CA RxR 4.07: Route 11: From Pasadena to the Border

In Episode 4.07, we examine Route 11.  We’ll start by exploring LRN 11, which was essentially the first state highway, running from Sacramento to Placerville, later extended to run from Antioch to the Nevada State Line near Lake Tahoe. Today, it is primarily US 50 with a bit of Route 160. We then the original Sign Route 11, which was LRN 165 and LRN 205, and is today’s Route 110. It was also US 60, and is perhaps better known as the Harbor Freeway and the Pasadena Freeway / Arroyo Seco Parkway. We explore the history and various routings of Sign Route 11, including the history of the Figueroa Tunnels. Lastly, we explore the current Route 11, which is a short route near the Mexico border that connects the San Diego Freeway System (Route 905/Route 125) to the Otay Mesa East port of entry.

On deck: In episode 4.08, we start a three-episode group that will cover Route 12. Route 12 runs from Route 1 near Valley Ford to US 101 and thence to Sonoma area. It then runs through Napa to meet I-80 near Cordelia. That part is episode 4.08. Episode 4.09 will cover Route 12 from I-80 near Suisan City through the Sacramento Wetlands to Lodi and Route 99. Lastly, Episode 4.10 will cover Route 12 from Route 99 to the Sierra Foothill and San Andreas, where it meets Route 49.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Creators:

Here are some relevant links (I may edit this to add more links in later):

• California Highways:
  • LRN 11:
    • Sign Route 24 / Route 160
    • Sign Route 16
    • FAI 305 / US 50
  • Sign Route 11:
    • Route 110 / I-110
    • US 66
    • US 6
    • Route 159
    • Route 248
    • LRN 165
    • LRN 205
    • LRN 186
  • Post-1964 Route 11:
    • Route 905
    • Route 125
• Gribblenation Blogs:
  • LRN 11:
    • California State Route 160; the legacy of US Routes 40/50/99/99W/99E, Lincoln Highway, Victory Highway and CA 24
    • US Route 50 in West Sacramento and Sacramento (hidden Interstate 305)
    • Former US Route 50 and the South Lincoln Highway from Folsom east to Placerville
    • Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson’s Pass Road
    • Pioneer Trail (Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway and early US Route 50 at South Lake Tahoe)
    • US Route 50 over Echo Summit
    • Cave Rock Tunnel; US Route 50 Lake Tahoe
    • Lake Tahoe Circle Tour Part 3; US Route 50 and Cave Rock
  • Sign Route 11:
    • The Arroyo Seco Parkway and early terminus points of US Route 66 in Los Angeles
    • California State Route 159 (former California State Route 11 and US Route 66)
    • The Harbor Freeway (Interstate 110 and California State Route 110)
  • Route 11:
    • California State Route 11; the Otay Mesa Freeway Extension
• Other Links:
  • California @ AARoads (Andy Field):
    • California 11
    • Interstate 110 and State Route 110
    • Interstate Guides: Interstate 110 California
  • Southern California Regional Rocks and Roads (Michael Ballard):
    • Route 11
    • Route 110
    • I–110
    • Arroyo Seco Parkway Walkways (SR-110)
  • Roadgap: The Arroyo Seco Freeway: CA 110 (Old CA 11, Old US 66)
  • PBS SoCal:
    • Before the ‘Carmageddon’: A Photographic Look at the Construction of 5 SoCal Freeways
    • Before the 110 Freeway, Figueroa Street Ran Through These Tunnels
  • LA Metro Archives:
    • Transportation Topics and Tales: Milestones in Transportation History in Southern California
    • Arroyo Seco Parkway At 70: The Unusual History Of The “Pasadena Freeway,” California Cycleway & Rare Traffic Plan Images
  • South Pasadenian: Throwback Thursday | Infamous Off-Ramp at Fair Oaks
  • Richard Ankrom (FB) and Guerilla Art:
    • YouTube: Richard Ankrom, “Guerilla Public Service”
    • Richard’s website (ankrom.org) has a protocol error, but you might be able to get it from the Wayback Machine.
    • The Land: Sign From Above
    • Good: The Fake Freeway Sign that Became a Real Public Service
    • 99% Invisible: Guerilla Public Service Redux

We encourage you to explore our back catalog through this site or our Spotify for Creators home.