Pacific Coast Highway – Santa Monica CA

Description

Federal aid funded the 3.5 mile stretch of the Roosevelt Highway – now known as the Pacific Coast Highway and State Route 1 – in front of Santa Monica, California.  The  funds apparently came from the Public Works Administration (PWA), though the Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) was probably involved. The California State Division of Highways would have done the actual planning and construction using private contractors.  The work was probably done in 1939-40, but that needs confirmation.

In order to build this section of highway, the state of California stepped in to purchase the land at the foot of the bluffs that front the beach and Pacific ocean in Santa Monica, so that work could be done to stabilize the sandstone bluffs and keep out private development.

At the north and south ends of this segment of the PCH, there are access ramps from Ocean Avenue on top of the bluff (known as the California Incline and Moomat Ahiko Way). At the south end, beneath the Colorado Ave Viaduct (a pedestrian crossing), lies the tunnel where Interstate 10 emerges onto the PCH.  The ramps and tunnel were apparently funded by the federal government, too.  Further confirmation is needed on that.