In order to help make it easier to understand what is going on with the road, you have to understand what happened in the past leading up to the current issues. This timeline will help guide you through the history of the road.
1868
Initial surveys along the future Ridge Route alignment by the County of Los Angeles, declaring a public highway over the mountains. No road constructed.
1912
Surveys begin on the Ridge Route by the State of California.
November 1915
Ridge Route fully open to public.
1917-1919
Road is paved with a 20′ wide slab of concrete from Castaic to State 138.
1923-1927
Realignments and other improvements, such as asphalt overlays, constructed to facilitate easier travel.
October 29, 1933
Ridge Route Alternate opened to traffic.
October 2, 1934
Ridge Route formally relinquished to the County of Los Angeles.
September 25, 1997
Ridge Route, within the National Forest boundary, is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
January 18, 2001
Ridge Route Preservation Organization incorporated as California non-profit corporation.
January 2005
Devastating storm hits the road, causing at least three major landslides which damage the road and utilities. Road is closed to the public and a forest order is created to prohibit public travel in the area.
June 30, 2005
County of Los Angeles formally vacates the Ridge Route from near Templin Highway to Sandberg. We contend this vacation was done so improperly, and we fully intend to correct this problem.
2010
Section of roadway resurfaced between southern forest boundary to about 1.5 miles north using funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
2013?
Land owner places signs along southern end of Ridge Route at forest boundary declaring road private.
August 2020
Ridge Route cleared of debris and brush from Sandberg to Templin Highway for the Lake Fire suppression effort.
December 2023
RRPO Pothole Project approved by USFS.
