San Gabriel Valley cities had hoped Caltrans would move forward with plans to reconnect Highway 39 with Highway 2 in the San Gabriel Mountains.
The last portion of Highway 39 connecting it to the 2 was built in 1957, but it washed away in heavy rains in 1978 and it has never re-opened to the chagrin of people hoping for a short-cut to mountain recreation and ski areas.
“It’s important about the entire San Gabriel Valley,” said Steven Castro, the director of the Azusa Chamber of Commerce.
He had hoped Caltrans would OK the reconnection because people using Highway 39 to get to Highway 2 would have to come through Azusa, adding, “We’re the last stop.”
But Caltrans decided it would be too expensive to re-open the 4.4 mile section of the highway in the Angeles National Forest between Crystal Lake and Wrightwood.
The agency also cited engineering challenges and the habitat of the bighorn sheep.
Caltrans decided it was just not cost effective nor realistic to go forward with the reopening since Highway 39 was not a major route and it would need to spend $32 million on new drainage, erect a mechanical wall and redirect a portion of the highway at Snowy Springs.
Barret Wetherby who owns a cabin in the mountains was also disappointed by the decision.
“The San Gabriel Mountain bighorn sheep are not endangered and they nest in several spots –none of which is in the middle of Highway 39,” he said.
He said Caltrans is just using the sheep as an excuse.
California Department of Fish and Game officials disagreed.
They congratulated Caltrans on its decision because the bighorn sheep are fully protected under environmental laws.
San Gabriel Valley officials who see the highway as an economy booster are not giving up their efforts to get it reopened.
A spokesman said they are mounting a letter writing campaign to ask local legislators to put pressure on Caltrans to reverse its decision.
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