Gizmodo: When Southern California's Freeways Were New (and Empty)

[JREwing78]

Gizmodo posted several gorgeous photos of Southern California freeways from the 1950's and 1960's. 

Photos: When Southern California's Freeways Were New (and Empty)
http://southland.gizmodo.com/photos-when-southern-californias-freeways-were-new-an-1567410615/+matthardigree

[nexus73]

Great find JR!  Funny to see the 405 as state route 7...LOL!

Rick

[AsphaltPlanet]

I had always thought that SR-7 was the 710 Freeway, not the 405.  Shows what I know.

[andy3175]

I had always thought that SR-7 was the 710 Freeway, not the 405.  Shows what I know.

It was ... and before I-710 was SR 7, it was SR 15. The reason for this was to eliminate duplication of route numbers in 1964. Since there was an I-15 added to the state highway system, SR 15 was given to the I-15 corridor, and SR 7 was transferred from the I-405 corridor to the now-I-710 corridor. Then when I-710 was created in the 1980s, SR 7 was decommissioned. This was the case until the 1990s when SR 7 was commissioned again as a spur route from I-8 to the international border crossing near Calexico. Route numbers have recycled a bit in the Southland.

Although totally not related to this thread, I believe Caltrans utilizes the next available lowest number when assigning new route numbers. SR 7 and SR 11 were both recycled in Southern California in this way. I am curious to see if SR 21, then next lowest unused number, might be the next choice if/when California decides to create a new state highway.

[TheStranger]

Neat find in there: that black-on-white Route 42 shield at 405/Manchester (complete with a cameo by Randy's Donuts!), which confirms what we already knew: that the changeover of 1934 state route 10 to Route 42 occurred in the late 1950s/early 1960s, before the 1964 great renumbering.

[Quillz]

I had always thought that SR-7 was the 710 Freeway, not the 405.  Shows what I know.

It was ... and before I-710 was SR 7, it was SR 15. The reason for this was to eliminate duplication of route numbers in 1964. Since there was an I-15 added to the state highway system, SR 15 was given to the I-15 corridor, and SR 7 was transferred from the I-405 corridor to the now-I-710 corridor. Then when I-710 was created in the 1980s, SR 7 was decommissioned. This was the case until the 1990s when SR 7 was commissioned again as a spur route from I-8 to the international border crossing near Calexico. Route numbers have recycled a bit in the Southland.

Although totally not related to this thread, I believe Caltrans utilizes the next available lowest number when assigning new route numbers. SR 7 and SR 11 were both recycled in Southern California in this way. I am curious to see if SR 21, then next lowest unused number, might be the next choice if/when California decides to create a new state highway.

Was wondering this, too. IIRC, 21, 30, 31 and 42 are the lowest numbers now available. 48 is technically reserved for that potential Antelope Valley highway.

[AsphaltPlanet]

^ What potential Antelope Valley Highway?  The extra long off-ramp to Via Princessa?

[Quillz]

^ What potential Antelope Valley Highway?  The extra long off-ramp to Via Princessa?

Was referring to this:

State Route 48 is completely unconstructed, stretching 8.5 miles (13.7 km) from the northern junction of SR 14 and SR 138 near Lancaster east to proposed SR 122.

SR 48 was originally planned to run from Ridge Route Road (approximately four miles east of Interstate 5) near Quail Lake in Los Angeles County to SR 122 near the Los Angeles / San Bernardino County Line. The segment between Ridge Route Road and SR 14 was signed as SR 138, which was defined on a southeastely course through or paralleling Oakdale and Pine Canyons to meet SR 14 in Palmdale opposite the easterly continuation of Route 138. The planned rerouting was known as the Metropolitan Bypass Freeway. In the mid 1960s, because of constructability issues on the proposed realignment of Route 138 through or near Oakdale and Pine Canyons, the proposed junction, and thus the west end of SR 48, was moved east to 170th Street West. In 1995, the segment of SR 48 between 170th Street West and SR 14 was transferred to SR 138, leaving only the unconstructed portion.[citation needed]

EDIT: The long ramps at Via Princessa was for a potential freeway extension of CA-126 that was planned but later killed by freeway revolts.

[DTComposer]

Neat find in there: that black-on-white Route 42 shield at 405/Manchester (complete with a cameo by Randy's Donuts!), which confirms what we already knew: that the changeover of 1934 state route 10 to Route 42 occurred in the late 1950s/early 1960s, before the 1964 great renumbering.

Looks like this sign made it to at least 2012: placed on a new truss, moved out of the gore point, reflectors added, greenout over "Ave" and the route shield, but still going strong 50 years later.

[pctech]

Photos like this always amaze me! Look at all that rural appearing undeveloped land in the LA area! Now most of it's urban sprawl I bet. It appears some of the freeways were built with expansion in mind. Or was this just to let the highway "flow" with the contour of the land like the early autobahns?

[Quillz]

Photos like this always amaze me! Look at all that rural appearing undeveloped land in the LA area! Now most of it's urban sprawl I bet. It appears some of the freeways were built with expansion in mind. Or was this just to let the highway "flow" with the contour of the land like the early autobahns?

I believe the freeways were built with expansion in mind. Many of the original Interstates were designed to serve traffic levels estimated to be reached around 1975, according to the "Big Roads" book. Of course, California probably wasn't thinking that far ahead, as almost all the important freeways within the state were built for traffic levels a fraction of what exists today.

[ARMOURERERIC]

There was once an interview with Jacob Dekeema (sp?) the father of San Diego's freeway system, he said that they would do an Origin/destination study and find the closest unbuildable canyon to route the freeway through.

[andy3175]

There was once an interview with Jacob Dekeema (sp?) the father of San Diego's freeway system, he said that they would do an Origin/destination study and find the closest unbuildable canyon to route the freeway through.

Yes, Jacob Dekema, whose name graces Interstate 805 (the Jacob Dekema Freeway, which was planned as the Inland Freeway). A plaque commemorating him is located at the I-805 and Governor Drive interchange at the park and ride (near a construction staging area for the HOV lane project).

[hm insulators]

Amazing to see those old pictures with little or no traffic on freeways that are now continuously clogged.

[bing101]

Its also amazing to see some of these freeways assigned different numbers, Santa Ana Fwy US-101, San Diego Fwy CA-7, Long Beach freeway CA-15, Harbor US-6, Pasadena/Arroyo Seco US-66, Ramona/San Bernardino Fwy as US-70,us-60 and US-99.