CA 89 over Monitor Pass

[Max Rockatansky]

The next Sierra Pass in my photos from 2016 is CA 89 over Monitor Pass.  Odd to consider that a highway was planned over Monitor at least since 1911 and that the 1918 state highway map displays the proposed route:

http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2018/08/trans-sierra-highways-california-state_2.html

[Max Rockatansky]

I made a significant revision to our existing article on California State Route 89 over Monitor Pass.  What is presently CA 89 over Monitor Pass was partially carved east from the Big Trees Road up Monitor Creek as a road to the ghost town of Monitor in 1862.  Monitor was founded as an outgrowth of the silver claims of Silver Mountain City and lingered on into the early 20th Century when it was known as Loope.  The need for a direct State Highway link between the Alpine County Seat of Markleeville and the Mono County Seat of Bridgeport was promoted heavily in 1910 as part of El Camino Sierra.  This planned direct route between Markleeville and Bridgeport was picked up as a concept by the state as an extension of Legislative Route 23 and would be added to the route definition of CA 89 in 1934.  Construction of CA 89/Legislative Route 23 connecting CA 4 to US 395 via Monitor Pass took place between 1947-1954.  An opening ceremony for CA 89/Legislative Route 23 was held in September 1954 and was the last totally new State Highway to be constructed over the Sierra Nevada Mountains.   

https://www.gribblenation.org/2018/08/trans-sierra-highways-california-state_2.html