California 39 is two-part route. The section south of California 72 is Beach Boulevard, a four- to six-lane city street that begins in Huntington Beach at California 1 and continues north via Westminster, Anaheim, and Buena Park until its end at La Habra (just after Junction California 72). There is a gap between California 72 and Interstate 10, and that gap is served by city streets that are not maintained by Caltrans. A portion of the gap is covered by Los Angeles County Route N-8 along Colima Road and Azusa Avenue. (Colima Road was named after Tomas Sanchez de Colima, a rancher from the Mexican state of Colima who owned much of the land through which the road passes.*) California 39 resumes at Interstate 10 in Covina along Azusa Avenue, and it continues from that point north into the mountains, terminating at Crystal Lake Recreation Area. The highway used to continue north to the Angeles Crest Highway, California 2, but it was cut off by a landslide, and it has not been reopened since. However, it is possible that this abandoned segment may be reopened someday.
This old truck route sign was placed by the Automobile Club of Southern California (ACSC, a branch of the national American Automobile Association/AAA). In the early days of California roads, many regulatory and guide signs were placed by the ACSC rather than the state. This sign is a remaining ACSC sign still in use along California 39 in La Habra. Photo taken 07/99.
California 39 before the break in its route (as noted above, Los Angeles County Route N-8 is a good alternate route to cover the gap between the north and south segments of California 39). Photo taken 07/99.
Northbound California 39 ends just beyond its junction with California 72 (Whittier Boulevard). Photo taken 07/99.
California 39 South
Southbound California 39 (Beach Boulevard) at Whittier Boulevard (California 72) in La Habra. Photo taken 07/99.
