Headlines About California Highways – May 2025

[cahwyguy]

Here's the monthly headline post with headlines related to California HIghways or the California Highways pages:

https://cahighways.org/wordpress/?p=17244

[And since I can self-plug here, here's my post about retirement: https://cahighways.org/wordpress/?p=17226 ]

Ready, set, discuss.

[Max Rockatansky]

I just drove through that roundabout on 33/140 in Gustine coming into from the Ingomar Grade.  That was handy in terms of saving me a previously annoying choke point in town. 

Regarding 41 closing between 33 and 46, the detour route Caltrans is posting is inefficient.  They recommend following 33 all the way to 46 at Blackwells Corner.  Cutting that off via Kecks Road would save a considerable amount of mileage.  I'm planning on avoiding the area completely by way of 198 when we head towards Paso Robles when the closure on 41 is active. 

[SeriesE]

Re: US-101/CA-25 interchange improvements

Seems like a lot of work for basically rebuilding the same style of interchange a couple hundred feet north

[Max Rockatansky]

Re: US-101/CA-25 interchange improvements

Seems like a lot of work for basically rebuilding the same style of interchange a couple hundred feet north

Being signalized alone will be a massive improvement.  Trying to go from 101 to 25 south presently requires a dangerous uncontrolled left turns during rush hour. 

[SeriesE]

Re: US-101/CA-25 interchange improvements

Seems like a lot of work for basically rebuilding the same style of interchange a couple hundred feet north

Being signalized alone will be a massive improvement.  Trying to go from 101 to 25 south presently requires a dangerous uncontrolled left turns during rush hour. 

I agree, but why not add the traffic signals to the existing intersections in the interchange and call it a day? For that much effort I was expecting the interchange to be rebuilt to something more modern/standard like DDI, SPUI, standard diamond, or dogbone/roundabout interchange.

[Max Rockatansky]

Re: US-101/CA-25 interchange improvements

Seems like a lot of work for basically rebuilding the same style of interchange a couple hundred feet north

Being signalized alone will be a massive improvement.  Trying to go from 101 to 25 south presently requires a dangerous uncontrolled left turns during rush hour. 

I agree, but why not add the traffic signals to the existing intersections in the interchange and call it a day? For that much effort I was expecting the interchange to be rebuilt to something more modern/standard like DDI, SPUI, standard diamond, or dogbone/roundabout interchange.

The secondary concern seems to be lengthy backups.  That is also a problem with the current interchange is probably why there was never a signal installed.  Personally I rather see a roundabout or double roundabout at the interchange. 

[stevashe]

I agree, but why not add the traffic signals to the existing intersections in the interchange and call it a day? For that much effort I was expecting the interchange to be rebuilt to something more modern/standard like DDI, SPUI, standard diamond, or dogbone/roundabout interchange.

Well, they aren't *just* adding signals and moving the interchange slightly north. They're also widening the southbound ramp to 2 lanes and rebuilding/widening the bridge across 101, which should have enough space for future mainline widening (101 goes from 6 lanes to 4 just north of this interchange).

[Quillz]

This is going to come off as a highly controversial, highly political statement, but it really shouldn't. Even as someone who loves my sports cars and, under the right conditions loves a cruise up the Pacific Coast Highway, I have to, and I feel like we all have to, concede something: that the hundred yards closest to the sea in Los Angeles, literally some of the most important real estate on the entire planet, should prioritize humans over cars. Not eliminate cars. Not ban cars. Not kill car enthusiasm. Prioritize humans. Considering the enormous difference in consequence if a fast-moving car comes into contact with a slow-moving human, it's the least we can do, right?

Just about everyone would agree with this, and the solution has always been better police enforcement. Actually pull people over and the issue will gradually resolve itself.

[Quillz]

The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is expected to reopen Friday morning, ending a months-long closure caused by the devastating Palisades Fire. The reopening comes significantly ahead of schedule, following Governor Gavin Newsom's announcement that the route would be accessible by the end of May. The highway has been closed to non-residents since early January, with access limited to residents within the burn zone, essential workers and authorized cleanup crews. Security checkpoints have been in place at both ends of the closure zone and security plans for the zone are still in flux.

Just to note: Topanga Cyn Blvd (CA-27) is still closed, although I think this is due to construction work from an unrelated rock slide that happened about a year earlier.