San Diego: Washington Street, Normal Street, El Cajon Boulevard (Eastbound)
The business loop for Interstate 8 begins at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and Washington Street. Incoming traffic from southbound California 163 (Cabrillo Freeway) connects to Washington Street via an offramp that links directly to Ninth Avenue. Prior to 2002, this business loop was well-signed through the University Heights and North Park communities of San Diego, but most of the shields were removed. A lone post (adjacent to white guardrail fence) used to carry a business loop shield, but that shield is now gone. Photo taken 10/29/05.
A pedestrian bridge, which serves as the continuation of north-south Vermont Street, provides access over Washington Street. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The next intersection along eastbound Washington Street is the ramp to California 163, which is former U.S. 395. This ramp provides access to both directions of California 163. From here eastward, Washington Street follows the 1947-1953 alignment of U.S. 80, which was renumbered as Business U.S. 80 after U.S. 80 was moved to the Mission Valley Freeway. In 1964, Business U.S. 80 was renumbered as Business Loop I-8. Photo taken 10/29/05.
This ramp originally connected U.S. 80 with U.S. 395 when the Cabrillo Freeway was constructed in 1947. Prior to 1947, U.S. 80 followed Park Boulevard south to Market Street, then turned west on Market Street to end at U.S. 101 (Harbor Drive). From 1947 until 1953, U.S. 80 traveled further west along Washington Street, transitioned onto U.S. 395 (Cabrillo Freeway) south, then followed the 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue one-way couplet to Market Street in downtown San Diego. From 1953 to 1972, U.S. 80 followed the Mission Valley (Alvarado) Freeway, which is today known as Interstate 8. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Washington Street was constructed before it became part of U.S. 80. The concrete here likely dates from the city's construction of the roadway, not state construction. This traffic signal is for Lincoln Avenue, which travels east into North Park. Photo taken 10/29/05.
At this traffic signal, Washington Street comes to its western terminus. The business loop turns to the northeast along Normal Street for a couple of blocks. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The next intersection is with Park Boulevard, which is the point where U.S. 80 and U.S. 395 used to travel south toward Balboa Park and downtown San Diego before the completion of the Cabrillo Freeway in 1947. Continue straight ahead to continue east along Business Loop I-8 to El Cajon Boulevard. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Normal Street reaches its northern terminus as it transitions directly onto El Cajon Boulevard eastbound. Park Boulevard travels north into University Heights and south to Balboa Park and the World Famous San Diego Zoo. El Cajon Boulevard is a very historical route that was bypassed when the Mission Valley (Alvarado) Freeway (today's Interstate 8) opened in 1953. Businesses along El Cajon Boulevard suffered as traffic flowed through Mission Valley rather than North Park, but that has changed in recent years. Redevelopment, new residential projects, and a renewed interest by many to live in neighborhoods rather than suburbs has revitalized El Cajon Boulevard and promises many positive changes still to come. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Entering the community of North Park, the giant Boulevard sign greets travelers entering this long-standing commercial district. The text below the sign reads: "El Cajon Boulevard: Gateway to Mid-City." As one of the main streets of San Diego, travelers entering the city could find all sorts of shops, restaurants, and lodging along El Cajon Boulevard. From here, Business Loop I-8 (still unsigned) follows a six-lane alignment, with three lanes in each direction and a wide, landscaped median. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The next traffic signal along eastbound El Cajon Boulevard is with Florida Street. Florida Street is a major north-south corridor that connects North Park with Balboa Park and Florida Canyon. After passing through the canyon, Florida Street ultimately connects with Pershing Drive near Golden Hill. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Many of the streets that intersect El Cajon Boulevard in North Park are named after states rather than being numbered. The first street after Park Boulevard (equivalent of 18th Street) was Georgia Street, followed by Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana Streets, in sequence. Here the boulevard approaches Texas Street, which is the equivalent of 24th Street. Texas Street offers a direct route to shopping areas in Mission Valley, and it also interchanges with Interstate 8 to the north. Texas Street changes into Qualcomm Way (formerly Stadium Way), which ends at Friars Road west of Qualcomm Stadium. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The next several cross streets are mostly named after states, but not all of them are: Arizona, Hamilton, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. This picture shows eastbound El Cajon Boulevard at Oregon Street just a couple blocks north of the North Park Community Park. Ample parking for this park is available along Oregon Street south of Howard Avenue. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Utah Street is the next major intersection, and it acts as a connector between University Avenue to the south and Adams Avenue to the north. El Cajon Boulevard continues east toward Normal Heights. Photo taken 10/29/05.
