with suggestions about dirt 173.  Wouldn't be the first time I've heard suggestion that Lake Arrowhead needs better evacuation access.

I don't get why they closed it. Plenty of drivable dirt roads. I did it, didn't seem that dangerous. 

[Max Rockatansky]

My understanding is that 39 used to function like Angeles Forest Highway does as a handy alternate through San Gabriel Mountains.  I'm understand that a lot of people north of the mountains would use it bypass Cajon Pass and San Bernardino.

If this all comes to pass maybe it is time to start salting the Big Bear groups with suggestions about dirt 173.  Wouldn't be the first time I've heard suggestion that Lake Arrowhead needs better evacuation access.

I don't get why they closed it. Plenty of drivable dirt roads. I did it, didn't seem that dangerous.

I drive far worse regularly.  If the dirt was an issue a single lane of surfacing would have fixed that. 

[Quillz]

Maybe it was just laziness. 

[LilianaUwU]

CA 39 hasn't been open in my lifetime and I doubt it's gonna reopen in my lifetime, to be honest.

[cl94]

CA 39 hasn't been open in my lifetime and I doubt it's gonna reopen in my lifetime, to be honest.

Funding, funding, funding. If they can get the funding, it will happen. But that is not a guarantee.

[heynow415]

Especially with all of the problems 2 has had in recent years, this would add a ton of redundancy to the network and potentially help California meet VMT goals. So there are real operational reasons to reopen it.

My understanding is that 39 used to function like Angeles Forest Highway does as a handy alternate through San Gabriel Mountains.  I'm understand that a lot of people north of the mountains would use it bypass Cajon Pass and San Bernardino.

Since both of these roads are south of the line generally running from Gaviota Pass to the Grapevine to Cajon Pass, it is proper to place a "the" before the route number being cited.  Thank you for your cooperation!         (Happy Friday!)

[Max Rockatansky]

Here's the thing, I'm not a native Californian.  Phrasing "the" before stuff just wasn't part of the lexicon growing up in the Midwest (yes, even Ohio State).  Even this far north (Fresno) using "the" before things like highway numbers isn't super common.  Truly the phenomenon is mainly rooted in Southern California dialect.

[ClassicHasClass]

That's just the your excuse.

[Max Rockatansky]

Interesting to note recently when I was at the Caltrans library I had to explain the terms I was using in conversation.  I kept referring to "Route 203" as "California State Route 203" out of habit.  When I was growing up in Michigan the common highway-speak was to be specific about US Routes, Interstates and Trunklines.  Admittedly stuff like "M-10" rolls off the tongue way easier than "CA 203" or "California State Route 203."