Ep 3. Pacific Coast Highway

The Modern Marvels season 11 episode 3, titled "Pacific Coast Highway" explores one of America's most beautiful and iconic roads that stretches along the West Coast of California. The Pacific Coast Highway, also known as PCH, is a 655.8 mile stretch of highway that covers some of California's most breathtaking sceneries, connecting San Francisco to San Diego.

The episode takes viewers on a journey through time, highlighting the history of the Pacific Coast Highway, which dates back to 1911 when cars first began to appear on California's roads. The highway followed a path first established by Indigenous people, and later by Spanish conquests, who built missions along the coast.

One of the main focuses of the episode is the engineering feat it took to construct this highway. The Pacific Coast Highway is a winding, narrow road that twists and turns along the ocean's edge, making it both challenging and dangerous to navigate. The episode chronicles how builders of the PCH had to employ methods such as dynamiting cliffs and cutting through mountains to create the road.

However, the series shows that over the years, the road has gone through various upgrades to ensure it is safe for the increasing number of vehicles that now travel along it daily. The road has also had to undergo reconstruction following natural disasters such as landslides and geological movements. The episode delves into the techniques used to fortify the road against natural disasters and how engineers are continually working to improve safety measures.

The discovery of oil in California also played a significant role in the development of PCH. Oil drilling along the coast led to the construction of oilfields and refineries, which then created more jobs that sparked the building of more roads. The episode also chronicles the disastrous oil spill in Santa Barbara in 1969, which awakened the environmental conservation movements and brought attention to protecting the coast. Today, oil drilling continues offshore, but safety regulations and environmental protection efforts have been put in place to prevent future disasters.

The Pacific Coast Highway is not only beautiful but provides vital transportation routes that link communities and economies along the coast. As such, the episode also focuses on how the PCH has catalyzed the growth of towns and cities along its route. Communities such as Carmel, Santa Barbara, and Laguna Beach have seen an influx of visitors due to PCH's scenic routes. This has led to a dramatic growth in tourism, impacting local economies positively.

Moreover, the Pacific Coast Highway also serves as a gateway to recreational destinations such as beaches, parks, and hiking trails. The episode outlines the significance of the PCH in connecting tourists to major attractions such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, and the Channel Islands. These unique tourist attractions continue to draw visitors from around the world, adding to the allure of the Pacific Coast Highway.

In conclusion, "Pacific Coast Highway," episode 3 of Season 11, offers viewers a rare insight into the construction, engineering, culture, history, and impact of the famous highway. The documentary provides viewers with an appreciation of the significance of PCH as they travel along it, taking in the majesty and beauty of the Pacific coast.