I am very excited to introduce Eric Roy. Eric is doing an entertaining and informative series for Shortcuts about our freeways, how they were named and the culture behind the road sign. Enjoy!
FREEWAY NUMEROLOGY
A sporadic and erratic series of ruminations on California’s monumental contribution to transportation culture.
By KCRW news anchor and host Eric Roy.
California’s first freeway, the Pasadena Freeway. Official designation: California State Route 110
Part One.
The Pasadena Freeway opened to the motoring public on December 30, 1940. The Arroyo Seco Parkway, as it was called, was a (then) state-of-the art, controlled-access high-speed thoroughfare designed to link Pasadena with downtown Los Angeles. While the Pasadena Freeway is widely considered to be the first freeway built in the United States, the California Department of Transportation, a/k/a Caltrans says merely that the new freeway was “among the first in the nation.” Why? Well, it turns out that the original stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, also a state-of-the art, controlled-access high-speed thoroughfare, opened on October 1, 1940. Bastards! But, wait. The Penn turnpike is a TOLL road, which is, by definition, NOT a FREE way. And, on top of the fact that you don’t have to pay to drive on a freeway (other than through your taxes, which is a different thing and not appropriate for you to bring up at the present time), the deal with a freeway is that you jump on, drive a zillion miles without stopping and get off. On a toll road, you have to keep stopping at all those irritating toll plazas to shell out your shekels. And, even the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission claims only that their super bitchen road is America’s “first superhighway.” All righty, then. A superhighway may be close to being a freeway, but like a cigar, it ain’t one. Case closed. We win. USA! USA!
The original stretch of the Pasadena Freeway, which actually stopped somewhat short of downtown L.A., was named the Arroyo Seco Parkway because it largely runs alongside Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco (”dry stream bed” in Spanish). From the point of view of the famed “Little Old Lady From Pasadena,” which is to say if you’re headed south, the Pasadena Freeway begins where the surface street South Arroyo Parkway/State Route 110 changes into State Street around a curve and then, at the intersection with Fair Oaks Avenue, stops being a surface street and simply flows into the freeway.
image from Wikipedia
The Pasadena Freeway ends in downtown Los Angeles, where it meets the Hollywood Freeway/U.S. Highway 101 in an interchange known famously (at least locally) as the Four Level, the world’s first “stack interchange,” as opposed to a cloverleaf interchange. Now, the freeway doesn’t physically end there and if you continue southbound past the 101 you will not plunge over a concrete cliff. You will find yourself on the Harbor Freeway, with a proud San Pedro identity. It has a surprisingly separate and distinct history and is officially designated as Interstate 110 Say, what? Pasadena Freeway = State Route 110, Harbor Freeway = Interstate Highway 110. Whyyy? To answer that my friend, we must rewind a bit. Next time, we’ll do just that.
What’s Happening: “Stop The War” march Date/Time: Saturday, March 20, 2010 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Details: Hollywood Blvd, between Vine St. and Orange Dr., will be impacted by rolling street closures put in place for the annual “Stop the War Now” March. Approximately 1,000 to 3,000 participants will assemble at the intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Vine St. at 7 a.m. and begin marching west on Hollywood Blvd. at 12 noon. The march will continue along Hollywood Blvd. to the intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Orange Dr. Marchers are expected to disband around 6 p.m.
ATTENTION COMMUTERS, RESIDENTS, AND BUSINESSES IN THE VICINITY OF SEPULVEDA BLVD. BETWEEN MONTANA AVE. AND SUNSET BLVD.
As part of the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Widening Project and in preparation for the relocation of Sepulveda Blvd. to the east, the Contractor in conjunction with LADWP will relocate the overhead power lines on Sepulveda Blvd. between Montana Ave. and Sunset Blvd. This activity requires street lane closures for conduit trenching and placement of DWP vaults.
What:
Under-grounding of DWP overhead electrical lines
When:
Work is anticipated to start on Friday, March 19, 2010 for approximately 8 weeks, weather permitting. Anticipated work hours are from 9:00am to 3:00pm and 9:00pm to 6:00am. Saturday work is anticipated between the hours of 8:00am and 6:00pm.
Where:
Northbound Sepulveda Blvd. between Montana Ave. and Sunset Blvd. and intersection closures will be implemented as followed for approximately 5 days at each location:
Also…
Work is anticipated to start on March 29th at Sepulveda Blvd and Homedale St. Work is anticipated to start on March 31st at Sepulveda Blvd and alleyway (south of Bronwood Ave).
Work is anticipated to start on April 2nd at Sepulveda Blvd and Bronwood Ave.
What to expect:
Temporary reconfiguration of traffic lanes (re-striping) and concrete rail placement will occur starting on March 17, 2010. •
Traffic detours signs will be placed to direct vehicles around the closed intersections.
During construction hours:
Northbound Sepulveda traffic will be detoured to eastbound Montana Ave.
Northbound Veteran Ave., to westbound Sunset Blvd., to Sepulveda Way and back to Sepulveda Blvd.
Daytime construction activities will consist of trenching operations and trench backfilling.
Night construction operations will consist of conduit installation, trench backfilling, and paving.
Bus Riders:
Westbound bus lines 2/302 will be temporarily detoured at Montana Ave. and Sepulveda Blvd. and it will continue via Montana Ave. to Church Ln, to Sunset Blvd. back to regular
route. Local access to residences will be maintained.
Pedestrians will be rerouted to a safe area outside the construction zone.Emergency vehicle access will be maintained.
