Gribblenation

In this edition Paper Highways the planned California State Highways of the Mojave Desert and San Gabriel Mountains are explored.  This issue will cover the planned routes of; the second CA 48, CA 122, CA 196, and CA 249. Part 1; the wholesale Legislative Route adoptions of 1959 CA 48, CA 122, CA 196, and CA 249 prior to the 1964 State Highway Renumbering all were adopted as planned Legislative Routes ("LRN") in 1959.  Part of the planned LRN 267 west of Lancaster was already part of the existing CA 138 on LRN 59.  CA 48 east of Lancaster was planned as LRN 267 which was to have an eastern terminus at LRN 266.  LRN 266 was planned to originate from CA 2/LRN 61 near La Canada Flintridge and cross north/northeast over the San Gabriel Mountains into the Mojave Desert near Palmdale.  LRN 266 was planned to continue northeast from Palmdale to former US 466/LRN 48 near Hawes.  LRN 266 became CA 249 and CA 122 during the 1964 State Highway Renumbering....

This past November I drove the entirety of California State Route 37 between Interstate 80 in Vallejo to US Route 101 near Novato.  CA 37 west of the Napa River to CA 121 at Sears Point is known as the "Blood Alley of San Pablo Bay." CA 37 is an 21 mile east/west State Highway which connects I-80 in Vallejo of Solano County west to US 101 near Novato of Marin County.  CA 37 has an 11 mile segment west of US 101 that is unbuilt towards planned CA 251 (formerly planned CA 17) near Nicasio.   Part 1; the history of CA 37, the Sears Point Toll Road, CA 48, CA 121, and the "Blood Alley" What is now CA 37 between US 101 and CA 121 entered the State Highway System as part Legislative Route 8 .  LRN 8 was defined as part of the 1909 First State Highway Bond Act as a highway routed between LRN 1 in Ignacio east to Cordelia by way of Napa at Legislative Route 7.  LRN 8 can be seen on the 1918 Division of Highways State Map .  In a Augu...