Image of the Week – 7/7/2016
Category Archives: Southern California
Old Highway 78 near Oceanside, CA
State Route 78, one of the original State Highways in the region, has has undergone many changes since it was originally built. Most of the original routing west of Vista, CA, known as Vista Way, has been eliminated by the current alignment of the highway. By the 1960’s, State 78 was an expressway west of Vista, CA. It was gradually upgraded further to a full freeway, bypassing or replacing yet more of the original alignment. Today, there are some original sections still around, albeit very short. The two main sections of old paving, mostly dating to the late 1920’s to early 1930’s, exists near El Camino Real and College Ave in the Oceanside area.
The first section, near El Camino Real, is located on Haymar Dr / S Vista Way and is only partly exposed. Here, the concrete has been repaved but is showing through some of the potholes.
To the east of this section, there is another and more exposed bit of old paving. Adjacent to the Marron Adobe on Haymar Dr (old Vista Way), this paving still retains the feel of the old roadway. No date stamps could be found, but the style of the concrete seems to date it from 1926 to 1935.
Other sections of older alignments do still exist, but they are all completely reconstructed and no longer retain the old paving.
Motorcycling Pages?
I enjoy riding my motorcycle throughout Southern California. In my exploration of the region by motorcycle, I’ve found many roads that are a lot of fun to ride. As such, I have been thinking about adding some pages about motorcycling in the region. What the focus of the pages may be and what sort of extent they may cover is still undecided. Topics such as riding tips specific to Southern California, recommended roads, and other items of interest may be included. I am looking to see if there is indeed interest in adding these pages. If you are interested, please send me feedback and / or vote in the poll, which is on the left sidebar.
Image of the Week – 1/31/2016
Landslide Threats in Southern California
Southern California has many areas that are susceptible to landslides in many forms. The past couple of weeks have demonstrated that these slides can have dramatic affects on the regions infrastructure. While most slides aren’t that preventable, the damage they can create can be mitigated.
Understanding the signs of a pending landslide are fairly easy and should not be ignored. If you live in an area where landslides are possible, look for these signs:
- Ground cracks, particularly ones that appear to pull apart
- Sinking areas or changes in ground level
- Unexplained leaks in pipes
- Tilting poles / fences / trees
- New cracks appearing in a structure
- New springs or areas where water seems to drain without appearing on the surface
These signs are important to look out for. The first one, ground cracks, are the most obvious. They tend to be arcuate and numerous. The largest ones may mark the head of the slide, though that is not a precise indicator of how large a slide may become. Ground cover itself doesn’t prevent deep seated landslides but it can help with smaller surficial slope failures. If you see any of these signs, please contact an engineering geologist or other local official to help assess the likelihood of a failure. Doing so can help prevent injury, loss of life, and property damage.
Mudslides, such as those that blocked Interstate 5 in Grapevine Canyon and State Route 58 in Cache Creek Canyon in 2015, are more common on steeper slopes with loose material. These tend to happen more commonly in areas which have burned recently, leaving little plant material and a soil that is less porous than it was previously. Those conditions, combined with a heavy rainfall, can turn that material into a thick mud which can easily move larger objects, such as boulders and trucks. As such, these slides can be very dangerous and fast moving. If you live in a canyon below a burn area and heavy rain is falling, be ready to evacuate if needed. Debris flows are serious business.
The California Geological Survey has put together a series of maps to help determine the likelihood of a slope failure. These maps cover most of the metropolitan regions of California and are a great resource. They should, however, only be used as a guideline for potential slope failures. A more exact analysis should be determined through a geological report for your specific location.