The Hacienda Bridge was constructed by the Northwestern Pacific Railroad in 1914 at the Russian River near Hacienda siding. During the mid 1930s the rails atop this structure were removed from this span and Sonoma County would repurpose it was part of River Road in 1945. This truss was widened to two-lanes in 1948 still carries River Road over the Russian River. The history of the Hacienda Bridge The Hacienda Bridge was constructed by the Northwestern Pacific Railroad in 1914 near Hacienda siding. The span was part of the Fulton and Guerneville Branch which originated at the mainline westward from Fulton. The Fulton and Guerneville Branch was originally completed in 1872 as a standard gauge spur line the San Francisco & Northern Pacific Railroad. The line was eventually extended to Cazadero by 1877. The Fulton and Guerneville Branch along with the Hacienda Bridge (marked via blue pin) can be seen east of Guerneville on the 1920 United States Geological Survey map of Healdsbur...
The city of Sonoma historically has been the terminus of the American Auto Trail known as El Camino Real. The Auto Trail since 1906 has terminated at Mission San Francisco Solano at the intersection of 1st Street East and Spain Street. Since August 1934, the city has been served by California State Route 12. California State Route 12 since being designated has always used Sonoma Highway, Napa Street and Broadway to traverse the downtown area. The California Highway Commission adopted a 13.8-mile-long freeway bypass in 1962 which had Kenwood and Schellville as terminus points. Ultimately the freeway adoption for California State Route 12 was rescinded by the California Transportation Commission 1977. This blog serves to explore the history of both El Camino Real and California State Route 12 in Sonoma. California State Route 12 can be seen passing through Sonoma along Sonoma Highway, Napa Street and Broadway on the 1951 United States Geological S...