Author: Sydney Croasmun

PHOTO: The Ridge Route, overlooking Queen Nell’s Castle and the homestead of Cornelia “Nellie” Martinez Callahan in Castaic, where the Northlake Development expansion is proposed.

In 1909, California was on the cutting edge of the Good Roads movement. $18 million of state bonds were passed to construct the revolutionary new highway system. Stagecoach roads would soon be a thing of the past and the automobile would take center stage. 

When they set out to build the Ridge Route, they were entering uncharted territory. Built by a railroad contractor who believed in the future of the automobile, paved later by WW1 veterans with experimental road surfaces and designed with the purpose of uniting a rapidly splitting California. This road changed the course of history and eventually, its successor, the I-5, would become one of the most important trade routes in the country. 

We say this to inform you that the Ridge Route isn’t just another winding road. It has been a core part of our community since its opening in 1915 and a key part of our local history. Something worth honoring and protecting. While we understand that progress is inevitable, our organization exists to preserve what we can and document and recover what we can’t. 

The proposed expansion of the Northlake Development will impact the Ridge Route, realigning 1.5 miles of the road and developing alongside nearly 4 miles of this historic corridor. Along the western border of the project site, hidden off to the edges of the road are C Blocks. Concrete markers placed by the California Highway Commission during the surveying and construction of the road (1913-1915) to mark the original right-of-way. The project site also covers the historic locations of “Queen Nell’s Castle” – the homestead of Cornelia “Nellie” Martinez Callahan, and the Owl Garage. Both locations are no longer standing but could have artifacts such as bottles, plates and old car parts. Our organization would like to work with your archaeologists to ensure these markers and artifacts are collected and protected. 

Of concern for the future, we worry about the impact of relying on one road to be the only exit for an entire community. The Ridge Route is no stranger to fires and the area was referred to as a “historic fire corridor” in the Northlake Environmental Impact Report. Fires reported at Templin Highway and the I-5 are ever prevalent. The project site burned in the 2022 Route Fire and was under evacuation as recently as the 2025 Hughes Fire. With the widening of the road to 4 lanes, there would now be two southbound lanes and one northbound lane available for evacuation and potentially only for 30 minutes in the case of the “Freeway Spot Scenario” (Northlake EIR). 

It is out of concern for the future residents that we suggest looking into creating a secondary southern exit route for the community. Not only for evacuations, but to alleviate traffic on Ridge Route Road, which often functions as a bypass for the I-5 when there is an accident north of Castaic. Allowing residents to come and go unaffected by the freeway conditions. 

The Ridge Route Preservation Organization hopes to work with your archaeologist to preserve and honor our local history and encourage your developer to take measures to ensure the safety of future residents. Thank you for your time and consideration.

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The hearing for the expansion of the Northlake development is tomorrow (1/28) at 9AM. If you would like to submit a written comment, make sure to submit it before noon today.

Here is where you can find information on address to join in person or zoom link to join online: https://lacdrp.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1356322&GUID=D5123612-4911-4904-8059-E23A32EE5DC7&Options=&Search=]

To submit a written comment:

To provide written public comment for the record, send an email to comment@planning.lacounty.gov with the agenda item number, first name, last name, email address, and phone number, and identify yourself as the applicant or not the applicant. Written public comments submitted prior to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, will be provided to the Regional Planning Commission. Written public comments submitted after 12 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, will not be provided to the Regional Planning Commission but will be added to the public record.

We are so excited to announce that SoCal Gas has offered to repair potholes 6 miles of the Old Ridge Route. This includes the stretch off the 138 near Gorman, which is open to the public. This will greatly increase accessibility for the public, make access for pipeline maintenance easier and smoother access for emergency services such as fire and ambulances. 

This came to light after SoCal Gas had been doing maintenance on their pipeline. Part of the agreement when it comes to protecting this historic road is to lay heavy rubber mats along the edges of the concrete and areas where the road is crumbling. 

• If you would like to send a thank you to the road crew and SoCal Gas, please do so here

I ran into their contracted construction manager while doing a sweep of the road and talked with him about the work they’ve been doing on the road and told him about our volunteer Pothole Project. He proposed that – instead of using the temporary fix – the rubber matting – they could help us with a permanent repair in those crumbling areas.  

The history of SoCal Gas and the Old Ridge Route are deeply intertwined. Construction started on their first pipeline through the area in 1912, under the name Midway Gas Company. The pipeline was operational in 1913 – the same year the Old Ridge Route was surveyed, meaning their first pipeline actually predates the road. This first pipeline ran from Taft to Glendale. 

I don’t think people fully realize how vital this corridor is when it comes to infrastructure. When the Old Ridge Route was dreamt up, California was on the verge of splitting into two states – this mountain range becoming the border. To get from Bakersfield to LA was nearly 24 hours in travel time, through rough stagecoach roads that often flooded, became muddy and developed ruts. It was a treacherous journey of roughly 180 miles and grades of 30%. That rough road cut off trade from north to south. In central CA, San Francisco merchants were preferred to LA merchants due to unpredictable travel times.

When the Ridge Route opened up in 1915, it changed the course of history. It allowed goods to be delivered from the port in Los Angeles to central California. It brought Central California’s food to Los Angeles, and opened up a much safer route for travel. This road is written into the history of so many Southern California families – just ask your grandparents about it. 

And while this road was so influential to the history of California, it is often forgotten. After it was bypassed in 1933, it remained largely unmaintained – left to the elements. When a disastrous rainy season hit  in 2005, causing a number of landslides making the road impassable, most of the road running through the Angeles National Forest was closed indefinitely – and still remains that way to this day. 

The Ridge Route Preservation Organization worked to have the landslides repaired. We hold regular volunteer work days and have been diligently working towards getting the road in good enough shape to re-open it. That’s where SoCal Gas comes in – to have such a large stretch of the road repaired is a big leap in the road’s preservation and towards getting this road reopened.

If you would like to send a thank you to the road crew and SoCal Gas, please do so here