By Mike Harris
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
For those of you – who like me – travel up and down Highway 18 and have been wondering what’s being built at the bottom of 18 near the entrance to old Waterman Canyon Highway, the mystery has been solved.
No, it’s not a sign from the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino saying the tribe is about to reopen the old Arrowhead Springs Hotel, which the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians purchased in 2017, or adding a new rumored golf course.
The construction is part of California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) Clean California Project and will be a gateway monument to the San Bernardino Mountains.
Set for completion at the end of this month, and costing $2.4 million, the monument is an attempt to “advance equity for underserved communities by implementing transformative beautification projects on the State Highway System by improving the aesthetics of public spaces on the public right of way,” according to Caltrans.
The Clean California project will focus on the following need: Transform blighted areas by beautifying roadsides that will instill pride in the surrounding communities.
The project proposes to add identification on State Route 18 (SR-18) as a gateway to the San Bernardino Mountains.
“This project will serve as a welcoming element, to improve the image, perception and aesthetic value of under-served communities within the City of San Bernardino. This project will mark an important gateway to the local mountains and will anchor ongoing rehabilitation and complete street efforts at this location. This gateway monument will help to instill pride as a gateway to the San Bernardino mountains, boost local business, and encourage job growth,” according to Caltrans.
The new San Bernardino Mountains gateway monument will be maintained by Caltrans crews. Any graffiti it may attract will be cleaned up quickly by Caltrans, a spokesman said.
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