August 7: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

1912:  The first shovel of earth on Contract Number One under the first State highway bond measure is moved by the new State Highway Commission’s Chairman Towne in San Mateo County between South San Francisco and Burlingame on the coast highway leading from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

The January, 1932 issue of California Highways & Public Works takes an in-depth look back at that event and the first twenty years of state highway planning and construction.