In early and mid-February 2024, the Ridge Route Preservation Organization went on a field survey trip over the Ridge Route to assess damage. They took a lot of videos and put together an overview of what they saw.
Come join the Ridge Route Preservation Organization on their journey over the Ridge Route.
The Historic Highway 99 Association of California is starting a new series on the history of US 99, historic sites along the way, and information about the Association. Join them on their YouTube Channel – @highway99 – to learn more. Their first video is on The Grapevine.
Historic Highway 99 Association of California YouTube Channel
From the Ridge Route Preservation Organization:
The Ridge Route Preservation Organization was cleared by the Angeles National Forest to repair potholes along the north section of the Old Ridge Route from the 138 to the Tumble Inn.
The intent is to preserve the road and make it more accessible to the public as well as emergency services. Filling the potholes can reinforce crumbling sections of the road as well as prevent further damage to the original road surface.
The Ridge Route Pothole Project will begin in spring of 2024.
These improvements don’t only serve to protect the history of the Ridge Route, the repairs will also serve everyone who passes through the area. It’s a large stretch of open land that provides recreation for hikers, cyclists and hunters as well as being a heavy fire danger area. It’s important that emergency vehicles have quick and easy access when mere seconds matter.
A donation of $15 buys a 50 pound bag of asphalt cold patch.
For volunteer and donation info visit https://ridgeroute.org/pothole-project.
Driving across the Mojave Desert between Barstow and Las Vegas along the 15 can be a “boring” drive at times for many. The desert is filled with all sorts of unique features to see if you know where to look. In Cronese Valley between Basin Road (Exit 230) and Rasor Road (Exit 233), lies one of those unique features on the mountain to the northwest of the freeway and is visible for many miles. It is called the “Cronese Cat”. The cat isn’t actually a cat but a geological formation composed of sands blown by the winds up a small canyon on Cronese Mountain. The formation looks like a fluffy tan colored cat sleeping on the side of the mountain with its tail laying to the side.
Next time you’re traveling along the 15 between Barstow and Las Vegas or coming back, make sure to look out for the Cronese Cat slumbering on Cronese Mountain.
I-10 (Santa Monica Freeway) is closed for an extended period in both directions through Downtown Los Angeles between I-5 and the 110 due to fire damage. To get around, here are some good resources:
Los Angeles Metro – Detours and Transit Options
City of Los Angeles – Emergency Management
Caltrans Quickmap – Real-Time Traffic Updates
