Mountain and Seco Streets

Mountain Street and Seco Street are a single street in Pasadena, California. The name of the street depends on whether one is east or west of Lincoln Avenue.

History

Between the Holly Street Bridge and Devil's Gate, The Arroyo Seco canyon widens into a small valley. As the name implies, Seco Street was built to go into that valley. When the Rose Bowl was built nearby, the street was extended westward by way of a low bridge over the Arroyo. At that time, the nearest mass transit was the Lincoln Avenue streetcar. As a result, Mountain Street, at the time a residential street further to the east, was extended to connect the Rose Bowl to the more frequent streetcar lines on Fair Oaks Avenue, and the two streets met at Lincoln Avenue.

Geography

eco Street

Seco Street begins on Linda Vista Avenue, crosses the Arroyo Seco, and meanders in a generally northeastern direction toward Lincoln Avenue. Very few addresses are on Seco Street, as most of the road goes through park land.

Mountain Street

Mountain Street is almost completely straight, maintaining an easterly route for nearly its entire length. At its intersection with Interstate 210, the street is home to the massive complex housing the Pasadena Department of Public Works. In the most densely populated neighborhoods of Pasadena, Mountain Street is no wider than a normal residential street, despite the amount of traffic it receives. Between Hill and Allen Avenues, the street widens to eighty feet, yet continues to have only two lanes. The homes in this area are larger and further spaced out. East of Allen, the street narrows again and follows the path of the Pasadena Aqueduct before terminating on Altadena Drive at Victory Park, though a wide footpath nearly half a mile long connects the road to Pasadena High School.Crossings navbox
structure=Crossings
place=Arroyo Seco
bridge=Seco Street Bridge
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upstream=Washington Boulevard
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downstream=Holly Street Bridge
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