Q: Professor Honk: Some of Caltrans’ newer bridges are sand-colored, not the gray-concrete color of old. Why is this, and are they buying dyed concrete or concrete made of different sand? And how come some of them have murals and architectural elements and others do not? Please see the photos I passed along of the Westlake Village and Carpinteria bridges on the 101 Freeway for examples.
– Kioren Moss, Ventura
A: Pretty nifty, eh?
Honk gets his kicks on the 10 Freeway through the Coachella Valley when he sees the Cathedral City turnoff with church-like cutouts on the overpass, or the artsy lizards, a petroglyph and butterflies on Arizona’s highway structures, or the handsome nameplates of the streets that cross over the 405 Freeway in Orange County.
Or of the sailboats on the side of the Lindero Canyon Road overpass on the 101 in Westlake Village, in a scene of them scudding across nearby Westlake Lake.
Caltrans likes architectural designs, so long as they pass the state’s guidelines, said Eric Menjivar, a Caltrans spokesman in Los Angeles County.
Sometimes, the state has the cash to spruce up freeway structures, or a local city or agency does.
“It all depends on how the project gets initiated,” Menjivar said. “Sometimes, the local cities will do something with the overhead bridges.”
The Lindero overpass was redesigned in 2015.
“It was a local project with funding from the county,” Menjivar said.
As to freeway concrete, Menjivar said it is the same as before — the difference is the fancy stuff, in addition to the different forms, is stained.
HONKIN’ UPDATE: Earlier this month Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill expanding the Mobile Driver License Pilot Program, allowing 60% of California’s licensed drivers in the state to have one on their cellphone, up from 15%.
Some places will accept it — including the Transportation Security Administration’s pre-check at California airports. Some spots only accept it in a particular wallet: Apple, Google, Samsung or the Department of Motor Vehicles.
As of July 1, 3.9 million mobile driver’s licenses had been issued in the state, the DMV said, with 825 businesses accepting them (If interested, see the DMV website for how to join the throng).
Does Honk believe this cellphone driver’s license will eventually be accepted by all — including, most notably, police officers — like the hard copy is now?
Yes.
But until the wise one or state officials tell you otherwise, motorists should carry the hard copy driver’s license — because they are required to do so.
HONKIN’ FACT: In 2024, the latest year statistics are available, 11,288 people died in the country in speeding-related traffic collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk