All posts by Michael F Ballard

Michael F Ballard is the author and administrator of the Southern California Regional Rocks and Roads website, https://socalregion.com, since 1995. I have been studying the geology and highway history throughout southern California for most of my life. I am also the President of the Ridge Route Preservation Organization. Founder of the Historic Highway 99 Association of California, https://historic99.org .

Image of the Week – 3/19/2017

Old US 395 at Rush Creek in Mono County, CA near Mono Lake.

Wigwags – Part 4

When you dig deep enough and look hard enough, you’ll find there is far more history left in Southern California than you might think. I have found this to be true when it comes to finding wigwags in the region. This one, in Hawthorne, CA, is along a former Pacific Electric Railway line that headed to Manhattan Beach. Located at Eucalyptus Ave just north of El Segundo Blvd, it still presses on as a lasting tribute to the old railway, now a part of the Union Pacific Railroad.

General view along Eucalyptus Ave showing the crossing.
Closeup of the wigwag.

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Image of the Week – 2/27/2017

I-5 and State 56 in Sorrento Valley, CA

Image of the Week – 2/16/2017

Elk grazing in the reserve to the east of current US 395 near Fish Springs in the Owens Valley.

New Ridge Route Video, sort of

After finally resolving some software issues, I have finally been able to start editing and posting videos again. My most recent one was taken in November 2015 along the Ridge Route from near Liebre Summit. It shows some of the issues the road is facing presently regarding erosion and a lack of maintenance.