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State Route 247

Click here for a key to the symbols used. An explanation of acronyms may be found at the bottom of the page.


Routing Routing

  1. Rte 247 Seg 1From Route 62 near Yucca Valley to Route 18 near Lucerne Valley.

    Post 1964 Signage History Post 1964 Signage History

    062/247Asdefined in 1963, this segment was the entirety of Route 247. It was originally planned to be a freeway between Route 62 and Route 18 ("Old Woman Springs Freeway").

    Pre 1964 Signage History Pre 1964 Signage History

    This routing was an extension to LRN 187 that was defined in 1959. It appears to not have been constructed before 1963.

    Status Status

    In May 2010, the CTC approved for future consideration of funding a project in San Bernardino County that will construct 8-foot wide shoulders in each direction on a 7.8 mile portion of Route 247 near the town of Yucca Valley (08-SBd-247, PM 1.8/9.6). In addition to the shoulder widening, shoulder backing will also be installed. The project is fully funded in the 2010 State Highway Operation and Protection Program. Total estimated project cost is $19,504,000 for capital and support. Construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2012-13. The project will involve construction activities in the habitat of the Pallid San Diego pocket mouse, the Desert tortoise, and the Northern red-diamond rattlesnake. All three species are State listed species of special concern.

    In August 2015, the CTC approved for future consideration of funding a project in San Bernardino County that will construct shoulders at various locations and place rumble strips on the existing and proposed shoulders on Route 247 in the community of Landers (08-SBd-247, PM 9.6/20.3). The project is programmed in the 2014 State Highway Operation and Protection Program. The total estimated cost is $29,281,000 for capital and support. Construction is estimated to begin in Fiscal Year 2016-17. The scope, as described for the preferred alternative, is consistent with the project scope programmed by the Commission in the 2014 State Highway Operation and Protection Program.

    In December 2018, the CTC received an information report of an allocation of $1,808,000 for the following project: San Bernardino 08-SBd-247 20.3/76.8 PPNO 08-3006K. Route 247 In and near Barstow, from 0.1 mile north of Boone Road to 0.7 mile south of Rimrock Road. Outcome/Output: Construct ground-in shoulder and centerline rumble strips. This safety project will reduce the number and severity of collisions.
    (Source: December 2018 CTC Minutes, Agenda Item 2.5f(3) Item 3)

    In June 2021, it was reported that Caltrans was working on two projects to resurface Route 247 between Lucerne Valley and Barstow. The repairs will occur on the highway between PM SBD 39 to SBD 42, and PM SBD 46 to SBD 70. The first section is on the east-to-west part of Route 247 for a roughly 3-mile stretch of road between Midway Avenue and Clark Street (a dirt road about half a mile east of Camp Rock Road). The second section of the project is situated on the part of the highway that runs north to south and connects the two communities. PM SBD 46 is near Rabbit Springs Road in Lucerne Valley, while PM SBD 70 is just south of Cape Gloucestor Avenue, a dirt road fewer than 2 miles north of the Slash X Cafe. The repairs will be done with a mill-and-overlay approach, which essentially means using heavy-duty machinery to rip old asphalt from the ground and replace it with a fresh, pothole-free roadway.
    (Source: VV Daily Press, 6/17/2021)

    In August 2018, the CTC approved $1,625,000 in SHOPP funding for San Bernardino 08-SBd-247 39.5/40.0 Route 247 Near Lucerne Valley, from 0.1 mile south to 0.4 mile north of Camp Rock Road. Outcome/Output: Improve safety by constructing shoulders and installing shoulder and centerline rumble strips. This project will reduce the number and severity of collisions.
    (Source: August 2018 CTC Agenda Item 2.5f.(3) Item 13)

    Naming Naming

    Old Woman Springs Road"Old Woman Springs Road". Here's the story behind the name, from the A Widow's Ride blog: "In 1850’s, a surveyor, Colonel Henry Washington, who was the nephew of our president George Washington was hired by the government to survey the West.  Two years after California became a state he was hired by the government to lay out the grid that all land parcels are tied too in Southern California, this grid system is still being used today.  Being the first white man into this mostly uninhabited area he was responsible for penning the names of many of the landmarks in the Mojave Desert as he conducted his survey.  As the story goes there was one or possibly a few old Native American women living at the spring when he passed through conducting his survey, thus the name Old Woman Springs.  At that time they there were several springs bubbling up out of the ground.  Later as the springs were purchased and sold each owner made improvements which included creating lakes to store the water, this water could then be used to raise alfalfa that would feed cattle that would be raised for beef.  The cattle would graze in the summer near Big Bear then in the winter at Old Woman Springs. At one time, in 1957, there was even a train that was brought to the Springs, the Cottonwood and Southern Railroad and there was also a landing strip.
    (Information on the name: A Widow's Ride blog, Desert Road Trippin'; Image source: Gribblenation)

