Ridge Route Historical Marker: Echoes of California's First Superhighway

The Ridge Route Historical Marker stands as a tribute to the pioneering spirit and engineering ingenuity that shaped California's transportation history. Completed in 1915, the Ridge Route, officially known as the Castaic-Tejon Route, was the first paved highway to directly link the Los Angeles Basin with the southern Central Valley, traversing the rugged Sierra Pelona Mountains and the Tejon Pass.Before the Ridge Route, travel between Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley was arduous and time-consuming. Existing roads were longer and less direct. The Ridge Route, with its innovative design and construction, shortened the distance and travel time, becoming a vital artery for commerce and tourism. The construction was a labor-intensive undertaking, relying heavily on manual labor and mule-drawn equipment. Surveyors meticulously plotted a course that followed the ridgelines, minimizing the need for bridges and extensive earthworks. However, this approach resulted in a road characterized by an astonishing number of curves – 697 in just 36 miles – earning it the nickname “the serpentine highway”. The Ridge Route has been credited by some as saving the state from being divided into two separate states.Driving the Ridge Route in its early days was an adventure. The road's steep grades and sharp curves demanded skill and caution, and the journey between Los Angeles and Bakersfield could take up to 10 hours. Numerous roadside inns and service stations sprang up to cater to the needs of travelers, offering respite and supplies along the way. Though superseded by newer, wider highways like U.S. Route 99 and Interstate 5, the Ridge Route remains a tangible link to California's past. Preserved segments of the old road still exist, offering scenic drives and historical insights.