Pole Line Road is an approximately 7.5-mile rural highway which fronts the California Aqueduct and Interstate 5 in Fresno County and Merced County. Pole Line Road was originally constructed in the early 20th century as a roadway from the Oil City near Coalinga to Oil Pump Station #5 west of Mercy Springs Road. The highway was truncated to Nees Avenue and Mercy Springs Road (California State Route 165) as part of the construction of the Dos Amigos Pumping Plant circa 1963-1966. Part 1; the history of Pole Line Road Pole Line Road was constructed sometime between 1914 and 1920 as a western flank of San Joaquin Valley. The Pole Line Road originated in the Oil City north of Coalinga in the Kettleman Hills of Fresno County. From the Kettleman Hills the highway fronted utility lines and an oil pipeline towards an oil pumping station located a short distance west of Mercy Springs Road (now California State Route 165) in Merced County. The Pole Li...
Crystal Cave Road is an approximately 6.5-mile highway which accesses the namesake cave in Sequoia National Park. Much of this corridor is comprised of a segment of the Colony Mill Road which was extended to the Giant Forest in 1903. The namesake Crystal Cave was discovered by U.S. Army members on a fishing trip in 1918. The cave was made accessible to the public when the Crystal Cave Road and Trail were constructed between 1939-1941. Crystal Cave Road was heavily damaged during the 2021 KNP Complex Fire. The highway would reopen in May 2025 after removal of 4,800 dead trees. Part 1; the history of the Colony Mill Road and Crystal Cave In 1886 the Kaweah Colony was established along the North Fork Kaweah River. The Kaweah Colony's economy was based on logging which led to the construction of the first 18 miles of what was known as the Colony Mill Road. The Colony Mill Road and Kaweah Colony sought to harvest timber from the Redwood S...