Southern California - the Road Conditions thread

I'd like to start a thread that is solely devoted to sharing knowledge about road conditions.

The idea is that there is a thread where someone can go to check the 'latest posts' to see if any roads are closed, if there are major hazards (ie, rockslides, snow, flooding, police-activity, construction, other) on these roads, or other important/route-changing activity.

(perhaps we can make this a sticky?)


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Starting off...

1/26/08 - Even though there's going to be a nice day-time window of no-rain weather in the LA area, I know the following:

-Angeles Crest is closed from La Cañada and up, due to snow.

Does anyone have any info on the various roads in the Malibu area/Santa Monica mountains? I'm thinking of heading out there tomorrow with some friends, if possible.

Right now (1/25), the canyons in Griffith Park are a mess. I'd steer clear of any road where you have to cross a gate to access it.

Starting off...

Does anyone have any info on the various roads in the Malibu area/Santa Monica mountains? I'm thinking of heading out there tomorrow with some friends, if possible.

I don't have any first hand knowledge of current conditions, however....

- Old Topanga takes a beating during these storms. It almost always gets covered with debris/crud.

- Topanga from Fernwood to PCH collects debris in the steep windy area, so be careful if you go through there.

- Mulholland from Decker to PCH collects debris.

- They've had flash flood watches for the recently burned areas (Malibu Cyn, Latigo, Cold Cyn, maybe a few others)

I've found Encinal to be OK even when Mulholland was covered in rocks. Plus your further from traffic down that way.

Good luck out there.

Mosquito Flats 9 /07 Everest Challenge

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii70/bobeckhoff/IMG_0364.jpg

Thanks, verical bob, but can we try to keep the posts about current or most recent conditions?

vb is the coolest

http://ladpw.org/mpm/roadclosure/?CFID=6715266&CFTOKEN=38003694
This site shows conditions where I ride most.

Thanks, verical bob, but can we try to keep the posts about current or most recent conditions? Sorry but ME was showing me how to post a pic. :o

Thanks, verical bob, but can we try to keep the posts about current or most recent conditions?

How do you know it isn't like that up there right now? :p

Sorry but ME was showing me how to post a pic. :o

Nice Pic, VB.

Best guess on the SM's are lots of rocks on the roads. Also, can expect many areas where 'streams' of water will cross the road due to high runoff. Caution definately the name of the game tomorrow.

If I get out, I expect to be more in the flats than the hills.

Sheldon

http://ladpw.org/mpm/roadclosure/?CFID=6715266&CFTOKEN=38003694
This site shows conditions where I ride most.
Thanks VB, it's a cool site. Nice pic. :)

The roads through the SM mountains aren't too bad. I've been riding through the week. As of my ride yesterday, Latigo from PCH up has quite a bit of mud over the road in the lower sections (the fire area), then it is primarily small debris throughout Latigo/Mulholland, etc. There were no major slides over the roads as of yesterday afternoon. Yerba Buena has some washout along the ridge line and descending along the top portions towards PCH.

My suggestions:

use caution on PCH as there are some flood areas that force you out into the road. There are also sections with lots of sand/mud on the shoulder so watch your line and traction.

Lots of small rocks, dirt, on canyon roads (though the caltrans crews have been much more visible this year cleaning the roads), be careful on descents.

I like to ride as far out from the cliff sections as possible as the hills are very unsettled and rocks are coming down.

The weather obviously changes with altitude--it was sunny and OK along PCH yesterday, but sheets of rain and 40+mph winds along ridgelines. When the bad weather moves back in this afternoon, be careful not to get stuck up at altitude where it will hit first...

Attn: riders in the Chevy Chase /Linda Vista area
There is construction on Linda Vista above Chevy Chase to the first turn.....will not affect uphill but the large plates in the road are on the downhill side... ( there are 5 or 6 of them spread out over a few 100 yards)
So if you are coming down Linda Vista from Lida or Figueroa, after the s turns watch for metal plates in the road. You can clear them onthe right side, but at times with the sun and shadows up there they might be hard to see!

For SD riders, I just discovered today that it IS possible to go to the top of Mt Soledad via Mt Soledad Road despite the reported closure and road repairs. All that is required is a detour via Desert View Road to bypass the slide-damaged area. You have to blow past several road blocks and signs warning that only local traffic is allowed. Eventually you will come to this barrier. where you can see construction equipment in the distance.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r143/Indolent58/sol1.jpg

This where you turn right on Desert View and connect back up with Soledad Road past the work area.

Road conditions in LA = wet

As of 2/1/08:

Mt. Hollywood road (through Griffith park): The south side of the road has large patches of sand and debris. The sand can get very beach-volleyball thick, you'll need to consider going cyclocross-style through it. Lower on the road, large rocks. The road will not be cleared out any time soon. South side of the road refers to anything south of the road's peak at the top of Mt. Hollywood.

