State Route 138 ( SR 138 ) is an east–west state highway in the U.S. state of California that generally follows the northern foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and the western Mojave Desert . The scenic highway begins in the west at its junction with Interstate 5 located south of Gorman in the Sierra Pelona Mountains , continues eastward through the Antelope Valley and Cajon Pass , to its junction with State Route 18 in the east, located in the San Bernardino Mountains south of Crestline .
62-798: Except for the western two miles (3.2 km) of the route between Interstate 5 and just east of Gorman Post Road and a segment shared with State Route 14 between Avenue D in Lancaster and Palmdale Boulevard in Palmdale, it is all a mostly undivided two-lane surface road. The remaining section of the Ridge Route , California's first highway connecting the San Joaquin Valley to the Los Angeles Basin , ends at Route 138 near Gorman. The western leg of State Route 138 traverses
124-498: A tunnel along the truck lanes for southbound I-5 at the interchange. A resulting fire started, soon encompassing the entire tunnel along with 30 other trucks and one passenger vehicle that were in the tunnel at the time. The truck tunnel was closed for several days for structural damage inspections and repairs. SR 14 is an unfinished route, as the definition in the California Streets and Highways Code states that
186-430: A bikeway, rapid transit , and part of Brightline West , a proposed high-speed rail line linking Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Caltrans put the freeway on hold in 2019. Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964 , based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. R reflects a realignment in the route since then, M indicates
248-494: A bypass running north and east of the town. The character of the highway changes as it leaves California City with the last interchange located at California City Boulevard. Now a divided highway with at-grade intersections , departs the corridor of the rail main, to follow the crest of the forming Sierra Nevada mountains. The route continues to follow a branch line of the Union Pacific Railroad used as
310-720: A connector for the Trona Railway . The main line of the railroad proceeds towards the Central Valley via Tehachapi Pass . Though SR 14 heads away from the pass, the highway has views of the mountains and the Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm . The scenery also changes, as the highway departs the Mojave Desert and crosses Red Rock Canyon State Park . Traffic counts drop dramatically as the highway becomes more rural, with an AADT of 3,200 vehicles at
372-483: A correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary ( for a full list of prefixes, see California postmile § Official postmile definitions ). Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted. The numbers reset at county lines; the start and end postmiles in each county are given in the county column. Federal Highway Administration The Federal Highway Administration ( FHWA )
434-552: A new collection of innovations to champion every two years that merit accelerated deployment. Among the approaches promoted by the EDC effort are: adaptive traffic control to reduce fuel consumption and improve travel time reliability ; alternative intersection design; prefabricated bridge elements and systems; high-friction surface treatments; warm mix asphalt; ultra-high-performance concrete; virtual public involvement; and time-saving strategies such as rapid bridge replacement . Since
496-551: A question based on the LTPP data. In 2010, FHWA launched the Every Day Counts (EDC) initiative to identify and deploy innovations to reduce project delivery time, enhance safety, and protect the environment. EDC is a state-based model that rapidly deploys proven, yet underutilized innovations. FHWA works with State transportation departments, local governments, tribes, private industry, and other stakeholders to identify
558-415: A second realignment, L refers to an overlap due to a correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary ( for a full list of prefixes, see California postmile § Official postmile definitions ). Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted. The numbers reset at county lines; the start and end postmiles in each county are given in
620-620: A tripling of the population of Palmdale by 2030. In response, multiple government agencies have proposed adding more transportation arteries between Los Angeles and the Antelope Valley, as well as expanding the capacity of the existing SR 14 and rail corridors. Several proposals have been made to bypass the Antelope Valley Freeway by boring a tunnel under the San Gabriel Mountains and extending
682-401: A varying toll, adjusted for the time of day, averaging around $ 8 for one-way passage. Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964 , based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. R reflects a realignment in the route since then, M indicates a second realignment, L refers to an overlap due to
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#1732771873182744-756: Is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program. Its role had previously been performed by the Office of Road Inquiry , Office of Public Roads and the Bureau of Public Roads . With the coming of the bicycle in
806-543: Is at Interstate 5 (I-5, Golden State Freeway ) in the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Granada Hills and Sylmar just immediately to the south of the border of the city of Santa Clarita . SR 14's northern terminus is at U.S. Route 395 (US 395) near Inyokern . Legislatively, the route extends south of I-5 to SR 1 in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles; however, the portion south of
