Carpenter Summit
{{Short description|Highway pass in southern California}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Carpenter Summit
| photo =
| photo_caption =
| map = USA California Southern##California
| map_caption = Location in California
| map_relief = yes
| elevation = East bound {{convert|4052|ft|m}}
West bound at {{convert|4078|ft|m}}
| traversed =
| location = San Diego County, California
| range = Cuyamaca Mountains
| coordinates = {{coord|32|49|8|N|116|34|48|W|type:pass_region:US-CA|display=it|name=Carpenter Summit}}
}}
Carpenter Summit is a highway pass name approved through the United States Geological Survey. This pass was created during the construction of I-8 from 1972 to 1974 in this area, but was never named unlike the three other {{convert|4000|ft|m}} then named during construction.[https://www.aaroads.com/california/i-008wc_ca.html “AA Roads” Interstate 8 West - California 79 to Sunset Cliffs Boulevard] | item 61 | retrieved October 1, 2020| Note: "Descending toward Pine Valley, Interstate 8 again passes below 4,000 feet. The freeway will attain this elevation one more time before traveling down toward the coast." The name “Carpenter Summit” was proposed in late 2019 then submitted and as of October 2020 pending the various levels of place name acceptance to recognize Richard L. "Dick" Carpenter, deceased.{{citation|title=GeoHack |accessdate=2025-03-22|url= [https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Carpenter_Summit¶ms=32_49_8_N_116_34_48_W_type:pass_region:US-CA&title=Carpenter+Summit_scale:50000 Map Access for Carpenter Summit location]. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Carpenter+Summit/@32.819364,-116.582824,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x80d97b00186e7c51:0x64309752a2b7bde6!8m2!3d32.819364!4d-116.582824!16s%2Fg%2F11x5nx_v8y?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Google Maps] | retrieved April 10, 2025
This highway pass is the first of four which were completed through the Cuyamaca Mountains of southeastern San Diego County, California and traversed by Interstate 8 East bound at an altitude of {{convert|4052|ft|m}} and West bound at {{convert|4078|ft|m}}. The freeway is divided at this location by an east–west ridge with a peak of {{convert|4120|ft|m}}. This immediate area is referenced as "Carpenter Summit."
[https://www.google.com/maps/@32.8190192,-116.5857645,3a,75y,100.42h,87.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgsNEwhxuJ3U_21lh2_4S2A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 Google Street view of I-8 East bound 4,000 foot elevation sign.]
[https://www.google.com/maps/@32.8202411,-116.5832179,3a,75y,271.68h,93.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGCnU9mSRZjhxFGR-9ay2nw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 Google Street view of I-8 West bound 4,000 foot elevation sign.]
Of the four {{convert|4000|ft|m}} highway summits eastward of San Diego, the Carpenter Summit is the first, the Laguna Summit is the second. The third is Crestwood Summit followed by the Tecate Divide.{{r|dot}}{{r|sdcpn}}
Construction
{{Main| Interstate 8}}
The Interstate 8 route was realigned from Arnold Way onto Alpine Boulevard as it passed through Alpine and the Viejas Indian Reservation, before entering the Laguna Mountains and the Cleveland National Forest mostly paralleling the alignment used by old US 80.{{cite news | title=80 at 80 - Old highway a reminder of bygone days in East County | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=November 25, 2006 | author=Brandais, Jac | page=L1}}
By August 1970, the remainder of the freeway had been funded in this area, with the part from Japatul Valley Road to Laguna Junction costing $22 million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|22000000|1970|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars),{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} {{Cite news |title = Area Freeway Work Costs $107.5 Million |last = Clance |first = Homer |date = August 9, 1970 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }} (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|15000000|1970|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars).{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}}
By the beginning of 1974, the new projected completion date for this I-8 section was mid-1975, with {{convert|22|mi|km}} of two-lane highway remaining.{{cite news |title = Public's Mood Shifts Away From Freeways |work = The San Diego Union |date = January 8, 1974 |page = X16 |oclc = 13155544 }} The new Pine Valley Creek bridge and the segment extending from Japatul Valley Road to Pine Valley was dedicated on November 24, 1974, and was scheduled to open on November 26; this left {{convert|8|mi|km}} of freeway to be constructed.{{cite news |title = Pine Valley Creek Bridge Dedicated |work = The San Diego Union |date = November 24, 1974 |pages = B1, B4 |oclc = 13155544 }} The final stretch of I-8 in California, from Sunrise Highway to La Posta Road, was completed in May 1975.{{cite news |title = Last Section Of Interstate 8 To Yuma Opens Thursday |work = The San Diego Union |date = May 25, 1975 |last = Harrison |first = Donald |page = B10 |oclc = 13155544 }}
References
{{reflist|refs=
}}
See also
- [http://www.cahighways.org/001-008.html#008 Interstate 8] at California Highways
- [http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-008.html Interstate 8] at the Interstate Guide
- Interstate 8 in [http://www.aaroads.com/california/i-008_ca.html California] and [http://www.aaroads.com/guide.php?page=i0008az Arizona] at AA Roads