I attended Cathedral High School located in Chinatown, just below the Gate E entrance of Dodger Stadium. When I first got my drivers license and started driving myself to and from school, it didn't take me long to figure out that the 110 was different. The freeway entrance by our school dumps you right at the tunnels and onto what is known as the Arroyo Seco Parkway - an 8.2 mile stretch of the 110 freeway with non stop curves, narrow lanes, and abrupt entrances and exits. Once you drive on it, you never forget it. It doesn't look or feel like any other section of freeway in Los Angeles, and there's a reason for that. It was the first freeway ever built in the United States, and it's right here in our backyard.
I won't bore you with an extensive history lesson, but I will point out some interesting facts that I've learned while looking into this historical stretch of concrete.
The Arroyo Seco Parkway was the prototype for the extensive freeway system that now exists throughout the country. It was named after the Arroyo Seco seasonal river which flows from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Los Angeles River. It was designed to follow the flow of the river and provide a "parkway" that connected the "city to the Sierras" through natural parks in the area (Highland Park/Elysian Park).
This is why it has the fun curves we love so much and ultimately ends at Elysian Park by Dodger Stadium. The series of tunnels that everyone loves to take videos in while downshifting...those were originally known as the Figueroa Street tunnels and they were added at the very end after the freeway was constructed in 1941. The Arroyo Seco Parkway was designated as the first modern freeway to become part of Route 66, and these are the only tunnels that exist along all of Route 66.
These Art Deco tunnels are unmistakeable and seen in many movies and photographs. When you drive through them, it is obvious that they are from a different era.
There was some controversy to the construction of the parkway - people would be able to travel from Los Angeles to Pasadena and bypass businesses along Figueroa decreasing street traffic to their establishments. I know all about this fear from watching the movie Cars with my kids.
The original plans included lush greenery and trees all along the side of the freeway and 18 Parisian style bridges that would hover above. Many of these bridges still hold their original form and look much different from any other overpasses in the city. Once you get to South Pasadena, you are greeted by a large welcome sign constructed of river rocks from the Arroyo. Thats when you know its time to let off the throttle because the end of the freeway is coming soon!
As I got more into cars, that stretch of freeway became my road test after any enhancement I made to a vehicle. Its still my favorite road to drive when I just need a quick fix. One day as I was driving on it, I started to imagine vintage race flags and sponsor banners hanging from the overpasses. Photographers on top of these Parisian style bridges shooting photos of race cars as they drove by. I created an imaginary vintage race event that occurred on this winding freeway in my mind. What if this section of freeway was used as part of an iconic race like Le Mans? It makes sense to me - the road has history. It is a valuable part of our city...and country.
What if we did it? Create an event where we would all gather in the city and drive this historical road to the mountains together. Actually have photographers on the overpasses taking photos of iconic cars driving on the first freeway in America.
Many call the construction of the Arroyo Seco Parkway the starting point of Los Angeles Car Culture. Let's pay tribute to it.
See you there!