Was this the planned routing of the CA-1 Freeway in Carmel?

[Voyager]

While looking at Google Maps, I noticed a very strange linear open space that I figured would have likely been the never built section of the freeway that Carmel eventually got cancelled. Would it have ran through the highlighted area? Wasn't able to find a detailed enough map.

[pderocco]

To me it just looks like a narrow canyon with a tiny stream and a hiking path. Not enough room for a freeway.

[Max Rockatansky]

Did Carmel even have a freeway adoption?  The only one I could find is nearby was for Monterey (Photo 40):

https://www.gribblenation.org/2020/02/california-state-route-1-cabrillo.html?m=1

[The Ghostbuster]

There is this in the Carmel section of the Route 1 California Highways page: https://www.cahighways.org/ROUTE001.html.

There were once plans to reroute this segment in Carmel across a new freeway in Hatton Canyon (MON 72.91, where County Sign Route G16 meets Route 1). This section was for a realignment of Route 1 from Carmel Valley Road to the Pacific Grove Interchange of Route 1 and Route 68. The Hatton Canyon is a scenic and environmentally sensitive area, comprised of undeveloped land that includes one of the few genetically pure Monterey Pine forests left in the world, significant coastal habitat and recreation areas, as well as diverse wildlife. Although originally planned for a freeway alignment, the Department of Transportation determined that a freeway bypass in the Hatton Canyon was not currently viable. As a result, AB 434 (Chapter 136, 7/31/2002) rescinded the route adoption, dated January 9, 1956, for the realignment of Route 1 in Hatton Canyon near the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea; furthermore, it nullified the freeway agreement, dated April 8, 1997, related to that realignment. The property located in Hatton Canyon was declared to be surplus state property located within the coastal zone, as defined in Section 30103 of the Public Resources Code, and the Department of Transportation was directed sell its ownership interest in the Hatton Canyon for the purpose of creating or adding to a state park.

[Max Rockatansky]

So the answer is yes.  That is Hatton Canyon on the map.

[Voyager]

There is this in the Carmel section of the Route 1 California Highways page: https://www.cahighways.org/ROUTE001.html.

There were once plans to reroute this segment in Carmel across a new freeway in Hatton Canyon (MON 72.91, where County Sign Route G16 meets Route 1). This section was for a realignment of Route 1 from Carmel Valley Road to the Pacific Grove Interchange of Route 1 and Route 68. The Hatton Canyon is a scenic and environmentally sensitive area, comprised of undeveloped land that includes one of the few genetically pure Monterey Pine forests left in the world, significant coastal habitat and recreation areas, as well as diverse wildlife. Although originally planned for a freeway alignment, the Department of Transportation determined that a freeway bypass in the Hatton Canyon was not currently viable. As a result, AB 434 (Chapter 136, 7/31/2002) rescinded the route adoption, dated January 9, 1956, for the realignment of Route 1 in Hatton Canyon near the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea; furthermore, it nullified the freeway agreement, dated April 8, 1997, related to that realignment. The property located in Hatton Canyon was declared to be surplus state property located within the coastal zone, as defined in Section 30103 of the Public Resources Code, and the Department of Transportation was directed sell its ownership interest in the Hatton Canyon for the purpose of creating or adding to a state park.

Ah, ok so it looks like it definitely had been planned that way. You can see the obvious freeway ROW continuing where the shopping center is now next to the existing highway, which is what made me start wondering where it would have gone to connect to the existing freeway. Shame it never got built, that backs up ridiculously far in the Summer.

[Max Rockatansky]

A lot of that backup is commuters coming and going from Carmel and Carmel Valley.  When school is in things get even heading south on 1 approaching Carmel Valley Road.