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Volume 075-1 - January 2021 (8 pages)
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Page: of 8
NCHS Bulletin January 2021
extensive development of highways, roads and
bridges in every area of the state. At the beginning
of 1941 there was the possibility that the United
States would soon be entering the war. As the
months passed the national defense program began
and construction costs began to rise rapidly for
road and highway building. There were shortages
of rubber, rationing of gasoline and other issues
that resulted in material reduction of the state
highway revenue. Pre-war budgets became
obsolete and continual budget reduction ensued.
In 1943 the nation was embroiled in World War II
and all normal peace-time activities had been set
aside for the necessary all-out war effort. Prior
to the war, improvements to the California State
Highway System had been on a definite program of
development aimed at providing adequate facilities
for motor vehicle transportation of the entire state and
highway budgets had been prepared on that basis.
Working in conjunction with the Public Roads
Administration, the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps, the Division of Highways had prepared a
comprehensive program for construction of roads
serving as access to military and naval establishments
in California and to industrial plants engaged in
production of material and equipment needed for
prosecution of the war.‘
At the same time there were those who began to plan
and give serious thought towards the postwar era and
the speeding up of preparations for that period. In
California the State Legislature recognized the need
for a “ready-to-go” post-war highway program. At
the instance of Governor Earl Warren, the California
Legislature appropriated $12,000,000 for surveys,
plans, specifications, and the acquisition of right-ofway for the postwar highway construction program.
On November 18, 1944 a program was officially
adopted, and funds budgeted for the preliminary
engineering and right-of-way acquisition for the
projects.
On January 15, 1947 The Union’ newspaper reported
that twelve leading Sierra County businessmen,
civic leaders and property owners, accompanied
by Secretary-Manager Ray J. Kronemeyer of the
Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce, had met in
Sacramento the previous day with engineers of the
California Division of Highways and the Public Roads
Administration over the future program for Highway
49 to Downieville via Grass Valley and Nevada City.
The delegation was assured that there was no intention
to stop work permanently at the Sierra County line
and further development of the improvement of the
highway by both federal and state agencies would
proceed when the engineering studies had been
completed and appropriations made. At that time
one contract had been completed from Freeman’s
to Peterson’s corners; a second section was under
construction from Petersen’s to Camptonville; and the
section from North San Juan to Freeman’s would be
forthcoming shortly.
On January 24" Secretary-Manager Kronemeyer
announced the good news that the California Highway
Commission had approved the expenditures for the
construction of a four-mile piece of highway that
could link the City of Grass Valley with Rattlesnake
Bridge near Red Hat on Highway 49°. Although the
new route was indefinite at the time there were
several alternative routes that had been surveyed,
and the call for bids could ask for budget estimates
on several proposals.
Ata special session of the Legislature in early 1947,
a ten-year highway construction program was
under consideration that would allot to Nevada
County a total of $8,078,800 for ten road projects,
according to a report submitted to Assemblyman
Scoop Thurman by the Public Works Department.
The 76.7 miles of construction work in Nevada
County would be financed by increased state
gasoline taxes (a five-cent tax was proposed),
motor vehicle fees, and diesel fuel and caravan
taxes, together with a portion of the total federal
aid estimated at $17,140,000 for the entire state.
Projects listed for Nevada County were:
¢ Bridge No, 17-03 at Squirrel Creek, $44,000.
¢ 12.3 miles, grade and surfacing from 2.1 miles
east of Yuba County boundary to Route 17 near
Town Talk, to cost $1,013,000 with right of way.
¢ 3.2 miles, grade and surface from Steep Hollow
to Bear River, $340,500.
¢ 1.0 mile, grade and surface in Nevada City,
$525,000.
¢ 4.5 miles 4-lane divided highway from onehalf mile south of Grass Valley to Nevada City,
$1,070,000.