This past week I took a day trip out to remote Madera County, California on Italian Bar Road (signed as Road 225) to the 1925 Italian Bar Bridge. On the way to the 1925 Italian Bar Bridge I passed through the Geographic Center of California.
Italian Bar Road is an approximately 16 mile Madera County Highway which begins at North Fork and travels east/southeast over the San Joaquin River into Fresno County via the 1925 Italian Bar Bridge to Jose Basin Road. Italian Bar Road is now signed as Road 225 and largely routed through Sierra National Forest.
Italian Bar Road likely was constructed to ease access to Big Creek Hydroelectric Powerhouse #3 and #8. Big Creek Powerhouse #8 was completed by 1921 followed Big Creek Powerhouse #3 in 1923. Given the road access to both Powerhouses would have been from the Fresno County side of the San Joaquin River having a crossing via what is now the 1925 Italian Bar Bridge would have been a far more direct route. During the 1920s there was still…
Italian Bar Road is an approximately 16 mile Madera County Highway which begins at North Fork and travels east/southeast over the San Joaquin River into Fresno County via the 1925 Italian Bar Bridge to Jose Basin Road. Italian Bar Road is now signed as Road 225 and largely routed through Sierra National Forest.
Italian Bar Road likely was constructed to ease access to Big Creek Hydroelectric Powerhouse #3 and #8. Big Creek Powerhouse #8 was completed by 1921 followed Big Creek Powerhouse #3 in 1923. Given the road access to both Powerhouses would have been from the Fresno County side of the San Joaquin River having a crossing via what is now the 1925 Italian Bar Bridge would have been a far more direct route. During the 1920s there was still…