Category: Ridge Route News

Why is the road closed?

Many ask why the Ridge Route is closed. The reasons are many, however, the roadway being traversable is not among those. Prior to January 2005, the roadway had three gates. One near the Tumble Inn, another near Reservoir Summit, and a gate about 3/4 mile north of Templin Highway. These gates would usually get closed during periods of inclement weather to protect the roadway. The January 2005 storm changed that and we are still dealing with those effects.

Resulting from the immense amount of rainfall, unstable geology, and lack of maintenance, a few sections of roadway gave way, making the road impassable for a time. Other landslides in the area also caused problems for the oil and gas pipelines that cross the mountains on a similar path to the Ridge Route. One such pipeline broke near Pyramid Lake, which came close to spilling oil into the lake, which is a major source of drinking water for Los Angeles. The US Forest Service closed the roadway at that point for an indefinite period of time. Initially, the roadway between the north (Tumble Inn) and south (Templin Highway) gates was under a “forest closure order”, which meant that the public was not only not allowed into that area, but could be heavily fined as well. This was done to allow the pipeline companies the ability to repair their lines without interference. The roadway was at least partly protected during this period, where the pipeline companies were limited as to how large a truck could traverse the road, how long they could stand in one spot, loads were limited, and portions of roadway were also temporarily covered to reduce damage.

In addition to the pipeline repairs, the roadway itself got some needed work done. Using funds and support from the US Department of Transportation, the sections of the Ridge Route that had slid were repaired and repaved using the original methods and specifications. New concrete was poured, which was 4 1/2″ thick, 20′ wide, and reinforced with steel. These repairs, in addition to other work along the road, made the road passable again by a standard automobile. Still, with this work done, the roadway was not opened to the public.

It took a few years, but the pipeline crews finished their work. The forest closure order was lifted, allowing people to traverse the roadway again. The gates, however, were still not opened. The gates remain closed, despite the roadway being repaired. The road is still closed because of land ownership issues resulting from the County of Los Angeles vacating the roadway in 2005. Once these issues are cleared, mostly regarding a land owner on the south end of the road that is claiming the road as their own, the roadway should be opened again.

So, for those that wish to travel on the Ridge Route between the gates, it is open, but not for motor vehicles. Bicycles, horses, and pedestrians are the only ones allowed, for now.

Repaving a portion of the Ridge Route

After a trip on the Ridge Route a few years ago, I noticed a section was repaved. The section repaved was the southernmost section of the “National Register” section, about 3/4 mile north of Templin Highway. This paving covered a few sections of the highway which showed the difference between the 1919 paving and the mid 1920’s realignments. I wondered why it was done, but at the time, didn’t know who did it or why.

Fast forwarding to present, however, the paving of the roadway seems to mean a bit more. Since the Ridge Route, including the section that was repaved, was vacated by the County of Los Angeles as a Public Highway in 2005, this paving is of interest. The paving was done in 2010 by the Angeles National Forest using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (ARRA). It was done under contract with William Kanayan Construction. Nothing against this company, just that it was the one that did the work.

Now, with that in mind, here is where it gets interesting. With the Ridge Route officially vacated by the County, it begs the question – Who Owns The Ridge Route? Local land owners seem to claim it is theirs. However, as PUBLIC monies went to repaving a portion, specifically by the Angeles National Forest, it would seem that the PUBLIC, as in the Federal Government, owns the road. Rarely, if ever, does a public agency pave a roadway that is privately owned. Taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be going to such things, as most would probably agree. This is what we, the Ridge Route Preservation Organization, are fighting for. We want the roadway under PUBLIC hands and under public maintenance. The roadway has been public since 1915, possibly since the late 1800’s. The repaving of a portion of the roadway by a public agency, at least to us, shows the admission of ownership of the roadway by the Forest Service. This admission helps the road and hurts the local landowners that claim the roadway as theirs.

All of what we do, and what those we deal with do, is under the public domain. We need your help in this venture. Please donate and/or join our organization.