US 6 / US 395 – Big Pine

Basin and Range – Owens Valley

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Big Pine: Jct SR-168 EAST
El. 3985′

Big Pine, looking north.
Big Pine, looking north.

At Big Pine, US 6 / 395 meets State 168 East, the road over Westgard Pass, joins US 395 here at Big Pine. The original Midland Trail headed east over Westgard Pass as well. US 395 through town is four lanes, undivided. North of here, the highway was widened to an expressway in the early 1960’s. The original alignment followed County Road north to Keough Hot Springs. Sometime in the 1930’s, the alignment was shifted to the current one.

1944 aerial photograph showing the 1939 realignment south of Big Pine. Old road is to the left. Courtesy – UCSB

South of town, the highway was realigned between Big Pine Dump Rd and Sepsey St in 1939. The new alignment softened the curve at the south approach to Big Pine. Only part of the grade and remnants of paving exist today.

Bridge with wooden guard rail on the 1920's alignment north of Big Pine.
Bridge with wooden guard rail on the 1920’s alignment north of Big Pine.

Go East on US 6 / North US 395 / West SR-168 to Bishop

Go West on US 6 / South US 395 to Mojave

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