In this episode, we’re continuing to explore the history of the State Highway System, focusing on the construction boom in the 1960s under the administration of Pat Brown. This period saw the great renumbering, as highways were unified under a combined legislative / sign route system (as opposed to the separate systems that existing previously). It also saw a tremendous expansion of the freeways as construction worked hard to meet the construction deadlines. The period ended with the passage of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the election of Ronald Reagan, and the Freeway Revolts.
Our interview is with Arturo Salazar, a retired District 7 Caltrans engineer and moderator of the Freeways of Los Angeles Facebook group.
Here’s the link to the show:
And here’s the link on Anchor.FM:
Here are some relevant links for the episode (I’ll likely edit this to add more links in later):
- California Highways – Chronology – Phase V: Modern Growth (1963-1969)
- Gribblenation: Establishing the numbering conventions of California’s chargeable Interstates
- Gribblenation: The Embarcadero Freeway and planned Golden Gate Freeway
- Facebook: Freeways of Los Angeles
- California Highways and Public Works, March/April 1964 Issue. This is the issue where the “Great Renumbering” was announced.
As always, we’re looking for interviews for future episodes. If you have any leads, please contact us:
- For 1.06: Someone familiar with CEQA and its impact on the highway construction process; also the impact of regional transportation planning agencies
- For 1.07: Someone familiar with California’s state highway numbering, and in particular, with how post miles are used in California.
- For 1.08: Someone familiar with AASHTO’s role in highway numbering.