After passing Kansas Street, the next traffic signal is with 30th Street. This is the first numbered street encountered since passing Ninth Avenue near the California 163 interchange. Thirtieth Street is a major commercial corridor. Follow it south to downtown North Park and visit the historic North Park Theatre along the south side of University Avenue just west of 30th Street. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The last three state name streets intersected by El Cajon Boulevard eastbound are Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa. This small median sign advises of the pending Iowa Street intersection, even though no other intersections were labeled in that manner. The next traffic signal is for Interstate 805 (Jacob Dekema Freeway). Photo taken 10/29/05.
Interstate 805 is a major commuter freeway, acting as an alternative to Interstate 5 between the International Border with Mexico and Sorrento Valley. It acts as a boundary between North Park and Normal Heights. In fact, this boundary is also the historical boundary between the city of San Diego and the former city of East San Diego. East San Diego was annexed into the city of San Diego in 1923. The frontage road to Interstate 805 is named Boundary Street, which used to delineate the boundary between these two cities. This first traffic signal provides a connection to southbound Interstate 805. Photo taken 10/29/05.
After crossing over Interstate 805, the next traffic signal is a double left turn onto northbound Interstate 805. Interstate 805 offers a fast connection to Mission Valley via Interstate 8. It is also the best way from North Park to points north, including Del Mar, Oceanside, and Los Angeles via Interstate 5. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Continuing east, Business Loop I-8/El Cajon Boulevard (old U.S. 80) finally encounters its first reassurance shield some 26 blocks east of the western terminus at Ninth Avenue. This traffic signal is for 35th Street, which travels north through Normal Heights to Adams Avenue but does not descend into Mission Valley. Photo taken 10/29/05.
For the next several blocks, El Cajon Boulevard passes through a commercial strip with a wide variety of services. Pedestrian traffic for patrons of these establishments is common. Photo taken 10/29/05.
After 37th Street, U.S. 80/El Cajon Boulevard passes by a school, then approaches its junction with California 15 (Escondido Freeway). Photo taken 10/29/05.
California 15 is a major north-south freeway that begins in Barrio Logan to the south and transitions into Interstate 15 in Mission Valley to the north. From there, Interstate 15 travels north and east toward the Inland Empire and Mojave Desert, passing through Corona and Ontario en route to Victorville, Barstow, Primm, and Las Vegas. The freeway continues northeast through Mesquite to Utah and points north. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Use California 15 south to Interstate 805 south and to California 94 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Freeway). San Diego's only cut and cover tunnel is located along California 15 one block south of El Cajon Boulevard, between Orange Avenue and Polk Avenue. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The Mid-City Transit Gateway, which includes a transit center, pedestrian walkway, and future snack shop, is located on the bridge that carries El Cajon Boulevard over California 15. The freeway is below grade in a trench, while El Cajon Boulevard remains at street level. Plans call for a trolley line to be constructed along the median of California 15 at some undefined point in the future, and the Mid-City Transit Gateway would offer connections from El Cajon Boulevard if this trolley line is ever built. Photo taken 10/29/05.
The next traffic signal is for California 15 north. Follow California 15 north past the Adams Avenue exit to connect with Interstate 8 in Mission Valley. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Entering the Talmadge neighborhood, U.S. 80/El Cajon Boulevard passes Copeland Avenue. The business route continues to have commercial characteristics, and it is still six lanes wide. The boulevard will constrict to four lanes total after passing by the Fairmount Avenue/43rd Street one-way couplet. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Fairmount Avenue is one of the old alignments of U.S. 395. The original routing of U.S. 395 (1935-1938) started at the intersection of U.S. 101 (Morena Boulevard) and Linda Vista Road. It then turned northeast along Linda Vista Road, joining the Interstate 15 corridor near Miramar. In 1938, U.S. 395 was rerouted again, and this alignment lasted until the opening of the Cabrillo Freeway (current California 163) in 1947. On the 1938-1947 alignment, U.S. 395 started in downtown San Diego, followed U.S. 80 along Market Street, Park Boulevard, and El Cajon Boulevard to the Fairmount Avenue intersection. From there, U.S. 395 turned north on Fairmount Avenue, crossed the San Diego River via the Ward Road bridge, and followed today's Interstate 15 (former California 103) alignment through Murphy Canyon north to Miramar. So, during that ten-year period, the El Cajon Boulevard and Fairmount Avenue intersection represented the split between two major routes: U.S. 80 east to Georgia and U.S. 395 north to Washington. Photo taken 10/29/05.