868-838: Is eligible to be included in the State Scenic Highway System , but it is not officially designated as a scenic highway by the California Department of Transportation . The segment of SR 138 from I-15 in the Cajon Pass to SR 18 at Crestline is designated as part of the Rim of the World Scenic Byway , a National Forest Scenic Byway . A project to widen the highway to four lanes and add shoulders between Avenue T in Palmdale and Highway 18 in Llano
930-626: Is known as the El Cajon-Skyline Forest Highway. State Route 138 and 18 overlap each other in opposing termini, as SR 18's northwest most endpoint is in Llano with SR 138, while SR 138's southmost point is in Crestline with SR 18. Because of its twisting, mountainous segments and overloaded traffic conditions on its eastern leg, State Route 138 east of Palmdale and west of Interstate 15 is the site of numerous serious auto accidents as of 2004, according to CHP data. One of
992-685: The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which is used by most highway agencies in the United States. The MUTCD provides such standards as the size, color and height of traffic signs , traffic signals and road surface markings . Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) is a program supported by the FHWA to collect and analyse road data. The LTPP program was initiated by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of
1054-538: The Glendale Freeway through it to the Antelope Valley. In 2003, Caltrans published a map showing potential improvements to the transportation infrastructure of southern California. The proposal showed both the unconstructed portion of SR 14 and new routes over or under the mountains to Antelope Valley. In 2005, the idea was advanced as a combination toll tunnel and surface highway. Preliminary studies estimated costs around $ 3 billion and suggested charging
1116-547: The Los Angeles / San Bernardino County line where it loses its alternative name, Antelope Highway. Between the county line and Interstate 15 , State Route 138 traverses very mountainous and scenic terrain and it connects with State Route 2 that leads to winter resort areas in the San Gabriel Mountains used largely by residents of the Los Angeles metropolitan area . State Route 138 then descends through
1178-458: The Los Angeles – Kern county line at Avenue A, and continues to run north through Rosamond and Mojave . In Rosamond, the highway passes close to Edwards Air Force Base , which was often used as one of the main landing strips for NASA 's Space Shuttle, and as the base for the X-15 and many other air and spacecraft. The freeway portion terminates just south of Mojave, where SR 14 serves as
1240-634: The National Research Council (NRC) in the early 1980s. The FHWA with the cooperation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) sponsored the program. As a result of this program, the FHWA has collected a huge database of road performance. The FHWA and the ASCE hold an annual contest known as LTPP International Data Analysis Contest , which is based on challenging researchers to answer
1302-609: The Trona Railway . The Midland Trail was one of the first organized coast-to-coast trails in the United States. In the trail's infancy, its routing changed numerous times. By 1925, the Midland Trail was established along what is modern State Route 168 , joining El Camino Sierra in Big Pine . Other named trails that eventually followed this route included the Theodore Roosevelt highway, and Grand Army of
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#17327718731821364-788: The Union Pacific Railroad . The fork paralleling SR 14 and crossing at Soledad Pass is still a contiguous line, but not used for through freight traffic as a significant portion was sold to the predecessors of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority to become the Antelope Valley Line of the Metrolink commuter rail service. The branch north of Mojave was built when the Southern Pacific acquired
1426-515: The 1890s, interest grew regarding the improvement of streets and roads in America. The traditional method of putting the burden on maintaining roads on local landowners was increasingly inadequate. In 1893, the federal Office of Road Inquiry (ORI) was founded; in 1905, it was renamed the Office of Public Roads (OPR) and made a division of the United States Department of Agriculture . Demands grew for local and state government to take charge. With
1488-509: The 1971 Sylmar earthquake and the 1994 Northridge earthquake . As a result of the 1994 collapse, this interchange was renamed the "Clarence Wayne Dean Memorial Interchange", honoring a Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officer killed when he was unable to stop in time and drove off the collapsed flyover ramp from SR 14 south to I-5 south. After both earthquakes, the collapsed portions were rebuilt and surviving portions reinforced. In 2007, two tractor-trailer trucks collided in
1550-595: The Antelope Valley Freeway (SR 14) for approximately 14 miles (23 km) through Lancaster and Palmdale , it passes through Palmdale's eastside as four-lane Palmdale Boulevard, 47th Street East, and Fort Tejon Road to Avenue T. At Avenue T it tapers to two lanes and continues straight ahead on Pearblossom Highway through Littlerock , Pearblossom , and Llano to its west junction with State Route 18 . Route 18 's western terminus siphons off Las Vegas -bound travelers from 138. At its west junction with State Route 18 , State Route 138 turns southeast on Antelope Highway to
1612-683: The Federal Lands Highway Program (sometimes called "direct fed"), the FHWA provides highway design and construction services for various federal land-management agencies, such as the Forest Service and the National Park Service . In addition to these programs, the FHWA performs and sponsors research in the areas of roadway safety, congestion, highway materials and construction methods, and provides funding to local technical assistance program centers to disseminate research results to local highway agencies. The FHWA also publishes
1674-571: The Lancaster Freeway from Interstate 5 to Gorman Post Road, Lancaster Road from Gorman Post Road to 245th Street West near Neenach School, and Avenue D from 245th Street West to Route 138's north junction with State Route 14. The Lancaster Freeway has four lanes, two for each direction of travel. Both Lancaster Road and Avenue D are 2-lane conventional roads; Avenue D is on a straight alignment over its 22 miles (35 km) between 245th Street West and State Route 14. After its co-routing with
1736-399: The Los Angeles area, a portion of modern SR 91 . Between 1963 and 1975, significant portions of US 6/SR 14 were moved to a freeway alignment. The former routing south of Mojave (and the current routing to the north) is still known as Sierra Highway. The first freeway section, from just east of Solemint Junction to Red Rover Mine Road, was completed in 1963. Further portions in
1798-623: The Pearblossom Highway exit south of Palmdale to its northern terminus at US 395 near Inyokern , SR 14 has been designated the Aerospace Highway. Between Pearblossom Highway and Avenue S, there is a vista point overlooking Lake Palmdale , which features a historic plaque that honors aviation accomplishments including the Space Shuttle , breaking the sound barrier and the speed record. The freeway passes
1860-769: The Republic Highway . SR 14 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System , and is part of the National Highway System , a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration . The southern portion of the freeway, from I-5 to the Avenue D exit near Lancaster , has been designated the Antelope Valley Freeway by
1922-457: The Republic Highway . Parts of modern SR 14 continue to be signed with these names, and north of Los Angeles County is still officially designated "El Camino Sierra / Midland Trail" as well as the aforementioned "Aerospace Highway". US 6 was extended from Greeley, Colorado , to Long Beach, California , on June 21, 1937. Most of this extension used the Midland Trail, although the route entered California from Nevada slightly north of
California State Route 138 - Misplaced Pages Continue
1984-680: The Ridge Route, with a longer, less steep grade on the descent into the Central Valley. While the Tehachapi Pass portion of this line has remained the same, over time another route was built from Mojave, across the Antelope Valley towards Cajon Pass to cross the San Gabriel Mountains, there merging with another main rail trunk to Los Angeles. The Cajon Pass fork remains the primary freight rail line to connect southern and northern California in use today, now owned and operated by
2046-579: The Sierra Pelona Mountains via Escondido Summit , at an elevation of 3,258 feet (993 m), before descending and passing by Acton to the north. The highway then crests the San Gabriel Mountains via Soledad Pass , at an elevation of 3,209 feet (978 m). The route of the highway through the mountains loosely parallels that of the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line . After cresting both mountain passes,
2108-666: The West Cajon Valley and crosses Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass . From Interstate 15 to State Route 173 , near the northwest corner of Silverwood Lake , traffic on State Route 138 is rather sparse. The remaining road past Silverwood Lake is mountainous, narrow, and twisting, and not a prime mountain route to the San Bernardino Mountain resorts. The entire segment from Interstate 15 to the eastern terminus of State Route 138 at Mount Anderson Junction
2170-587: The bridge over the Santa Clara River, was opened on March 27, 2010. Rapid exurban growth in Santa Clarita, Lancaster, and Palmdale has made the Antelope Valley Freeway one of the most congested in southern California, with average rush hour speeds well below 20 miles per hour (32 km/h). Future predictions call for continued growth along the SR ;14 corridor, including predictions of
2232-477: The chief contributors to accidents on Route 138 of late is drivers passing on the two-lane highway in unsafe conditions. A notable accident in 2003 involved a pickup truck driven by an unlicensed driver leaving the roadway and plunging into the California Aqueduct , killing four occupants of the vehicle and leaving the sole survivor quadriplegic. The State of California paid a $ 10 million settlement to
2294-685: The coming of the automobile, urgent efforts were made to upgrade and modernize dirt roads designed for horse-drawn wagon traffic. In 1910, the American Association for Highway Improvement was organized. Funding came from automobile registration, and taxes on motor fuels, as well as state aid. By 1914, there were 2.4 million miles of rural dirt rural roads; 100,000 miles had been improved with grading and gravel, and 3,000 miles were given high-quality surfacing. The rapidly increasing speed of automobiles, and especially trucks, made maintenance and repair high-priority items. In 1915, OPR's name
