I realize it has been a long time since this thread has had any activity but I wanted to respond to your question regarding Pomerado Road's realignment (since nobody else has). The old road was still in use in the 80's but the traffic was heavy and it was extremely dangerous. I was living in Scripps Ranch at the time and often drove home from Poway on it. Once I came across a motorcycle crash in the middle of the night. Anyway, they closed the road in 1989, I believe, and straightened it out. Scripps Poway Parkway was cut through the mountain to the west and the fill was used to level out a place for the shopping center now at the corner of Scripps Poway Parkway and Pomerado. Pomerado Rd. reopened in the early 90s. As you noted, the old road still pokes out to the east here and there. By the way, you could add a few more blue arrows to your picture just south of the new road at the bottom of the picture. The old road went through a cut here. After the realignment, the western side of the cut was leveled and those condos were built. But the east side of the old cut is intact.
I didn't know about the older Poway Grade until I read your post. I hiked out there today from Stonebridge Pkwy to take a look. Now THAT was a grade! The old roadbed is surprisingly intact given how long it has been abandoned. When was it built? My guess is it's much older than auto traffic. I found some old stage coach route maps online and, sure enough, there is a route that came down from Ramona, through Poway, and up and over the hill into San Clemente Canyon on the way to San Diego. The old grade has some real history.
I didn't know about the older Poway Grade until I read your post. I hiked out there today from Stonebridge Pkwy to take a look. Now THAT was a grade! The old roadbed is surprisingly intact given how long it has been abandoned. When was it built? My guess is it's much older than auto traffic. I found some old stage coach route maps online and, sure enough, there is a route that came down from Ramona, through Poway, and up and over the hill into San Clemente Canyon on the way to San Diego. The old grade has some real history.