Descending from the Observatory, however, is perfectly clear thanks to the tourist destination on the top.

Euclid in the hills of Fullerton is like a motocross course, but not as rough.

Mt. Hollywood Drive, Griffith Park, 2/5
Rode this morning, north to south. North side is fine, a few twigs here and there.
South side is bad. About 7-10 mud fields in 3 sections cross the road. It's been awhile since last rain, so they're kinda dirt fields now. I rode through the top 2 or 3, no problem. Second stretch--still some wet areas with very thick, sandy mud. One section, my front wheel sank in and turned, sending me onto my side. I'm okay, was moving very slowly.

Little Tujunga Canyon Rd to Placerita Canyon Rd (Santa Clarita)
Rode this tonight from south side to north. On the lower slopes of the climb proper (as opposed to the ascending rollers), there's a "Stop Ahead" sign--part of the right lane is washed out. Road narrows to a single lane (left side) with "Proceed When Clear" directions. About a 40-foot detour total. As I was moving very slow, it concerned me. A little mud and rock debris along the side of the road, but nothing else getting in the way.

Due to lane work construction being done on Shelter Island in San Diego, there is no appreciable shoulder for biking.

Mt. Hollywood Drive, Griffith Park
The sand-bars that had been there after the big rains of a couple weeks ago have been scraped. The rain from Wednesday didn't put any noticeable debris on the road. It left the previous dirt across the road wet in some spots and dry in others. It is definitely ride-able, just go slow, and pick a good line.

Silverlake Blvd. is doing construction right at the dog park. From Duane to Van Pelt, next to the basketball courts, the bike path is closed. Construction vehicles are parked in the path.

Red Box to Mt Wilson is open, but pretty rough. A lot of rocks; one section of the road (on the ascending side) is out and coned off; ice is melting, so pretty wet/muddy.

Red Box to Mt Wilson is open, but pretty rough. A lot of rocks; one section of the road (on the ascending side) is out and coned off; ice is melting, so pretty wet/muddy. Funny, it didn't seem that bad on Monday.

We rode up Hwy 39 today hoping to get up to AC. Not far past Crystal Lake, at about 5800 ft. there was a huge pile of rocks blocking the entire road for about 100 yds. Ran into some cyclist there who had climbed over and they said that there was a sign posting a dynamite blast. They also said there was a large snow field covering the road as well. There was a loader parked on the downhill side of the blockage so it looks like an effort is underway to clear the road but for now 39 is impassable at that point. The rest of the road was in good shape though. We went on over to the East Fork and up GMR. Visability started to close in and at the top it was raining. I don't remember seeing anything about that in the forecast.:mad: So we decended in the cold rain down to Glendora barely able to see much but the white line and had a lovely ride back to Encanto soaking wet in the rain. The other road condition I have to report on is Sierra Madre. I would like to make whoever is responsible for the eons of time it has taked to connect SM through to Azusa ,ride it with me while I pour buckets of ice water over them as we detour through mud and gravel. It seems like the road has stopped 200 yards from completion for ever. Can you tell I aint a happy camper? :oOh well alls well that ends well. At least I got my 8500 ft. here's a link to our new friends from okiecycling who took these pic up on 39 http://www.okiecycling.com/pictures/index.php

My recovery ride yesterday morning up to Chantry Flats:
There were some large rocks strewn all the way across both lanes about 1/2 mile up past the gate, (in an very visible area) and two or three patches of sand further up in mile 1. Beautiful, clear views, no wind, almost no traffic. Warm descent.

We rode up Hwy 39 today hoping to get up to AC. Not far past Crystal Lake, at about 5800 ft. there was a huge pile of rocks blocking the entire road for about 100 yds. Ran into some cyclist there who had climbed over and they said that there was a sign posting a dynamite blast. They also said there was a large snow field covering the road as well. There was a loader parked on the downhill side of the blockage so it looks like an effort is underway to clear the road but for now 39 is impassable at that point. The rest of the road was in good shape though. We went on over to the East Fork and up GMR. Visability started to close in and at the top it was raining. I don't remember seeing anything about that in the forecast.:mad: So we decended in the cold rain down to Glendora barely able to see much but the white line and had a lovely ride back to Encanto soaking wet in the rain. The other road condition I have to report on is Sierra Madre. I would like to make whoever is responsible for the eons of time it has taked to connect SM through to Azusa ,ride it with me while I pour buckets of ice water over them as we detour through mud and gravel. It seems like the road has stopped 200 yards from completion for ever. Can you tell I aint a happy camper? :oOh well alls well that ends well. At least I got my 8500 ft. here's a link to our new friends from okiecycling who took these pic up on 39 http://www.okiecycling.com/pictures/index.php

Bob, I just saw this. :eek: OMG, all that snow! Great pics. You got rained on too, huh?

