Category Archives: Caltrans

Caltrans, District 6, District 7, Grapevine, Highways, I-5, Image, Kern County, Old Alignment, Ridge Route, Roads, US 99

Featured Image – 12/23/2019

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1932/34 concrete at the divergence of the lanes at Grapevine.

Here at Grapevine, a small section of concrete is visible adjacent to the southbound lanes of I-5. This is a section of former US 99. A small color difference can be noticed between the two lanes that are visible. This difference is due to age. The lanes to the left were constructed in 1932 when Grapevine Grade was realigned, bypassing the original 1914 Ridge Route grade. This was built as two lanes as a temporary measure to expedite the opening of the new route. Right after it was opened, a third lane was added, the lane on the right, creating a three-lane roadway with a common passing lane in the center, or “suicide lane”. This condition persisted until 1943 when the road was widened yet again to four lanes. In 1959 – 1960, these lanes were bypassed by the current southbound lanes of I-5. Today, they remain as one of the last remnants of the 1932-1959 version of Grapevine Grade.

Advocacy, Caltrans, District 11, Highways, I-805, North Park, Road Signs, Roads, San Diego, San Diego County

Caltrans Sign Change

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NB I-805 at El Cajon Blvd

In June 2019, I sent a message to Caltrans requesting a change in the signage on I-805 northbound at El Cajon Blvd. The sign didn’t reflect the lane assignments and can be confusing to motorists not familiar with the interchange. In November, I got a response and they will not only change the sign but will move where it is placed. I thought that was pretty cool. Once again, it takes so little to make a positive change. I encourage others to do so as well.

My message:

CSR Ticket Number:757911
Date Submitted:2019-06-17 14:04:28
Date Completed:2019-11-12 00:00:00
California County:San Diego
State Highway Route:805
Nearest Town or City:San Diego
Nearest Cross Street:El Cajon Blvd
Mode of Transportation:Motorcycle
Direction of Travel:Northbound
Date & Time Situation Noticed:2019-06-17   12 noon – 1 pm
Type of Situation:Signs – Missing, Broken, Blocked or Down
Description of Situation:NB El Cajon Blvd exit sign is missing an EXIT ONLY tab and optional lane arrow. It can be confusing to motorists that don’t realize there are two possible lanes to use to exit at El Cajon Blvd when heading NB.
Geographic Location of Situation:On NB I-805 approaching El Cajon Blvd

Caltrans response:

Message from Customer Service Liaison: Our Traffic Operations Engineer reviewed this issue and provided the following response. You can expect to see a project in the near future. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Traffic Safety & Operations (South Region) is recommending the existing overhead panel be upgraded and re-positioned to centered above the two lanes of the exit ramp and also, additional sign be installed at the northbound I-805 exit ramp to El Cajon Boulevard per California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD), 2014 Edition. We will initiate a Minor B project to upgrade the existing overhead panel and forward a request to Operations Support to install “RIGHT LANE MUST EXIT SIGN” and 8-inch solid white line approaching the exit ramp.

California, Disaster, District 8, Earthquake, Fault, Geology, Highways, Inyo County, Ridgecrest, Roads, San Bernardino County, SR-178, Trona, Updates

Ridgecrest – Part 2 Now Online

Part 2 of my Ridgecrest earthquake field trip is now online. This time, I also won’t forget to add a link!

Ridgecrest Earthquakes of July 4-5, 2019 – Part 2
California, Disaster, District 8, Earthquake, Event, Geology, Highways, Ridgecrest, Roads, San Bernardino County, Southern California, SR-178

Ridgecrest – Part 1

Finally posting the photos from my August 22, 2019 Ridgecrest trip. Part 1, which covers the fault rupture, is finally up. Part 2, which will cover the problems in Poison Canyon and Trona, are coming soon!

Ridgecrest Earthquakes of July 4-5, 2019 – Part 1
District 6, District 7, Highways, History, I-5, Los Angeles County, Ridge Route, Snow

The Grapevine?

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Looking for traffic, roadway conditions, and detours? Use the link below:

Current Roadway Conditions and Detours

I-5 between Santa Clarita and the San Joaquin Valley is commonly referred to as “The Grapevine” by locals and traffic reporters. Most assume the name derives from the twisty nature of the original roadway – the Ridge Route. That road was indeed very twisty, much like a grapevine. However, that is still not the reason. The name Grapevine actually comes from Grapevine Canyon, where old US 99 and I-5 come down from the mountains and into the San Joaquin Valley. The canyon is called such as wild grapes grow along the canyon walls. It was formerly known as Canada De Las Uvas which is Spanish for Canyon of the Grapes. The name Tejon Pass is also a “new” addition to the area. The current Tejon Pass was known as Grapevine Pass or Badger Pass until the 1850’s. Old Tejon Pass, much farther to the east, was a very treacherous route. That pass was eventually abandoned in favor of the current Tejon Pass. The name was just shifted to the new route.

After the 1933 bypass of the original road to as late as the 1970’s, the roadway over the mountains was still referred to as “The Ridge Route”. It wasn’t until the 1980’s that the name “The Grapevine” was extended to the entire roadway. Why this was done is still unclear. Even Caltrans called it the “Ridge Route” when I-5 was completed. So, if you want to call it proper – call it Tejon Pass, when being specific to the actual pass, and the Ridge Route when referring to I-5 from Castaic to Grapevine. While you’re passing through Grapevine Canyon, be sure to spot the wild grapevines that still grow in the canyon. Names may change, but the name Ridge Route should live on. It applies to I-5 better than “The Grapevine” ever will.

What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

For more information about the history of the route and current conditions: