Old US 99 still has some gems remaining in the Coachella Valley. On of these is a set of railroad overpasses dating from 1936 and 1956 (56-09R/L). These structures may be replaced in the near future, so I took the opportunity to take some photos of them before they are gone. Each structure is different in type of construction as well as design. The 1936 structure retains its solid concrete railing, something somewhat unique for the period. Most bridges of that era had a more open and arched railing. This bridge has a very much “Art Deco” styling which still looks quite nice today. The bridge carried all US 99 traffic until 1956, when US 99 was upgraded to an expressway through this area. At that time, a second bridge for southbound/eastbound traffic was built. The 1956 span, a steel girder structure, is longer than the 1936 span. This may be due to plans, at that time, to eventually replace the 1936 bridge with a newer and longer span. While these plans may have been initially thwarted by the construction of I-10 on a new alignment east of here, the bridges days are indeed numbered with the reconstruction of the Jefferson St interchange and eventual realignment of roadways in this area.
These bridges are located on Indio Blvd just east of the Jefferson St interchange on I-10 in Indio, CA. Enjoy them while they last.
Detail of 1936 railing and date stamp.Recessed reflectors in the 1936 bridge end caps.FAP (Federal Aid Primary) project sign on the 1956 bridge.Comparison between the 1936 rail and 1956 rail.The different lengths of each bridge is well demonstrated in this photo.
In the Belltown area of Riverside, CA, I found a rather interesting concrete roadway on 24th St. It appears to be a part of a former alignment of either Rubidoux Blvd, Market Street, or combination of the two. It dates to August 1931 and is in very good shape. What I found most interesting was the curve at Avalon St, which seemed to suggest its former importance as a Riverside to Colton roadway.
Looking westerly toward Avalon St on 24th St.
Curve at Avalon St, looking easterly.
Date stamp from August 20, 1931.
Why this roadway was built and when it was bypassed may remain a mystery for some time, however, it does show that you can still find old treasures like this in Southern California.
UPDATED 2021:
According the the magazine, California Highways and Public Works January-February 1948, Crestmore Road, as it was called then, was realigned under a Federal Aid contract. The construction began March 19, 1947 and was completed August 25, 1947. This work only involved the segment in Riverside County and the new alignment was paved with concrete.
