California's Route 72


      Route 72 is from Route 39 to Atlantic Boulevard near the City
of Los Angeles, except as follows:
   (a) Route 72 shall cease to be a state highway when Route 90
freeway is completed from Route 5 to Route 39.
   (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any portion of Route 72 from
Route 605 to Atlantic Boulevard shall cease to be a state highway
when the County of Los Angeles, the City of Montebello, and the City
of Pico Rivera complete the reconstruction of their respective
portions of Whittier Boulevard approximately between these two
limits.  [CS&HC Sec. 372]

      State highway routes embracing portions of Routes 280, 82,
238, 101, 5, 72, 12, 37, 121, 87, 162, 185, 92, and 123 and connecting
city streets and county roads thereto, and extending in a continuous 
route from Sonoma southerly to the international border and near the 
route historically known as El Camino Real shall be known and 
designated as "El Camino Real."  [CS&HC Sec. 635(b)]

History


  • 1965:  Route 245 deleted; terminus changed to Downey Road.
    • 

  • 1981:  Portion from Route 5 to Harbor Boulevard (current Route 39)
deleted.  Portion from Harbor Boulevard to Route 39 transferred to
Route 39.
    • 

  • 1992:  Portion from Atlantic Boulevard to Downey Road deleted.

Points of Interest

      Wedged between the San Gabriel River and Route 605 on Route 72
is the Pio Pico State Historic Park, named after the last governor of
Mexican California.  On this site, Pico built a mansion which
functioned as the center of operations for his 8,891-acre ranch.  The
park is accessible on Pioneer Boulevard, immediately west of the
Route 605 overpass.  Additional information is provided here.
      Route 72 begins in La Habra and passes through Whittier.

Truck Routes and Terminal Access


  • Route 39 to Orange/Los Angeles County Line:  Terminal Access.
    • 

  • Orange/Los Angeles County Line to 0.08 miles north of Garfield
Avenue in Montebello:  Terminal Access.
    • 

(Note also that there's an END TERMINAL ACCESS sign on Whittier Blvd.
at Downey Road.  This reflects the route's former ending at Downey
Road.)

Photos


    


    Junction Route 72 from Route 19.
    


    Faded Route 72 shield on Whittier Boulevard.  Many of this route's shields are in a similarly deplorable state.
    


    Terminal Access shields on Route 72.
    


    Since Route 72 is part of El Camino Real, naturally you would find a few mission-style motifs on it, such as these street lights with novelty bell fixtures.
    


    Another mission-style curiosity on Route 72.
    


    Route 72 in Pico Rivera.
    


    A rustic bridge of a disused railway over Route 72.  No post mile markers for the bridge are installed.
    


    Heading east on Route 72 approaching Route 605.
    


    Pio Pico Mansion historical landmark marker on Route 72.  Pio Pico SHP is just west of Route 605.
    


    The Pio Pico Mansion.
    


    Route 72 at Norwalk Boulevard.
    


    Route 72 shield from Norwalk Boulevard.  Oddly enough, the route itself is poorly signed, but there is an abundance of shields on its cross streets.
    


    Route 72 approaching Whittier.  This is the original concrete highway which Route 101 once used,  and is similar to that of Route 82 in San Mateo.
    


    A close-up of the pavement.
    


    

Notes

      Route 72 runs entirely on Whittier Boulevard.
      Additionally, from Daniel Faigin's website:  "An existing permit
allows the closure of this route to all vehicular traffic, except 
emergency traffic, between Eastern and Atlantic Blvd on Friday, 
Saturday, and Sundy nights between 9:30 pm and 5:00 am. This permit 
was granted to reduce the "cruising" that was occuring on the route on 
those evenings."

California State Highways  (Pull-down)
California State Highways (Tables)
The Main Page
    Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

    1