CA 60/Old US 60/70 through the Moreno Valley Badlands

[Max Rockatansky]

Recently I revisited CA 60 in the Moreno Valley Badlands which was part of US 60 and early US 70 in California.  CA 60 contains the Moreno Valley Badlands and the Moreno Valley Freeway which is one of the most interesting in California.  The Moreno Valley Badlands is a unique range of small mountains with an interesting history.  The first Wagon Road through the Moreno Valley Badlands was constructed in 1895-96.  A replacement Route was surveyed by the Riverside County Highway Commission in 1913 which was built as the Jack Rabbit Trail in 1915-1916.  The Jack Rabbit Trail was paved in 1923-24 and turned over to the State as part of Legislative Route 19 in 1931.  US 60 was routed through the Moreno Valley Badlands in 1932 followed by US 70 in 1934.  A new alignment replacing the Jack Rabbit Trail was constructed between 1935-37 which was widened to four lanes by 1956.  US 70 appeared to have been shifted to the north of the Moreno Valley Badlands by 1938 and US 60 seems to have been replaced by CA 60 circa 1967.   CA 60 still bears a covered US 60 shield which can be seen from I-10 (as well as the blog post cover) and is presently being widened with two new truck lanes in the Moreno Valley Badlands.  The blog below contains several Department of Public Works Guides on the Moreno Valley Badlands along with a photo tour to CA 91 in Riverside. 

https://www.gribblenation.org/2019/10/california-state-route-60former-us.html?m=1

[nexus73]

When I was stationed at March AFB back in the mid-Seventies, there was a Moreno Valley High School.  Their football team sucked rutabagas.  As more people poured in and the area adopted the name of the high school, Moreno Valley became a school which put players into the Pac-12 and other colleges. 

Truck racing on the 60 expressway section: I had a 1960 Pontiac Safari station wagon and wanted to keep ahead of trucks that liked to hog the left lane.  One truck got behind me so I sped up.  Eventually the speed got to 90 MPH.  It was not until the uphill grade going east was encountered that the 18 wheeler was finally left behind.

Glad to see the covered US 60 sign is still around.  Funny to think the shield cover was never taken off or fell off after all these years.  Getting US 60 back into circulation would be sweet!

Rick

[Max Rockatansky]

Regarding all those trucks in the Moreno Valley Badlands, considering some of the wrecks I've seen and heard of I'm really surprised it has taken until now to get those climbing lanes.  Generally safety issues more than anything else tend to grease the wheels in improving limited access roadways in California.  Fortunately in the years I was interacting with 60 on a regular basis I rarely hit at rush hour.  I have an older photo album of the Badlands that I have to see if I can touch up.

[sparker]

When I was stationed at March AFB back in the mid-Seventies, there was a Moreno Valley High School.  Their football team sucked rutabagas.  As more people poured in and the area adopted the name of the high school, Moreno Valley became a school which put players into the Pac-12 and other colleges. 

Truck racing on the 60 expressway section: I had a 1960 Pontiac Safari station wagon and wanted to keep ahead of trucks that liked to hog the left lane.  One truck got behind me so I sped up.  Eventually the speed got to 90 MPH.  It was not until the uphill grade going east was encountered that the 18 wheeler was finally left behind.

Glad to see the covered US 60 sign is still around.  Funny to think the shield cover was never taken off or fell off after all these years.  Getting US 60 back into circulation would be sweet!

Rick

The obvious way to do that would be by replacing AZ 72, multiplexing on AZ 95, and all of CA 62 (plus a short multiplex from east of Whitewater to Beaumont) -- but if Caltrans can't be bothered to ensure continuity or at least consistent signage on their routes, convincing them to back a plan to reintroduce US 60 to the state would likely get one laughed out of their HQ!  Nostalgia isn't either their long and/or strong suit!

[Max Rockatansky]

When I was stationed at March AFB back in the mid-Seventies, there was a Moreno Valley High School.  Their football team sucked rutabagas.  As more people poured in and the area adopted the name of the high school, Moreno Valley became a school which put players into the Pac-12 and other colleges. 

Truck racing on the 60 expressway section: I had a 1960 Pontiac Safari station wagon and wanted to keep ahead of trucks that liked to hog the left lane.  One truck got behind me so I sped up.  Eventually the speed got to 90 MPH.  It was not until the uphill grade going east was encountered that the 18 wheeler was finally left behind.

Glad to see the covered US 60 sign is still around.  Funny to think the shield cover was never taken off or fell off after all these years.  Getting US 60 back into circulation would be sweet!

Rick

The obvious way to do that would be by replacing AZ 72, multiplexing on AZ 95, and all of CA 62 (plus a short multiplex from east of Whitewater to Beaumont) -- but if Caltrans can't be bothered to ensure continuity or at least consistent signage on their routes, convincing them to back a plan to reintroduce US 60 to the state would likely get one laughed out of their HQ!  Nostalgia isn't either their long and/or strong suit!

Had 62 been built out to the State Line before US 60 was given the boot it might have stood a chance, but it was almost a decade too late.  I've used the route described as an alternate to I-10 so many times on work travel and it really handy if not something of a more relaxed pace.  62 west of 177 in particular is a fun drive since so the traffic count is on the lower end.

Speaking of Caltrans HQ it's too bad that the agency doesn't put out these guides like the Department of Public Works did.  You can tell there was really sense of optimism and excitement about what was going on that really leaps off the page.  The gist I've always gotten from Caltrans was something of a Reaganomic Malaise indicative of governmental downsizing.  Even a six month electronic publication would be something worth looking at.  Some Districts are better than others at promoting what they are doing on social media but it just doesn't stack up to how things were.  I'd really even settle for an annual Caltrans paper state map again.

[Buffaboy]

When I passed through here last week, it appeared as though there was a lot of earthwork going on to potentially widen this freeway through the mountains. The geology is certainly interesting. It seems like it's mostly clay or dirt and not super hard rock.

[Max Rockatansky]

When I passed through here last week, it appeared as though there was a lot of earthwork going on to potentially widen this freeway through the mountains. The geology is certainly interesting. It seems like it's mostly clay or dirt and not super hard rock.

There is a present project between Gillman Springs Road and Jack Rabbit Trail which will put in two truck lanes.  All that excavation is from the truck lanes being built.

[ClassicHasClass]

It seems like it's mostly clay or dirt and not super hard rock.

That's exactly right, it's pretty much dirt. The Badlands are really unstable to build on.