US 99 in Burbank to close permanently on May 20, 2014

[sdmichael]

Caltrans is replacing the San Fernando Blvd bridges near I-5 in Burbank. The result will be a new interchange at Empire Ave and the removal of the old North Burbank UP and structures. The North Burbank UP, a series of structures built in 1941-42 is being closed permanently on May 20, 2014. San Fernando Blvd will be closed for a long period of time as well. While I knew about this for some time, I didn't know when it would be. I rode my motorcycle up there on Tuesday and shot video of the entire area. I posted those videos on my website at - http://socalregion.com/north-burbank-oh-videos/

[Alps]

What's an OH? What's the North Burbank OH? What is the location of the closure?

[KEVIN_224]

I'm guessing overhead? Never seen "OH" for anything besides Ohio.

[DTComposer]

OH is overhead, used by Caltrans for when rail lines crossed over the road (but not for other roads). UC is used for undercrossing. The North Burbank OH is where San Fernando Road (as US-99) crossed under the rail line before entering Central Burbank.

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1941741,-118.3314953,17z

Go to Historic Aerials for a look at how this developed with the addition of the freeway.
http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?scale=1.88619910994303E-05&lat=34.1947836840709&lon=-118.332020516473&year=1954

[sdmichael]

I also have photos on my website of the structure from 1954 - http://socalregion.com/highways/us_99/us99210/. Yes, an OH - Overhead - is a structure where a railroad is involved. I fixed it... it is now the North Burbank UP... don't know why I thought otherwise.

[vdeane]

I'm guessing overhead? Never seen "OH" for anything besides Ohio.

What's ironic with this confusion is that there really is a Burbank, OH.

[AndyMax25]

I posted those videos on my website at - http://socalregion.com/north-burbank-oh-videos/

Mike, great videos!  Thank you for posting.

One of these I-5 projects thru Burbank will probably remove some of these old signs at Bonnywood Pl at Orange Grove Ave showing "Golden State Freeway - Bakersfield".  I believe these are some of the last signs still in use that say Bakersfield (all others have Sacramento overlays).
https://maps.google.com/?ll=34.179811,-118.311671&spn=0.007749,0.010074&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=34.179809,-118.311674&panoid=g4If4Xldl9WEC-dksQt8Eg&cbp=12,257.76,,0,4.08

[JustDrive]

You'd have to go all the way to Smokey Bear Road and Gorman to see Bakersfield on signs pointing to I-5.

[sdmichael]

Actually, there are signs further south that still show Bakersfield. Templin Highway for sure has one and possibly Castaic.

[agentsteel53]

I am 99% sure Castaic still has at least one.  I should go photograph the ones at Bonnywood Pl - I've spotted them from the freeway but have never bothered to document them.

if you are looking for remnants of US-99 shields, Lebec may be the last place south of Bakersfield where you can see the old US shield outline on a button copy sign.

[AndyMax25]

I was just there today. Here are a few pics.








iPhone

[AndyMax25]

Actually, there are signs further south that still show Bakersfield. Templin Highway for sure has one and possibly Castaic.

I meant as far as the Bakersfield signage within the LA metro area. After I-5 was completed through the Central Valley, all the control cities were changed to Sacramento.


iPhone

[JustDrive]

I think they'd only be in Burbank.  All the signs within the city of Los Angeles switched to Sacramento when the 5 was completed from Wheeler Ridge to Stockton.

[JustDrive]

Also, since the reconstruction of the 126 and Hasley Canyon Road interchanges, all the signage towards Bakersfield was removed. I know Lake Hughes Road only mentions Sacramento.  So good call on Templin Highway.

[hm insulators]

Fantastic videos; I enjoyed the one going up Brea Canyon Road. I've never gone that direction, in all the years I lived in the Los Angeles area. I'll have to check it out next time I go to L.A.

[mrsman]

Interesting information.  I grew up in Hollywood, so this is one area of the LA freeway system that is kind of a "blind spot" to me.  I'm familiar with I-5 north of 170 all the way to Sacramento.  And I'm also familiar with I-5 south of the East L.A. interchange, but I've never had any reason to frequent this portion of the I-5, even when I lived in L.A.  It's nice to keep tabs with a project and to see a new inerchange come up.  There's been a lot of build-up around Empire Avenue (with Costco and other big-box stores, plus businesses near Burbank Airport).  There's definitely a need to make better connections from the freeway to the area west of the railroad tracks.