Location #15

The Gaviota Pass. This is the northern extent of the Gaviota section of this project, and the final location. Because of the dangerous, and narrow access to both the bridge and the tunnel, I have decided to rely on available aerial shots, Google imagery, and vintage photos to illustrate this historic location, and not get myself run over.

The history of the Gaviota pass includes a stagecoach route with a ford over the creek before the 1860's, and then a series of 3 bridges and a tunnel.

The Gaviota pass before 1860 was a very rocky, narrow, and dangerous path. Often covered with huge boulders, and flooded, it was undependable and too windy and narrow for wagons to navigate through. In 1861, it was decided to allocate some money to use chisels, labor and expolsives to widen the gap. A wooden bridge was constructed over the Gaviota Creek. So far, I have not located a photo of this original bridge. This sufficed until 1915, when the Ca Division of Highways again widened, straightened, and replaced the wooden bridge with a steel suspension type of bridge. In 1924, that bridge was replaced by a concrete bridge with an arched supporting structure.

In 1953, the Gaviota tunnel was completed, and used to carry the northbound traffic on the now 4-land divided 101 freeway, and although the bridge may have been modified and widened, this is still basically the way it is today.

	An aerial view looking north of the northbound tunnel, and southbound bridge and lanes.
	Aerial view looking south.
	The entrance to the NB tunnel.
	A very rare shot of the original pass & wagon ford over the creek. Facing south, you can clearly see Indian Head Rock on the right, and a wagon team in the lower left corner.
	View looking northeast of the steel suspension bridge built in 1915.
	Another vintage shot of the 1915 bridge, looking southwest this time. Early 1900's here.
	The third bridge, a concrete arched version was built in 1924. View looking northwest.
	Another shot of the 3rd bridge.
	The construction of the NB tunnel in 1952.
	The current bridge over Gaviota Creek today.

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