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Iris Canyon Road

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Iris Canyon Road is a mile long roadway which flanks the eastern side of the Alta Mesa neighborhood in the city of Monterey.  This roadway is lined by the Iris Greenbelt which is comprised of coastal live oak and various other plants placed during the 1920s.  Iris Canyon Road was developed during the late 1960s amid a construction boom that came when the California State Route 1 freeway was being developed.  




Part 1; the history of Iris Canyon Road

Iris Canyon Road and the Iris Greenbelt flank the eastern extent of the Monterey neighborhood Alta Mesa.  Said neighborhood was established at a 545-acre plot that was once part of Rancho Aguajito in 1909 by Vida, Margaret and Lousie Jacks.  Via their L.M & V. Jacks Corporation the sisters would hire the Olmstead Brothers to develop a master plan for the subdivision.  Part of Olmstead Brother finalized plan 1924 included surrounding Alta Mesa with trees (mainly coastal live oaks) and other plants.  The foliage included what is now the Iris Greenbelt and Don Dahvee Park.  

The Alta Mesa neighborhood can be seen on the 1938 Thomas Brothers map of Monterey.  The main roadway into the neighborhood is shown to be Mesa Road south of Fremont Street (then California State Route 1).   


Development of the Alta Mesa subdivision would stall for several decades.  The late 1960s developed resumed amid a boom concurrent with construction of the California State Route 1 freeway.  Iris Canyon Road was constructed alongside the Iris Greenbelt which linked it with the existing county roadways in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains.  The Iris Greenbelt is listed among the many Monterey city parks. 



Part 2; a drive on Iris Canyon Road

Northbound Iris Canyon Road begins via a soft left-hand transition from Barnet Segal Lane in the foothills in the Santa Lucia Mountains.  


Iris Canyon Road crosses under the California State Route 1 freeway.  The freeway overpass bridges were constructed in 1968.  



Iris Canyon Road picks up the Iris Greenbelt and follows it to Via Mirada.








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