2356-543: The connections. This is the result of a freeway revolt by the residents of Santa Clarita that canceled plans for a freeway extension of SR 126 . While the Via Princessa alignment of SR 126 was canceled, the city of Santa Clarita constructed the Cross Valley Connector (CVC) to connect SR 126 directly to SR 14 via Newhall Ranch Road and Golden Valley Road. The final CVC section,
2418-495: The corridor of modern SR 14 was also in use by the Southern Pacific Railroad . South of Mojave was used for a main line, the corridor north of Mojave follows a branch line. The main line connected Los Angeles with the Central Valley, via Soledad Pass and Tehachapi Pass . While significantly longer than the more direct Ridge Route (east of modern I-5 ), Tehachapi Pass is lower than Tejon Pass along
2480-427: The county column. Parts of the distinctive highway were used in the filming of the movie The Long, Long Trailer , a 1954 comedy with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz . Despite the rapid growth of Southern California in the ensuing fifty years, the segment shown in the movie is little changed since the movie was filmed. David Hockney composed the picturesque photographic collage Pearblossom Highway in 1986 off
2542-534: The general alignment of modern SR 14 was called the El Camino Sierra, or Sierra Highway, which extended from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe . A dirt road was completed in the 1910s from what had been a pack trail . The Los Angeles Times declared El Camino Sierra complete in 1931, when the portion from Mojave to the Owens Valley , along modern US 395, was paved. During the late 19th century,
California State Route 138 - Misplaced Pages Continue
2604-605: The highway descends into the Antelope Valley , a large valley within the Mojave Desert . The highway crosses Angeles Forest Highway and the California Aqueduct in the descent. SR 14 serves as the primary north–south thoroughfare for the communities of Palmdale and Lancaster. Between Palmdale Boulevard ( County Route N2 ) and Avenue D in Lancaster, SR 14 runs concurrently with SR 138 . From
2666-527: The inception of EDC, each state has used 26 or more of the 57 innovations and some states have deployed more than 45. Many of these practices have become mainstream practices across the country. The Federal Highway Administration is overseen by an administrator appointed by the President of the United States by and with the consent of the United States Senate . The administrator works under
2728-485: The intercanyon areas of Acton to Soledad Pass were completed by 1965. By 1966, the freeway was complete as far north as Avenue P-8 (now Technology Drive) in Palmdale. The freeway was completed to Mojave by 1972. The Newhall Pass interchange , where I-5, Sierra Highway, Foothill Boulevard , San Fernando Road and the southern terminus of SR 14 meet, has been the site of a number of catastrophic incidents. The interchange has partially collapsed twice due to earthquakes:
2790-491: The junction with I-5 has not been constructed. The southern part of the constructed route is a busy commuter freeway serving and connecting the cities of Santa Clarita, Palmdale , and Lancaster to the rest of the Greater Los Angeles area . The northern portion, from Vincent (south of Palmdale) to US 395, is legislatively named the Aerospace Highway, as the highway serves Edwards Air Force Base , once one of
2852-479: The main street and runs through the downtown area. To the east of the route is Mojave Air & Space Port , home to the National Test Pilot School and SpaceShipOne , the first privately funded human spaceflight, as well as a vast airplane graveyard ; all are visible from SR 14. SR 58 was formerly routed concurrently with SR 14 through Mojave, before it was rerouted onto
2914-688: The new U.S. Department of Transportation . The FHWA took over the functions of the Bureau of Public Roads the following year. The FHWA's role in the Federal-aid Highway Program is to oversee federal funds to build and maintain the National Highway System (primarily Interstate highways , U.S. highways and most state highways). This funding mostly comes from the federal gasoline tax and mostly goes to state departments of transportation . The FHWA oversees projects using these funds to ensure that federal requirements for project eligibility, contract administration and construction standards are adhered to. Under
2976-606: The north of downtown Palmdale has been studied by Caltrans . The bypass would be located east of the Antelope Valley Freeway and south of LA/Palmdale Regional Airport along Avenue P-8, reconnecting with the current SR 138 east of Palmdale. Caltrans developed a plan to build a 63-mile (101 km) freeway and transit corridor parallel to State Route 138 and State Route 18, known as the "High Desert Corridor". The $ 8 billion project would have included an eight-lane freeway between Lancaster and Victorville, along with
3038-637: The northern terminus. SR 14 continues north toward US 395 in Inyokern , much of its routing as an expressway . Towards its northern terminus, SR 14 runs briefly concurrently with SR 178 . At its northern terminus, SR 14 merges with US 395 as it turns into an expressway heading north to Bishop . As US 395 the route continues to follow the crest of the Sierra Nevada, serving Owens Valley , Mammoth Mountain , Yosemite National Park and Mono Lake . The first road to use