This is very exciting! “Google it” just took on a whole new meaning for a whole lot of cyclists today. Google Maps launched a “bike directions” application. It took place today at the National Bike Summit in Washington. The New York Times reports:
Much like the driving and walking directions on Google Maps, the service selects a route and calculates estimated cycling times after a user provides start and end points. The routing algorithm attempts to select optimal directions that avoid freeways and busy roads and intersections, and take into account bike paths, bike lanes and bike-friendly streets. They will seek to route around hills, whenever practical. Google Maps will also offer a “view” geared for cyclists that will display bike-friendly routes. A mobile version is likely to follow soon, said Shannon Guymon, a product manager for Google Maps Directions
As of 4:03 pm today, on the West side there is a trampoline NB on the 405 past Inglewood Avenue. Now I know there is a joke in there somewhere, but I can’t find it. Can you?
Mario Diaz here again. While driving around Los Angeles, or wherever you may live, have you ever noticed the little stuffed animals hanging from the bumpers and tow loops on cars? I noticed this mostly on the tuner cars, the modified import cars. I asked the people that have them why they do it, but I never got a good answer. So I decided to do some searching…. This was the best reason I could find, but I’m not sure this is the origin of the trend:
“It’s Thai belief that hanging a stuffed toy from your bumper or tow loop is like paying some sort of honor or last respect to the spirits of people who died on the roads as a result of car accidents… The understanding is that the spirit is amused by the object (stuffed animal or other) and therefore doesn’t cause mischief to drivers. Nice right?. Think of it as a sort of good luck charm. ” From Fuzzpaw.
Other threads I read noted that people are simply copying what they have seen on tuner cars from other countries. They modify their cars to look like the tuners, including the toy. Without even knowing the reason, the car owners continue the trend. I always thought it was weird. Fuzzpaw gives it a good spin, and a lot of people do carry some kind of good luck charm. I see things like rosaries, dream catchers, fuzzy dice and saints all the time.
I don’t hang anything in my car or out. My wife, on the other hand, likes to hang silver Mardi Gras beads from the rear view mirror. When I drive I take them off. When she drives she puts them right back on and so it goes.
How about you? Do you have fuzzy toys dangling from your bumper? Do you have any weird stuff hanging from your rear view mirror or sitting on the dashboard?
Sustainable Santa Monica just posted this on their Face Book Page. How cool is this!!!
The City is hosting a free Bike Valet on Friday evenings on Main Street, including Last Fridays. The Bike Valet is located in front of the Library Alehouse each Friday evening and wants to keep your bike safe while you enjoy the restaurants and shops on Main Street.
I Love Santa Monica! Too bad St. Paddy’s Day is on a Wednesday this year!
Living in Southern California comes with many perks! The ocean, the weather, Hollywood just to name a few. Hollywood. Let me say that again…Hollywood. Why just saying the word inspires feelings of all kinds. As does two other simple words, Academy Awards. All three words can change lives. From Navigate Hollywood below.
Hollywood is the entertainment event epicenter, and as a result, a variety of happenings – movie premieres, filmings and special events – are always taking place. Hollywood also is undergoing an exciting renaissance, complete with the construction of many new developments.With all the activities come various street closures and traffic impacts.
The Academy Awards very exciting, especially in So Cal. Saying that, there is the ovious downside. The traffic and road closures. This really is Where Traffic and Culture Collide! Here are this next weeks closures and the link to find more. Stay informed on what to avoid in the up coming week.
1.Close south sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard from Orange Drive to Highland Avenue from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM Tuesday, March 9, 2010, except 8-foot pedestrian access.
2.Close Hollywood Boulevard from the southeast corner of Orange Drive to Highland Avenue, from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM Monday, March 1, 2010.
3.Close north sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Kodak Theatre portal from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM Tuesday, March 9, 2010. This is a complete sidewalk closure in front of the entrance to Awards Walk. Pedestrian traffic re-routed and emergency access available.
4.Close balance of north sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland Avenue to Orange Drive allowing 8-foot pedestrian access from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM Tuesday, March 9, 2010.
5.Close the pedestrian crosswalk, mid-block on Hollywood Boulevard between Orange Drive and Highland Avenue, from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM on Tuesday, March 9, 2010.
6.Close north and south curb lanes of Hawthorn Avenue from Highland Avenue to Orange Drive from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM Tuesday, March 9, 2010. MTA to re-route bus traffic. School buses exempt through the end of the school day on Friday, March 5, 2010.
7.Close Hawthorn Alley behind El Capitan Theatre from 300 feet east of Orange Drive east to the “T” alley from 10:00 PM. to 6:00 AM on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. The remainder of Hawthorn Alley to remain open from the “T” east to Highland Avenue.
On a side note, if you love old Hollywood, hover over the picture with your cursor and click on the link to Vintage Life Network! Super Cool Website!
WEST LOS ANGELES – All lanes of the northbound San Diego Freeway (I-405) from Getty Center Drive to Greenleaf Street (just before Ventura Blvd.) will be closed nightly Tuesday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 24 between 1 a.m. and up to 7 a.m.
All lanes of southbound I-405 from Santa Monica Boulevard to National Boulevard will be closed nightly Thursday, February 25 and Friday, February 26 between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
The southbound I-405 connector to the westbound Santa Monica Freeway (I-10) will be closed nightly from Tuesday, February 23 to Friday, February 26 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The southbound I-405 connector to the eastbound Santa Monica Freeway (I-10) will be closed on those nights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
All closures are weather-permitting and subject to change.
The closures are to enable striping for construction of the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Widening Project.
The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Widening Project, a joint effort between Metro and Caltrans, will complete the last remaining 10-mile gap on the northbound I-405 carpool lane system. Scheduled for completion in 2013, the project will significantly improve traffic flow for northbound I-405 commuters, providing a continuous carpool lane from Orange County to the San Fernando Valley.
For additional information and ongoing construction updates, visit www.metro.net/I-405 or call the project hotline at (213) 922-3665.
