NEWS
Current California Highway Conditions
www.dot.ca.gov/dist07
(NOT THE OLD RIDGE ROUTE )
For road conditions in California (excluding unforeseen traffic incidents) please call the Caltrans Highway Information Number at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623). By speaking the number of the route desired -- or using a touch-tone telephone and entering the highway/route number of interest, callers can get up-do-date road conditions on any highway in California . Motorists are also encouraged to tune into local radio stations for up to-the-minute freeway reports before starting out on trips.
For more information, please call the Caltrans Public Affairs office at (213) 897-3630 or 897-3656 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BUCKLE UP, WATCH SPEEDS AND SLOW FOR THE CONE ZONE. # # #
Ridge Route Status
As of April 2, 2009
The only section of the Ridge Route that is open for public access is a 7 mile section from Hwy. 138 south to the historic Tumble Inn site where you will encounter a locked Forest Service gate. Hwy. 138 is the Lancaster-Palmdale road and is located south of Gorman.
The good news is the Federal Highway Administration has finished repairing the Ridge Route .
The bad news is that the pipeline contractors did not finish up last summer, having to stop all repair activity due to the extreme fire danger. They are back working again now that we have had some rain. They still have to remove the temporary high pressure gas line from the road. The line was placed on the road to bypass their underground line which was severed in the same landslides that damaged the road back in the winter of 2005.
Pipeline work continues to delay the prospects of opening the road in June. Many factors are in play making it difficult to project when the road will open. The road may or may not open this year.
NOTICE
Clean up the Ridge Route
The R idge R oute P reservation O rganization (RRPO) will resume our “Clean up the Ridge Route,” (CUTRR) project on May 9, 2009.
When:
The second Saturday of each month unless otherwise posted.
Where:
We meet at Carl's Jr. in Gorman. Exit I-5 at Gorman off ramp. Head (east) to the Chevron station and turn right (south) onto Gorman Post Rd. Carl's Jr. is on your right just beyond the motel.
Time:
9:00 a.m. Please allow ample time to arrive so you will NOT miss our departure. We caravan to the work site from Carl's Jr.
Work
We will be doing restoration work at the historic Tumble Inn site. This is approximately 7 miles south of Hwy 138. We will also be clearing rocks from the road that accumulate after each rain storm.
Bring:
We ask that you bring a sack lunch and a folding chair for our lunch break. We provide bottled water. Santana's Pumping & Plumbing of Frazier Park is donating the use of the portable restroom.
• Shovel
• Hoe
• Rake
• Wheelbarrow
• Pruning Shears
• Pole Pruner
• Pruning Saw
• Mattock
• Gloves
Safety of our volunteers is our number one priority so we ask that you wear appropriate work clothes and shoes. Workers under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. We work in full compliance with Angeles National Forest and have been granted permission to extend our repairs beyond that portion of the road that is closed and “off limits” to the public.
We generally wrap of by 3 p.m. Please RSVP if you can come. If you are unable to attend and would like to send a donation or become a member, please contact:
Carl Marsee, Project Manager, Field Eng.
P. O. Box 959
Frazier Park, CA 932225-0969
CMarsee@FrazMtn.com
(661) 242-2726
Or: Harrison Scott, (866) 262-7594 (toll free)
P. O. Box 381
Torrance, CA 90508-0381
RidgeRoute@Yahoo.com
GEORGE FRANKLIN FISHER
It is with a heavy heart that the Ridge Route Preservation Organization reports the passing of George Fisher. George was a major benefactor and strong supporter of our organization's efforts to have the old Ridge Route repaired after it was closed due to washouts and damage, a result of the winter storms of 2005. George and his wife, Irene, participated in our “Clean up The Ridge Route” work program and encouraged us to “stay the course” in soliciting political support to keep the historic road viable.
George retired in 1986 after a long career with the Union Oil Company. His position was Traffic Manager in the company's international division. We will sorely miss him.
“Background Information ”
Posted August 6, 2008
The 2005 storm that washed out the 1915 Ridge Route also wreaked havoc to oil, gas and power lines within proximity of the historic highway. Southern California Edison and Exxon-Mobil were the first companies to repair their facilities. The Southern California Gas Company and Plains All American Pipeline experienced damage in multiple locations forcing both companies to effect emergency repairs by temporarily relocating their lines above ground away from the slide areas and onto the 1915 highway. The extensive damage presented a logistics “nightmare” for the utility companies in terms of access, environmental scrutiny, forest service regulations, applications for new rights-of-way and a repair itinerary that required the blessing of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The same storm that did all this damage to the historic Ridge Route also closed the Vista del Lago visitor center at Pyramid Lake and reduced the I-5 Ridge Route from four lanes in each direction down to three lanes in each direction at Templin Highway. The highway is protruding upward at this location due to the weight of the mountain on the west side of the interstate. Crews have removed tons of earth from the hillside to minimize the upward protrusion. The interstate will restore to four lanes in each direction when repairs are completed.
The old Ridge Route “wash outs” have been repaired by the Federal Highway Administration.
Repair work on the road was NOT to begin until pipeline crews had finished, however, a “change order” in the pipeline repair plan forced them to suspend all work until the new plan was approved. This unforeseen event put a serious delay in getting the road open this year but did allow the road contractors a window of opportunity to repair the entire road while the pipeline contractor was waiting for a “go ahead” to resume his work. The new plan was ultimately approved and the pipeline contractor had crews working 12 hour shifts trying to wrap up before the fire season began. Unfortunately they did not finish and have suspended all activity until the fire closure order is lifted. Work will resume when the weather cools, possibly November. We had hoped the road would open in 2008. The projection now is the first quarter of 2009.
Harrison I. Scott, Pres. Ridge Route Preservation Organization WWW.RidgeRoute.com .
Ridge Route Inspection May 31, 2006
Harrison Scott, President of The Ridge Route Preservation Organization and Angeles Forest representatives will be meeting with the project manager for the Federal Highway Administration next week to evaluate damage to the historic 1915 scenic Ridge Route. The winter storms of 2005 caused a 75 foot section of the roadbed to fail and slip down the canyon. Other areas along the road were undermined when the drainage systems failed due to deferred maintenance and budget limitations. Landslides in the area also disrupted oil, gas and electric service. With the road severed and the need to make permanent repairs to the utility lines, Angeles Forest issued a "General Closure" order for the road. You cannot walk, hike, drive or horseback into the area. Safety is the top priority.
After the damaged areas are evaluated, plans will be formulated for getting the road repaired. It is too early to project when repairs can be accomplished. Repair work on the road will need to be compliant with environmental requirements which may lengthen the repair activity. The 1915 Ridge Route is one of only two roads in California having the distinction of being on the National Register for its historic significance. If things fall into place the road could open in the first or second quarter of 2007.
Harrison I. Scott, Pres.
Ridge Route Preservation Organization
A Non-Profit California Corporation
P. O. Box 381
Torrance, CA 90508-0381
RidgeRoute@yahoo.com
(866) 262-7594 (Toll Free)
You can get an idea of our volunteer effort by looking at our efforts from February 11, 2006.
News Release August 8, 2005
Ridge Route Damage Photos
