🛣 Headlines About California Highways – March 2024

[cahwyguy]

Wow. It's been a month, and there is still discussion on last month's headline post. Who woulda thunk it.

Still, time marches on, and I really need to give @Plutonic Panda  and @Quillz  something new to discuss    . But seriously, here are some highway and highway adjacent headlines. One thing in the adjacent category is the article from NBC Bay Area on how some newer windshields can block transponder signals. I never knew that.

I'll pimp that the next So Cal Road Meet is in a few weeks. See this post for details. I'm planning to be there.

Here's the link to the headlines post: https://cahighways.org/wordpress/?p=16778

As always, ready, set, discuss.

[Quillz]

Ah, didn't know there was a landslide on CA-150. I do use that corridor fairly often when I travel to Ojai.

And this confirms there was a landslide on CA-27. Another route I use often. (Although you can take Las Flores Canyon up to the road that eventually becomes Fernwood Pacific Drive, which connects to CA-27). Google Maps is showing it opening on April 5, but I don't know where that came from and is probably inaccurate.

Santa Monica College students who live in Topanga Canyon are not able to take State Route 27 down to PCH to easily get to campus. They must drive up to Woodland Hills and either take the 405 freeway, a detour further down to Malibu through Malibu Canyon Road, or take an even more scenic route to PCH through Tuna Canyon Road.

This left out the Las Flores Canyon route I just mentioned. It's probably the best alternative since it's not as far out as Malibu Canyon, and you don't have to drive north into the valley.

And the progress on the Liberty Canyon wildlife crossing is neat. Seems to be moving fairly quickly, every time I drive by it seems there is a little bit more in place.

[Quillz]

• An ode to freedom (more lanes) (The Daily Cardinal). The alarm was set for seven. I woke up at eight. / I pressed snooze too many times, and now I'm going to be late. / No time for breakfast. Not a full shower today. / My shirt is a bit wrinkled, but I guess that's okay. / I expect traffic to be a nightmare, mentally it will cause me pain. / I know what would fix this. Please just give us one more lane.

• Actually, what would fix this is not pressing the snooze button. The problem begins and ends there.

[cahwyguy]

And this confirms there was a landslide on CA-27. Another route I use often. (Although you can take Las Flores Canyon up to the road that eventually becomes Fernwood Pacific Drive, which connects to CA-27). Google Maps is showing it opening on April 5, but I don't know where that came from and is probably inaccurate.

Oh, it's there. It's made the commute between El Segundo and Northridge even worse. Everyone is on the 405. On the plus side, I noticed driving back last night from the Geffen that it looks like the sinkhole at the Skirball Center offramp NB has been repaired. The ramp appeared to be open.

[LilianaUwU]

CalBike Summit Preview: Complete Streets Bill Would Require Caltrans to Implement Its Own Policies (Streetsblog California)

Complete streets are bullshit.

Sierra Club, transit group sue Caltrans over Highway 1 project near Santa Cruz (Lookout Santa Cruz)

The Sierra Club is bullshit-er.

[Quillz]

And this confirms there was a landslide on CA-27. Another route I use often. (Although you can take Las Flores Canyon up to the road that eventually becomes Fernwood Pacific Drive, which connects to CA-27). Google Maps is showing it opening on April 5, but I don't know where that came from and is probably inaccurate.

Oh, it's there. It's made the commute between El Segundo and Northridge even worse. Everyone is on the 405. On the plus side, I noticed driving back last night from the Geffen that it looks like the sinkhole at the Skirball Center offramp NB has been repaired. The ramp appeared to be open.

Yes, that exit opened about a week ago, maybe a bit longer.

I guess people are unaware of Las Flores Canyon because I've found it has very little traffic and works fine as an alternative.

[Techknow]

Caltrans will reduce the posted speed limits along a 44.5-mile segment of Highway 1 on the Big Sur Coast, the agency announced Thursday.