Still in Talmadge, eastbound Business Loop I-8/El Cajon Boulevard approaches Menlo Avenue. From here, El Cajon Boulevard gradually starts to turn a bit toward the northeast, crossing into the College Area community after 54th Street. Photo taken 10/29/05.
This Business Loop I-8 shield is found along eastbound El Cajon Boulevard near the post office at Art Street in the College Area community of San Diego. This shield has seen better days, and apparently used to be an Interstate shield, complete with Montana as the state name! In this picture, it is clear that this shield has had another life elsewhere or was simply a misprinted shield that was reconditioned for use here. Photo taken 08/98.
San Diego: Washington Street, Normal Street, El Cajon Boulevard (Westbound)
This picture shows a westbound Business Loop I-8 shield posted along El Cajon Boulevard just west of College Avenue in the vicinity of College Heights. Business Loop I-8 is posted along El Cajon Boulevard in this manner through the College Area and Mid-City (City Heights). Photo taken 08/98.
El Cajon: El Cajon Boulevard, Main Street, Business Route 8
This is the first shield found along eastbound Business Loop I-8 in the city of El Cajon, immediately after exiting the Interstate 8 freeway. The shield was installed in 2002. Photo taken 10/12/03.
Alpine: Alpine Boulevard
El Centro: Imperial Avenue, Adams Avenue, 4th Street
Winterhaven: Winterhaven Drive, North 4th Avenue
Traveling east on Business Loop I-8 (Winterhaven Drive), this is the first mainline reassurance shield after the business loop merges with Old U.S. 80/Araz Road. From here, Business Loop I-8 and U.S. 80 travel east together toward Winterhaven. Some maps also sign this road as part of Imperial County Route S-24, but the county route shields do not appear until the Picacho Road intersection. Photo taken 01/15/07.
Palms block the view south into a recreational vehicle long-term visitors area. Photo taken 01/15/07.
Another Business Loop I-8 shield is posted as downtown Winterhaven comes into view. This unincorporated community of Imperial County is located on old U.S. 80 and sits at an elevation of 130 feet above sea level. The 2000 Census places the population at 529 people, which certainly increased during the winter months. Photo taken 01/15/07.
Welcome to downtown Winterhanven. While the long-distance traveler amenities formerly common due to U.S. 80 (such as gas stations) are not found here, other businesses thrive, especially during the winter. Photos taken 01/15/07.
Leaving downtown Winterhaven, Business Loop I-8 and U.S. 80 widen out to four lanes with a median divide. Photo taken 01/15/07.
The next major intersection on Business Loop I-8 is with Imperial County Route S-24, which travels northeast toward the Laguna and Imperial Dams via the Quechan (Fort Yuma) Indian Reservation and Bard. Photo taken 01/15/07.
The first advance sign provides the mileage to Bard (seven miles), Laguna Dam (13 miles), and Imperial Dam (18 miles) via Imperial County Route S-24/Picacho Road. Photo taken 01/15/07.
Use Imperial County Route S-24/Picacho Road north to the Picacho State Recreation Area along the Colorado River near Picacho Peak. At the point where Imperial County Route S-24 turns east along Ross Road, continue north on Picacho Road (which turns into an unimproved roadway) all the way to the river. Photo taken 01/15/07.
Eastbound Business Loop I-8 meets Imperial County Route S-24 at this four-way stop sign. Turn left to follow Imperial County Route S-24 north to Bard and the dams along the Colorado River; continue straight ahead (now south) to follow Business Loop I-8 and U.S. 80 east to Interstate 8 (at Exit 172) and Yuma, Arizona. Use Imperial County Route S-24 north to the Quechan Casino and the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway Bridge, which was the first to carry U.S. 80 into Arizona. Photo taken 01/15/07.
