Sunday, May 8, 2016

Trans Mountain Update

 Can't believe it's almost been three years since I've posted on this blog!

Sorry for the long absence. Will try to add some new rides from time to time. The first update I want to post is about Trans Mountain Drive -- long a favorite climb of many cyclists but currently our options are impeded by current construction. Trans Mountain is part of Loop 375.

 The construction zone is due to work to add a new entrance to Tom Mays Park (formally known as the Tom Mays Unit of Franklin Mountains State Park), which would allow eastbound motorists to enter the park without crossing in front of westbound drivers (I think it's going to be an underpass).

 The zone begins just below the park entrance and continues for a couple of miles. There is a no-bicycles sign at the beginning of the zone. I found out about this a few months ago when I rode into the construction zone (did not see the sign) and had no way out for the next mile or so. There were two eastbound lanes blocked by cement barriers on each side, so there was no shoulder for a cyclist to move onto. Fortunately it was a Sunday morning with little traffic, so I escaped unscathed. I believe the same situation exists on the westbound lanes.

So the bad news is there is no way to ride across Trans Mountain. The good news is:

 1) The east side of Trans Mountain is unaffected. You can climb up the east side (starting from US 54) to the summit and then pull into one of three parking area on the other side of the road to take a break, then ride back down the east side. Both sides of this route have ample shoulders or bike lanes.

2) On the west side, you can still ride all the way up to Tom Mays, and then you can continue two more miles each way on the paved state park road, which is a fun roller-coaster ride with more elevation gain.

Before I explain further, I need to describe the highway situation. There is a main elevated Loop 375 highway which is off-limits to cyclists that runs about 3 miles going east from I-10. There are also frontage roads, where cyclists are permitted to ride. There are also jogging/walking/cycling paths on both the north and south sides of the highway/frontage roads where cyclists can also ride. The path on the south side goes from I-10 to just past Paseo Del Norte. The path on the north side goes from I-10 to the Tom Mays entrance. The paths are perfectly fine for climbing, since most of us are going a max of 10 mph if that much and it's no problem to avoid runners, walkers and the various debris, including lots of rock and gravel. The paths are not that safe for descent unless you want to ride your brakes.

 Here are your options:

 -- Take the jogging/walking/cycling path that begins at I-10 on the south side of Loop 375 (Trans Mountain) and at Paseo Del Norte cross the eastbound frontage road, go through the underpass, cross the westbound frontage road and resume climbing on an identical jogging/walking/cycling path that will take you to the Tom Mays entrance.

-- You can also access the path on the north side of Loop 375 (Trans Mountain) by crossing earlier at the Resler or Plexxar underpasses. -- You also can ride on the eastbound frontage road if you prefer -- traffic is pretty light -- before you cross over.

-- Paseo Del Norte is the last underpass where you can cross. If you forget to cross over, then you will have to portage your bike over the median when you hit the construction zone and you will have to cross with considerably more traffic since now you will be on the main highway (not the frontage road).

On the way back down, I recommend you take the main road (which has a marked bike lane) until it splits off between the elevated Loop 375 highway and the frontage road. Follow the bike lane onto the frontage road, which will take you back to I-10 (or Resler or Northwestern, if you're returning that way).

 I rode this on May 6 and 7 to check it out. Coming out of Tom Mays, there was a portion of the westbound (downhill) main road that was blocked off, but totally clear for cyclists to ride (it is also accessible to motorists coming out of Tom Mays). This eventually merges back into the main highway for a bit before the turnoff onto the frontage road. So at that point you want to stay in the bike lane to avoid the high-speed traffic bearing down on you.

 Side notes:

 -- The park rangers always let road cyclists ride through the entrance gate without paying fees. They know you are just making the loop.

 -- Tom Mays road has three speed bumps. Make a note of them as you ride up so you slow down for them on the way back

 -- There are restrooms at the upper end of Tom Mays road

Here are the mileage distances you might want to know

 0.0 I-10 Frontage Road (Desert Blvd North). Elevation: 3898 feet

 0.4 Northwestern 0.96 N. Resler Dr. (between Resler and end of Frontage Roads are two new underpasses — Plexxar and Paseo Del Norte — sorry, I don’t have the mileage for them)

1.94 Frontage Road ends. Construction zone starts about 3/4 mile further up

 3.38 Entrance to Tom Mays Unit

 5.42 End of paved roadway at Tom Mays. Elevation: 5011 feet.