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.