I'm glad the highway is open through Big Sur, and also glad to have driven through it in the past, but bummed about the new speed limits. I don't think 55 to 50 MPH will do much, but going from 55 to 40 seems a bit drastic. The speed limit through Gorda is okay, I know the speed limit drops from 55 to 40 in Davenport

[cahwyguy]

I'm glad the highway is open through Big Sur

I think with the rains this weekend there have been more closures. I have a friend who lives in the Sur, and there were reports of tourists being trapped, Route 1 being down to one lane, and twice-daily convoys to get folks past Ragged Point.

See https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/31/us/california-highway-1-collapse-stranded.html
and https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-03-31/landslide-erodes-part-of-highway-1-near-big-sur-closing-roadway
and https://www.montereyherald.com/2024/03/30/big-sur-highway-1-closed-after-slip-out-near-rocky-creek-bridge/
and https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/traffic-moving-highway-1-washout-big-sur-motorists-advised-avoid-area/

One of those should be readable. They aren't hitting the headline post yet as they may not be long term.

[Quillz]

Caltrans will reduce the posted speed limits along a 44.5-mile segment of Highway 1 on the Big Sur Coast, the agency announced Thursday.

I'm glad the highway is open through Big Sur, and also glad to have driven through it in the past, but bummed about the new speed limits. I don't think 55 to 50 MPH will do much, but going from 55 to 40 seems a bit drastic. The speed limit through Gorda is okay, I know the speed limit drops from 55 to 40 in Davenport

I've never seen a single police officer on that route, so in practice, I doubt most people will bother slowing down. But having also been stuck behind tourists that refuse to pull over to take pics, even the reduced speed will feel insanely fast compared to the times I've had to drive 5-10 mph for miles.

[Max Rockatansky]

Caltrans will reduce the posted speed limits along a 44.5-mile segment of Highway 1 on the Big Sur Coast, the agency announced Thursday.

I'm glad the highway is open through Big Sur, and also glad to have driven through it in the past, but bummed about the new speed limits. I don't think 55 to 50 MPH will do much, but going from 55 to 40 seems a bit drastic. The speed limit through Gorda is okay, I know the speed limit drops from 55 to 40 in Davenport

I've never seen a single police officer on that route, so in practice, I doubt most people will bother slowing down. But having also been stuck behind tourists that refuse to pull over to take pics, even the reduced speed will feel insanely fast compared to the times I've had to drive 5-10 mph for miles.

I've had a couple winter runs between Cambria and Carmel where I was mostly running 45-60 MPH.  I'm not planning on slowing down if I encounter similar scenarios in the future.  It isn't as though the Big Sur area has a ton of speed limit signs to begin with.

[Plutonic Panda]

I'm just here to bitch about anti-highway bullshit.

[pderocco]

Why is Caltrans inspecting bridges on SBD CR-66?

[cahwyguy]

Why is Caltrans inspecting bridges on SBD CR-66?

I checked the State Highway Bridges database, and Caltrans doesn't have any bridges there off the state highway system. So my guess would be that SBD Public Works arranges with Caltrans to do bridge inspections because they have the expertese, and the Division of Highways originally built the bridges. Alternatively, Caltrans may just still be on the hook for inspecting (and possibly repairing) bridges off the current state system that they constructed, although one would think they would be in the bridge log. I do seem to recall some CTC agenda items related to bridges off the state highway system, so that could be it.

[Max Rockatansky]

Encountered an example of Caltrans doing an inspection with the Michigan Bar Road Bridge.  I've found a couple similar off state highway inspections like this over the years:

https://sacdot.saccounty.net/Documents/Projects/Michigan%20Bar%20Bridge/Michigan%20Bar%20Road%20at%20Cosumnes%20Rive%20Maintenance%20Reports.pdf

[roadfro]

In Nevada, I believe NDOT has responsibility to inspect all bridges in the state on a regular basis, even those that are not under state maintenance or ownership. Maybe Caltrans has a similar charge?

[ClassicHasClass]

They were doing some work on the Victorville truss (near Air Base Pkwy) when we were going through yesterday.