Pool Station Road is 12.6-mile rural highway located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Calaveras County. The corridor connects from California State Route 49 near downtown San Andreas south to California State Route 4 near Copperopolis.
Pool Station Road is named after a stage station which was located on Reeds Turnpike (now California State Route 4) between Copperopolis and Altaville. The corridor was developed during the 1920s to permit highway access to the Calaveras Cement plant. Despite being located in the Sierra Nevada foothills much of Pool Station Road is winding and features numerous large dips in terrain.
Part 1; the history of Pool Station Road
The name of Pool Station Road is a reference to Pool Station. Pool Station was located along the Goldrush era Reeds Turnpike between Copperopolis and Altaville (now part of Angels Camp). The station was located approximately where Pool Station Road has a southern terminus at California State Route 4.
Pool Station Road is a modern highway corridor which was meant to facilitate access to the Calaveras Cement plant. Calaveras Cement incorporated in 1925 and was based out of a plant located on Pool Station Road. The company is most well-known for supplying cement to the construction site of Pardee Dam.
Pool Station Road can be seen connecting from California State Route 49 in downtown San Andreas and extending south California State Route 4 near Copperopolis on the 1935 Division of Highways map of Calaveras County. Part of early Pool Station Road is shown along what is now Church Hill Road in San Andreas.
Calaveras Cement would construct a 5.5-mile short line railroad from their plant to quarries located east of Calaveritas. This short line railroad would be converted into private road usage during the 1990s and now known as cement plant road.
Calaveras Cement would be sold in 1959 and again in 1979. The company would be shuttered in 1983 due to being unable to compete with foreign cement prices and a high cost to modernize their plant. Despite the shuttering of Calaveras Cement the road to the quarry remains private and inaccessible to the public.
Part 2; a drive on Pool Station Road
Modern Pool Station Road begins at California State Route 49 north of downtown San Andreas.
Southbound Pool Station Road intersects Cement Plant Road approximately one mile south of California State Route 49. The ruins the Calaveras Cement Plant can be found west of the intersection.
Pool Station Road crosses San Antonio Creek.
Pool Station Road becomes a winding mountain road and continues south to a bridge over South Fork Calaveras River.
The remaining balance of Pool Station Road south of the South Fork Calaveras River is a winding mountain road which features numerous dips and fast curves. The roadway ends at California State Route 4 near Copperopolis.
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