California's Most Deadly Highways

When roadway improvements do not keep pace with rapid urbanization in smaller towns, the results can be deadly.

1 minute read

August 4, 2004, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"U.S. 395 is not the most dangerous road in California. That dubious honor goes to a section of Angeles Crest Highway in Los Angeles County. But it is one of just 12 narrow, older roads identified in 2000 by state transportation planners as dangerous and in need of improvement.Like other rural routes, it was built as a two-lane link between small towns. Now it carries an average of 15,800 vehicles per day — more than twice as many as 20 years ago, and is an increasingly important trucking route.Long isolated from the congestion that plagues more urban parts of the state, the towns around U.S. 395 are now bursting with development. But as in many rapidly urbanizing areas, increased development has not been followed by significant roadway improvements... 'If they had a cross up here for everybody who died on this road,' Simmons said, 'it would look like a cemetery.' "

Thanks to Chris Steins

Wednesday, August 4, 2004 in The Los Angeles Times

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