Also, did you know that there is now a very wide, safe and smooth series of streets that connects Sierre Madre so that you don't have to go over that awful part?

My recovery ride yesterday morning up to Chantry Flats:
There were some large rocks strewn all the way across both lanes about 1/2 mile up past the gate, (in an very visible area) and two or three patches of sand further up in mile 1. Beautiful, clear views, no wind, almost no traffic. Warm descent.

I'm so jealous. I have to get back up there. Of course, with rocks and sand, a night ride is out for me.

Genessee in La Jolla is pretty bad with the construction right now (east of the 5). Avoid it if you can.

Genessee in La Jolla is pretty bad with the construction right now (east of the 5). Avoid it if you can.Thanks! Good excuse for me not to ride to work. Hope it'll get better by Saturday since it's (at least) part of the SDBC group ride.

Shelter Island is still a mess. Major road work makes it non ridable. It's been over a month of construction.

Thanks! Good excuse for me not to ride to work. Hope it'll get better by Saturday since it's (at least) part of the SDBC group ride.

You can ride it but there is no bike lane right now. I was coming from Torrey Pines headed east and right after the bridge that goes over the 5 the bike lane dissappears. This was Tuesday around 10 or 11 and there were a lot of semi trucks coming next to me taking up two lanes in order to pass by me safely.

North Pacific St in Oceanside is closed for 3 months just south of the harbor. You have to use PCH.

Yesterday coming back from GMR heading to Encanto on Sierra Madre we took the new SM through the development. They were just finishing the paving of the last portion of SM through to Azusa. The pavement was still warm [ the warmest I felt all day] but we made it through no problem. No longer need to detour around the development. Yay.:)

Yesterday coming back from GMR heading to Encanto on Sierra Madre we took the new SM through the development. They were just finishing the paving of the last portion of SM through to Azusa. The pavement was still warm [ the warmest I felt all day] but we made it through no problem. No longer need to detour around the development. Yay.:)

Wow! Awesome to hear! Thanks.

Yesterday coming back from GMR heading to Encanto on Sierra Madre we took the new SM through the development. They were just finishing the paving of the last portion of SM through to Azusa. The pavement was still warm [ the warmest I felt all day] but we made it through no problem. No longer need to detour around the development. Yay.:)

We went through there a bit before you. We had to walk some on the dirt around where they had the rollers going. Sierra Madre is now open for business!!

We went through there a bit before you. We had to walk some on the dirt around where they had the rollers going. Sierra Madre is now open for business!!
It's never a real ride until you've had to carry your bike a few yards.

I missed it. Well, now I can't wait to get out there again and come back down GMR through that section.

It's never a real ride until you've had to carry your bike a few yards.

I just called it cyclocross :D

This thread is a great idea, too bad not many are using it. Has it been supplanted elsewhere? Anyway, I am need to return home down 39 from viewing ToC and I'm trying to save myself a reconnaissance ride up to Hwy 2 -- anyone have recent conditions past Crystal Lake?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?639117-Anyone-been-up-Hwy-39-recently&p=10724165&viewfull=1#post10724165 we were up there last week

This thread is a great idea, too bad not many are using it. Has it been supplanted elsewhere? . . . .
Since road closures due to weather, maintenance, construction, and any number of other reasons, are posted on various government web sites, this thread is actually pretty useless. Probably why no one has used it for a couple years.

Since road closures due to weather, maintenance, construction, and any number of other reasons, are posted on various government web sites, this thread is actually pretty useless. Probably why no one has used it for a couple years.
While Highway 39 situations where the official word is not useful (closed, but not really) are rare, I find an recent rider's evaluation very helpful. Some construction prohibits riding, others can be hiked or ridden. Road can be open but have enough snow or black ice to prohibit safe riding. People are constantly commenting on their ride conditions, but scattered under many threads, and of course even when comments are significant, some types of conditions change daily so I'm not going to whine about it.

Of the three local roads, AC, 39, and GRR, that might be influenced daily due to seasonal conditions, a quick search will usually find a current posted ride report. If you check the forestry service postings, they will indicate whether the road is closed to all but authorized traffic, or merely closed as is the case with 39, despite the sign posted at the top and bottom gates indicating that bicycle traffic is not permitted, which everyone ignores.

[QUOTE=JustMe;10748269 or merely closed as is the case with 39, despite the sign posted at the top and bottom gates indicating that bicycle traffic is not permitted, which everyone ignores.[/QUOTE] The sign is gone at the top, YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:lol: It's posted in my garage. :eek: :D

:lol: It's posted in my garage. :eek: :D

Really?!:roflmao2:

:lol: It's posted in my garage. :eek: :D

LOL 1-800- Wetip LOL:50: