US 99 / Ridge Route – Ft. Tejon / El Tejon School

Virtual Tour of US 99
Grapevine Canyon

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US 99 / Ridge Route – Ft. Tejon / El Tejon School

Historical Monument sign at Ft. Tejon.
Historical Monument sign at Ft. Tejon.
Buildings at Ft. Tejon.
Buildings at Ft. Tejon.
I-5 from Ft. Tejon Bridge looking down Grapevine Grade and Canyon.
I-5 from Ft. Tejon Bridge looking down Grapevine Grade and Canyon.
Old alignment of the Ridge Route near Lebec School.
Old alignment of the Ridge Route south / east of El Tejon School.
1919 Ridge Route concrete at the El Tejon School.
1919 Ridge Route concrete at the El Tejon School.
Ridge Route alignment near Ft. Tejon Overcrossing.
Ridge Route alignment near Ft. Tejon Overcrossing.

Ft. Tejon was built in 1854 and was shut down in 1863. It was damaged in 1952 by the Arvin-Tehachapi earthquake. The Ridge Route was built through here in 1915 and paved in 1919. Later, the roadway, then as US 99, was realigned in 1932/33 to a similar course as I-5 today. In 1943, it was upgraded to four lanes and finally in 1960, upgraded again as I-5.

Go North on US 99 and the Ridge Route to Bakersfield

Go South on US 99 to Los Angeles

Return to the US 99 Introduction Page

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