Geologist Michael Ballard writes about the history of both the landscape and roadways in Southern California. This time, he takes on US Route 6 in a blog post on Los Angeles Rocks and Roads. I present the Intro, but to read the complete post, Click Here.
Introduction
History
The road that was to become US 6 in the Santa Clarita area was first constructed as the Mint Canyon Road in 1921. To travel to the Antelope Valley from Los Angeles then one would to have traveled via San Fernando Road to Saugus, Soledad Canyon Road to Solemint and then onto the Mint Canyon Road. During this time, the road from Mojave to Bishop was known as El Camino Sierra, or The Sierra Highway. It was also known as the Midland Trail. In 1938, a bypass around Newhall and Saugus was built from San Fernando Road to Soledad Canyon Road. Also during the same year, the Newhall Tunnel, originally built in 1910, was removed and the road through Newhall Pass was widened to four lanes. This route would remain the main highway to the north from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley and beyond until 1963.
The road that was to become US 6 in the Santa Clarita area was first constructed as the Mint Canyon Road in 1921. To travel to the Antelope Valley from Los Angeles then one would to have traveled via San Fernando Road to Saugus, Soledad Canyon Road to Solemint and then onto the Mint Canyon Road. During this time, the road from Mojave to Bishop was known as El Camino Sierra, or The Sierra Highway. It was also known as the Midland Trail. In 1938, a bypass around Newhall and Saugus was built from San Fernando Road to Soledad Canyon Road. Also during the same year, the Newhall Tunnel, originally built in 1910, was removed and the road through Newhall Pass was widened to four lanes. This route would remain the main highway to the north from Los Angeles to the Antelope Valley and beyond until 1963.
How can I contact Mike Ballard, the Rocks and Roads guy? The contacts listed on his Web site do not work.
ReplyDeleteCurt Roseman
croseman@usc.edu
Thank you for including my website on US 6. I've had that tour online since the late 1990's and have greatly expanded it since then. I shall be updating the introduction soon as the original site was only covering the Santa Clarita area, not the full section from Los Angeles to Tonopah, NV. I may expand the site to Ely, NV eventually as I go through my photos and locate more information on the roadway.
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