    Deputy Greg A. GariepyThe segment between Route 62 and the town limit of Yucca Valley (~ SBD 0.000 to SBD 5.136), in the County of San Bernardino is named the "Deputy Greg A. Gariepy Memorial Highway." This segment was named in memory of Deputy Greg A. Gariepy. Born July 2, 1965, Gariepy was a man of high integrity and devotion, whose life of dedication and sacrifice began at a young age. In 1983, he joined the Marine Corps, embarking on a 20-year career that included such assignments as drill instructor, sniper, and antiterrorism expert, and during which he attained the rank of E7, Gunnery Sergeant, and was awarded 24 medals, commendations, and ribbons. Upon his retirement from the Marine Corps on September 30, 2003, he chose to serve his community by joining the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, and he graduated from the academy with class No. 153 in December 2003. During his career with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, he worked at the West Valley Detention Center, the Morongo Basin Station, and, finally, the Twentynine Palms station. On June 22, 2005, while on patrol and en route to assist a fellow deputy, he was involved in a fatal traffic accident in the town of Yucca Valley. Deputy Gariepy is remembered by his colleagues in the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department as a "warrior" who led by example, who was not afraid to volunteer for the most difficult of duties, and who was a humble leader who understood that true leadership is characterized by action, not position. Named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 20, Resolution Chapter 65, on 7/3/2007.
    (Image source: Officer Down Memorial Page)

    Sergeant Brian Walker Memorial HighwayThe portion of Route 247 in the County of San Bernardino, beginning at Camp Rock Road at SBD 39.598 and continuing to the intersection of Route 247 and Allen Way at SBD 44.366 is named the "Sergeant Brian Walker Memorial Highway". Sergeant Brian L. Walker was born and raised in San Bernardino County’s high desert region. He attended Lucerne Valley High School, where he was an officer in the Future Farmers of America program. Sergeant Walker served as a military policeman in the United States Army assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. Six days after arriving for his second deployment in the Middle East, Sergeant Walker was tragically killed in Afghanistan on May 13, 2012, when a vehicle under his command was hit with an improvised explosive device, killing him and the driver of the vehicle, Private First Class Richard L. McNulty III. Named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 180, Res. Chapter 162, Statutes of 2016, on September 1, 2016.
    (Image source: VV Daily Press)


  2. Rte 247 Seg 2From Route 18 near Lucerne Valley to Route 15 in Barstow.

    Post 1964 Signage History Post 1964 Signage History

    ▸In 1970, Chapter 1473 split the route and added (b): “(b) Route 18 near Lucerne Valley to Route 15 near Barstow.”

    ▸In 1994, Chapter 1220 clarified the routing: “(b) Route 18 near Lucerne Valley to Route 15 near in Barstow.”

    Note that the creation of this segment created an oddity in the routing: naming, that the route crosses itself in Lucerne Valley. Logically, the route runs W to Route 18 (Segment 1), along Route 18 to the SE, and then N from Route 18 along Barstow Road (crossing itself at the intersection of Old Woman Springs and Barstow Road).

    Pre 1964 Signage History Pre 1964 Signage History

    This routing was not in the state highway system before 1963, although it appears to have been constructed.

    Naming Naming

    "Barstow Road" between I-15 and Route 18. Barstow refers to the city of Barstow, which was named in 1886 by the Santa Fe Railroad for its president, William Barstow Strong.


Freeway Freeway

[SHC 253.1] Entire route. Added to the Freeway and Expressway system in 1959.

Scenic Route Scenic Route

[SHC 263.1] Entire route.

In November 2021, it was reported that there was progress on the next step (beyond designation in the state code) to getting the highway signed as a scenic route. The Homestead Valley Community Council (HVCC) Scenic 247 committee worked with Caltrans guidelines to create the Visual Assessment of the sections of the highway with the fewest intrusions from modern development, then researched existing protection plans for wildlife habit in the scenic corridor. This story is detailed on their website, which includes the original presentation to recruit sponsors, not for funding but for public approval. The scenic designation is in the works because the state lands commission plans 30,000 acres of state school lands in the scenic corridor of Route 247 be developed as Stagecoach Solar, to raise money for the teachers retirement fund, and this will have a visual impact on the route from substations, overhead transmission lines, and related connection infrastructure.  The committee description of the route notes that Route 247 "is two lanes wide, little changed since it was paved in 1958. It travels through high desert vistas, and these are little changed for hundreds of years. It takes drivers past old homestead cabins, some abandoned to the elements, many still occupied, some transformed into dream getaways. It presents a fascinating array of California geology and biology. Mesas, huge sand washes, lava flows, cinder cones, mountains in a variety of forms. The Joshua Tree, signature of the Mojave desert, appears everywhere, sometimes alone, sometimes in forest stands. Yucca abounds and so does the amazing creosote bush. As the road curves into the breathtaking panorama of Johnson Valley, the views are completely uninterrupted. Sandy tracks wander off into the desert toward old mines, inviting the visitor in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, with a supply of water, to go to the distant mountains. The mystery and mystique of these ranges against the desert sky are unforgettable, whether the sky is clear, hazy, built up with piles of clouds, trailing rain, or even snowing. In the early morning or late evening, long blue shadows trail across alluvial fans and knobby hills. Eagles, hawks and coyotes range far and wide." In December 2021, it was reported that the San Bernardino County Planning Commission voted Dec. 9 to support designation of Route 247 as a scenic highway.
(Source: High Desert Star, 11/29/2021; High Desert Star, 12/15/2021)

Other WWW Links Other WWW Links

Statistics Statistics

Overall statistics for Route 247:

Pre-1964 Legislative Route Pre-1964 Legislative Route

In 1959, Chapter 1062 defined LRN 247 as “[LRN 4] near Elk Grove to [LRN 246] near Antelope.” This is Route 143, originally planned to run along Elk Grove Florin Road and Watt Avenue.


Acronyms and Explanations:


Back Arrow Route 246 Forward Arrow Route 248

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Maintained by: Daniel P. Faigin <webmaster@cahighways.org>.