3100-646: The organization was once again named the Bureau of Public Roads; it was placed under the Department of Commerce . From 1917 through 1941, 261,000 miles of highways were built with $ 3.17 billion in federal aid and $ 2.14 billion in state and local funds. The Federal Highway Administration was created on October 15, 1966, along with the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety and the National Highway Safety Bureau (now known as National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ), as part of
3162-435: The previous route of the Midland Trail, instead passing through Bishop . While being designated US 6, parts of modern SR 14 were upgraded to freeway standards. As part of the 1964 state highway renumbering , US 6 was truncated at Bishop. The portion of US 6 from Inyokern to Los Angeles was designated SR 14. Previously, the SR 14 designation was used for Artesia Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue, in
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#17327718731823224-503: The primary landing strips for NASA 's Space Shuttle , as well as the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake that supports military aerospace research, development and testing. This section is rural, following the line between the hot Mojave desert and the forming Sierra Nevada mountain range. Most of SR 14 is loosely paralleled by a rail line originally built by the Southern Pacific Railroad , and
3286-476: The road continues northeast and crosses the Sierra Pelona Mountains and western San Gabriel Mountains via the canyon of the seasonal Santa Clara River . The ascent is mostly rugged and rural terrain, with only two small towns along the ascent, first Agua Dulce and later Acton . In Agua Dulce, the freeway forms the southern boundary of Vasquez Rocks Park , a county park. The highway crests
3348-510: The route begins at SR 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), near Sunset Boulevard in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Between the constructed end and legislative end of SR 14 are the community of Reseda and Topanga State Park . There is no paved road that directly connects these two points, with SR 27 or I-405 being the nearest through roads in this area. The interchange with Sierra Highway at Via Princessa in Santa Clarita has an unusual design, with long flyover ramps for
3410-465: The segment of Route 138 bearing that moniker. It may be viewed at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles . California State Route 14 State Route 14 ( SR 14 ) is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California that connects Los Angeles to the northern Mojave Desert . The southern portion of the highway is signed as the Antelope Valley Freeway . Its southern terminus
3472-607: The state legislature. The Antelope Valley Freeway begins in the Santa Susana Mountains at the Newhall Pass interchange by splitting from the Golden State Freeway (I-5). This is the busiest portion of the route with an annual average daily traffic (AADT) count of 169,000 vehicles per day. The freeway forms much of the eastern boundary of Santa Clarita along its route. Past Santa Clarita,
3534-399: The unfinished Carson and Colorado Railroad in 1900. The Southern Pacific built a standard gauge connector to the narrow gauge Carson and Colorado line from their main at Mojave. Although plans were to eventually convert this acquired line to standard gauge, most of the line was abandoned before the conversion was complete. The southern portion of this line is still active and connects to
3596-405: The victims' family. The area surrounding the highway is also prone to brush fires and flash floods. SR 138 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System , and west of the western junction of SR 18 is part of the National Highway System , a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration . SR 138
3658-521: Was announced by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in 2009. Work was projected to be completed by Spring 2012. However, as of December 2012, work on the project was still ongoing and several portions remain two lanes. Improvements to the six-mile (9.7 km) stretch between Highway 18 and the Los Angeles/San Bernardino County Line, including widening the shoulders and installing rumble strips, were proposed in February 2013, with no timeline for completion being given. A proposed bypass to
3720-416: Was changed to the Bureau of Public Roads . The following year, federal aid was first made available to improve post roads and promote general commerce: $ 75 million over five years, issued through the BPR in cooperation with the state highway departments. In 1939, BPR was renamed to the Public Roads Administration (PRA) and shifted to the Federal Works Agency . After the FWA was abolished in 1949,
3782-401: Was once the primary rail link between Los Angeles and Northern California . While no longer a primary rail line, the southern half of this line is now used for the Antelope Valley Line of the Metrolink commuter rail system. Linked with US 395, this road also connects Los Angeles with such places as Mammoth Mountain , Mono Lake , Yosemite National Park and Reno, Nevada . SR 14
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#17327718731823844-541: Was part of US 6 prior to truncation in 1964, when US 6 was a coast-to-coast route from Long Beach to Provincetown, Massachusetts . The non-freeway segment of SR 14 from Silver Queen Road north of Rosamond to Mojave is known as Sierra Highway , as is the old routing between I-5 and Silver Queen Road where SR 14 has been moved to a newer freeway alignment. Portions of SR 14 remain signed with names associated with US 6, including Midland Trail , Theodore Roosevelt Highway, and Grand Army of
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