Politics & Government

Video: Officials Re-Open Long-Shuttered Stretch of Angeles Crest Highway

Caltrans spent a year and a half repairing roadways and hillsides deeply gutted by 2009's Station Fire.

Rumbling motorcycle engines rippled through the Angeles National Forest Friday at a volume not heard since the closure of Angeles Crest Highway in 2009, following the largest fire in Los Angeles County history.

The California Department of Transportation Friday morning opened the stretch of State Route 2 between La Cañada and the Angeles Forest Highway, enabling motorists to access the highway from La Cañada to Wrightwood. Roy Fisher, Caltrans District 7 director of construction, said the gargantuan repair project cost $32 million and in addition to maintenance crews employed engineers, geologists and biologists.

"This no way was like filling pot holes; it's more like building bridges underground,'' Fisher said during a press conference held on the highway.

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From Aug. 26 to Oct. 16 2009, the Station Fire ravaged the Angeles National Forest and destroyed 209 structures, including 89 houses. Two firefighters died during the the blaze that burned 160,577 acres. 

Angeles National Forest reopened recently to eager hikers and visitors, who can now access 98,000 acres of forest containing more than 100 miles of hiking trails and dozens of camp sites.

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The initial closure of the Angeles Crest Highway (State Route 2) was expected to last mere weeks, but without the protections of vegetation, storms eroded and washed out large swaths of pavement. Portions of the 66-mile highway have since reopened, but the 9-mile stretch winding into La Cañada has remained closed, as the most heavily damaged areas remained vulnerable to rock slides.

On Friday, bicyclists, motorcyclists and double-axled drivers waited in a sinuous line snaking the highway, just two miles north of La Cañada. Decked out in full racing gear, bicyclist Chris Keller of San Gabriel said he's most happy about the convenience factor of accessing the Forest without having to trek miles out of his way. 

"I'm looking forward to getting out of town, while being so close to town,'' he said.

Bernard Tolentino, who works at Necomb's Ranch Restaurant & Bar, filmed La Cañada Chamber of Commerce Presdient Pat Anderson as she ceremoniously opened the gates, closed for 18 months.

"I'm excited for the hikers and bikers and mountain climbers, all the people who love to do the things that Southern California offers, right here,'' he said, adding he was heading back to the restaurant, some 30 miles north of La Cañada, expecting the stream of motorcycles to make that favored pit stop for lunch.


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