What hasn’t it been repaired?” she asked. “The state mandates that the state highway be open to Highway 2. The upcoming scoping meeting was a result of that meeting, she said. Last month, she held a meeting with Caltrans, California Transportation Commission members and residents of Mountain Cove, an Azusa mountain community. Grace Napolitano, D-El Monte, has been pushing Caltrans to restore the state highway for nearly 20 years. Folks may want to go all the way through.” If that was to open up, then that would alleviate some of that. County get a lot of traffic as the cars that go up must also come back down, since there is no other way to return. That is a concern.”Īzusa, as well as Glendora, Duarte and other foothill communities in eastern L.A. “Or emergency services many not be able to get to you. “If you are deep in the canyon, say at Crystal Lake, and there is a fire, you may not be able to get out,” said Azusa Mayor Robert Gonzales. If the mountains are burning to the south, they would be trapped. Instead of going east to the 15 Freeway, Highway 138 and Highway 2, or west to La Cañada Flintridge and connecting with Highway 2 for more than 60 miles, the mountains and high desert would be a straight shot of about 32 miles up Highway 39 from the forest entrance gate just north of Azusa.Īzusa officials say forest fires in the mountains could leave residents and visitors stranded, since they can’t drive north to Highway 2 to escape. Moreover, San Gabriel Valley residents could cut their drive time to Wrightwood in half. If restored for public access, residents of high desert communities such as Victorville - even Lancaster and Palmdale - could enjoy the mountains and then have dinner in Azusa, Duarte or Glendora, Castro said. ![]() If the road was repaired, closer access to the quaint mountain village of Wrightwood would be restored. ![]() From rugged Snow Springs to Islip Saddle, the damaged state highway does not connect with its more famous cousin, Highway 2, known as the Angeles Crest Highway.Ĭompleted in 1957, the dead-end road leaves motorists so close - yet so far - from higher elevations, picturesque vistas of pines, and snow country. (courtesy of Caltrans)īut motorists driving Highway 39, off the 210 Freeway, meet a dead-end about 27 miles north, just beyond Crystal Lake, a camping and recreational area. A map shows the closed portion of Highway 39 in the Angeles National Forest (dark brown striped portion), about 27 miles north of Azusa. Highway 39 runs from downtown Azusa into the Angeles National Forest, taking 3 million to 4 million visitors every year to trails, campgrounds, picnic sites, river bends, Native American sites and off-road vehicle areas. For nearly 25 years, Castro and the business community have pushed to reopen Highway 39, to once again reach Highway 2. It would be a wonderful thing,” said Steve Castro, executive director of the Azusa Chamber of Commerce. ![]() ![]() 15, with officials from Caltrans leading a presentation on roadway fixes as well as key environmental issues, which will include a discussion about protecting the Nelson’s bighorn sheep, a state-listed endangered species. Caltrans is considering repairing a 4.4-mile closed gap in State Highway 39 in the northern section of the Angeles National Forest, a washed-out portion of highway north of Azusa, closed for 44 years, that blocks local access to ski areas and high-desert communities.Ī scoping meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, Dec.
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