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Former California State Route 180 in Citrus Cove

Citrus Cove is a small canyon located east of Cove Road in Fresno County which California State Route 180 passes through.  Modern California State Route 180 climbs above the orange groves in this canyon via a modern two-lane highway.  The original alignment of California State Route 180 is located within the canyon which is now a switchback road passing through the orange groves.  This older alignment was in service as California State Route 180 until 1952 and was for years a major barrier for traffic reaching destinations in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The original alignment of California State Route 180 from Cove Road east to Squaw Valley via Citrus Cove can be seen on the 1950 United States Geological Survey map.  Part 1; the history of California State Route 180 in Citrus Cove Citrus Cove is a small canyon in which is located on California State Route 180 immediately east of Cove Road.  As the name suggests, this canyon is lined with a citrus grove.  C...
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Tracing Pennsylvania's lost routes - Route 908

Former Pennsylvania Route 908 is located in Northeast Allegheny County.  First signed in 1928, Route 908, along with many other 800- and 900-series routes, was decommissioned in 1946.  Yet, there are still mentions of PA 908 in the wild along the back roads of the area. AAA Wall Map showing PA 908 and PA 908 'Ext' still in service. PA 908 would continue south through Russellton and Rural Ridge to meet PA 28 near Cheswick. (Map Date: Unknown - Photo Adam Prince - September 2012) PA 908 was a 16-mile route that followed what is now Little Deer Creek Road, Russellton Road, Millerstown Road, Bull Creek Road, and Bakerstown Road.  Sign blades at intersections along Millerstown Road still refer to it as "Route 908."  Russelton Road is also known as "State Route 908 Extension."  In fact, the sign blades showing Route 908 and Route 908 Extension are the reason a AAA wall map of the Pittsburgh area shows both PA 908 and PA 908 "Extension." Driving PA 908: S...

George Smith Road (Fresno County)

George Smith Road is an approximately 5.5-mile rural highway located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County.  As presently configured George Smith Road begins at California State Route 180 (Kings Canyon Road) in Yokuts Valley (previously Squaw Valley) and winds above a ridge overlooking Shannon Valley to Ennis Road.   George Smith Road was developed as the Sand Creek Cutoff Road and originally ended in Tulare County.  The roadway appears renamed after Smith Ranch beginning in the 1930s.  During the 1950s and 1960s George Smith Road would be altered heavily.  The 1960s alteration truncated the corridor away from Tulare County and realigned it to Ennis Road.   Part 1; the history of George Smith Road George Smith Road is named after Smith Ranch which historically has been located on the corridor.  As presently configured George Smith Road begins at California State Route 180 (Kings Canyon Road) in Yokuts Valley (previously Squaw Valley...

Italian Bar Road (Fresno County)

Italian Bar Road is an approximately six-mile switchback highway located in the San Joaquin River Canyon of Fresno County.  Italian Bar Road begins at the southern rim of the San Joaquin River Canyon at Jose Basin Road and terminates to the northwest at the Italian Bar Bridge over Redinger Lake.  Italian Bar Road is named after a former mining claim which was staked on the San Joaquin River where Redinger Lake is now located.  The Fresno County side of Italian Bar Road was largely constructed concurrent with Million Dollar Road to access the site of Big Creek Powerhouse #8 in 1921.  The Fresno County roadway was connected with the Italian Bar mining road in Madera County circa 1925 when the Italian Bar Bridge was constructed over the San Joaquin River.  Before Madera County dropped roadway names after World War II the corridor of Italian Bar Road extended to Minarets Road near North Fork. In 1951 the Italian Bar Bridge would be raised to accommodate the Redinger...