In Search of a Way to Fill Freeway Gap

I live in Glendale and I commute to Cal State L.A. via the Glendale Freeway (2), Golden State Freeway (5) and the San Bernardino Freeway (10) when I am not coming from work in San Gabriel.

However, since I teach in San Gabriel, I come from San Gabriel to Cal State L.A. much more often than I do from Glendale.

I understand the concern from the residents of South Pasadena that they want to keep their neighborhood pristine. Historic U.S. Route 66 goes through South Pasadena on Fair Oaks and Mission, and as a student of local and early Los Angeles history, I would hate to see this beautiful part of the Los Angeles area disturbed by the construction and completion of the freeway.

On the other hand, there must be a compromise in the proposed route of the Long Beach Freeway so much of South Pasadena is preserved. Is it possible to build the freeway underground for that remaining stretch, and all of the construction could be underground too?

I know that there are underground tunnels in New York, and they even go under the water, so why not through South Pasadena while preserving the city’s beauty and history?

How would the concern over gas fumes in a closed area like a tunnel that long be addressed? Could there be vents on the side walls of the tunnel moving the bad air through air pipes toward the openings at each end of the tunnel?

I am really serious about this option if it can be accomplished. I love where I live, and we need to solve the problem of traffic.

JOHN HILLER

Glendale