US 99 – Caswell – Smokey Bear Road

Historical Tour of old US 99
Los Alamos Canyon

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Caswells – Smokey Bear Road exit

Original curbing near Caswell's, just north of Smokey Bear Road.
Original curbing near Caswell’s, just north of Smokey Bear Road.
1948 date stamp on original median curbing.
1948 date stamp on original median curbing.
Abandoned portion of the 1948 expressway. This was the former northbound side.
Abandoned portion of the 1948 expressway. This was the former northbound side.

Shown here, the expressway of US 99 seems to disappear into I-5. The northbound side is the original three-lane side. The southbound side was added when this segment of US 99 was converted into an expressway. North of here, part of the southbound grade for I-5 is the old grade for US 99. This road also goes south to Pyramid Lake but only the southbound side is open.

View of the 1959 concrete. Facing South. These lanes composed the southbound side of US 99. When the expressway was first built, these lanes were asphalt. In 1959, they were converted into concrete.
View of the 1959 concrete. Facing South. These lanes composed the southbound side of US 99. When the expressway was first built, these lanes were asphalt. In 1959, they were converted into concrete.
Contractor stamp dated September 21, 1959.
Contractor stamp dated September 21, 1959.
View of the new expressway in 1948 at Alamos Canyon.
View of the new expressway in 1948 at Alamos Canyon.
Los Alamos Canyon and Gorman Creek in 1958, looking south from the current State 138 interchange.
Los Alamos Canyon and Gorman Creek in 1958, looking south from the current State 138 interchange.
Large cuts were required on the new I-5 alignment.
Large cuts were required on the new I-5 alignment.
Construction of I-5 near between Pyramid Lake and the Smokey Bear Road exit in 1967.
Construction of I-5 near between Pyramid Lake and the Smokey Bear Road exit in 1967.
1968 Angeles National Forest sign along the old alignment in Los Alamos Canyon. Sign was removed sometime in the early 2000’s. 1959 concrete is quite apparent here as well.

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