California 55 - California Travel Information

California 55

California 55 is the Newport (Costa Mesa) Freeway, originating at the California 1 junction in Newport Beach, then heading northeast through Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Irvine, and Tustin. At Tustin, California 55 meets Interstate 5, then turns due north to pass through Orange, culminating at Junction California 91 in Anaheim.

California 55 North
	Northbound California 55 begins at this interchange with California 1 near downtown Newport Beach. Although this is an interchange, California 55 remains a conventional highway/expressway until after it enters Costa Mesa. The history of California 55 in this area is tied to the plans for a California 1 freeway. Originally, there were plans to construct a freeway along the California 1/Pacific Coast Highway corridor from San Juan Capistrano through the Orange County coastal communities en route to Los Angeles County, but that plan was discarded during the 1960s and 1970s due to environmental concerns, cost, property damage, and the separation of coastal communities by a freeway. Some scenarios envisioned in constructing California 1 as a freeway even considered building the freeway out over the open water, which would certainly avoid impacting property on land but would likely cause harm on the coastal waters and obstruct views of the ocean. As part of this freeway construction project, California 55 was planned as a freeway connector to California 1, and both freeways would have met somewhere in Newport Beach. After California 1 was removed from freeway plans, California 55 was removed shortly thereafter. There is ample real estate for a California 55 freeway in some areas, but other rights of way required for the freeway have been developed in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. As such, the current configuration of California 55 through these two cities is likely to be the final configuration. First two photos taken 09/16/00; third photo taken 07/28/02.


	After following a multi-lane divided highway northeast of California 1, California 55 finally reaches its freeway segment after several traffic signals and strip malls. California 55 leaves Newport Beach and enters Costa Mesa. The freeway branches to the left and goes below grade, while the right lanes remain at grade to serve the businesses along Newport Boulevard. These photos show the northbound California 55 freeway beginning at this split with Newport Boulevard (Exit 2). Photo taken 07/28/02.
	The first exit along northbound California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway is Exit 3, 22nd Street/Victoria Street, followed by Exit 4, Del Mar Avenue and Fair Drive. Photo taken 07/28/02.
	This mileage sign along northbound California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway provides the distance to the next two exits: Exit 4, Del Mar Avenue/Fair Drive and Exit 5A, Junction California 73 north to Interstate 405 north. Photo taken 07/28/02.

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	Northbound California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway next reaches Exit 4, Del Mar Avenue and Fair Drive. Use this exit to reach the annual Orange County fair during the summer. Photo taken 07/28/02.
	The next two exits along northbound California 55 are Exit 5A for Junction California 73, north to meet Interstate 405 northbound and Exit 5B, Baker Street. There is no access from California 55 northbound to California 73 southbound to the Foothill Toll Corridor, which connects Costa Mesa with Laguna Niguel and San Juan Capistrano. Exit 6A is the junction with Interstate 405 south to Irvine. Photo taken 07/28/02.
	Use California 73 north to reach Interstate 405 en route to Long Beach, Los Angeles (via Interstate 710 or Interstate 110), Los Angeles International Airport, Santa Monica, and Interstate 5 north to the Central Valley. Photo taken 07/28/02.
	Northbound California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway reaches Exit 5A, north California 73 to north Interstate 405. Photo taken 07/28/02.
	Northbound California 55 next reaches Exit 5B, Baker Street as the freeway passes under the California 73 interchange. Photo taken 07/28/02.
	The next exit along northbound California 55 is Exit 6A, Junction Interstate 405 southbound to Irvine and Interstate 5 south to San Diego. Photo taken 07/28/02.
	Use Interstate 405 southbound to reach John Wayne (Orange County) International Airport. Photo taken 07/28/02.
	These new signs along northbound California 55 as the freeway approaches Interstate 405 south are new but do not feature any exit numbers. Photo taken 07/28/02.

California 55 South
	Northbound California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway reaches Exit 6A, Junction Interstate 405 south to Irvine and Interstate 5 south to San Diego. Not shown in this photo series is Exit 6B, Junction Interstate 405 north. Photo taken 07/28/02.
	The future high occupancy vehicle lane connection between Interstate 405 and California 55 is still under construction, as evidenced by this picture (to the left of the main lanes). Interchange improvements have been gradually implemented at California 55 and Interstate 405, one of many congested areas in Orange County. With the eventual opening of the high occupancy transition ramps, this interchange will operate much more efficiently during commute hours. The next exit is Exit 7, MacArthur Boulevard/Main Street. These new signs do not feature any exit numbers. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound California 55 at Exit 7, MacArthur Boulevard south to Irvine and west to Santa Ana and Fountain Valley and Main Street north into Santa Ana. Since California 55 is angled northeast-southwest, many streets change direction at or near the freeway. MacArthur Boulevard south ultimately turns southwest, leading past the University of California at Irvine, passing California 73 along the way, and it ends at California 1/Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. As a result of this jog, MacArthur Boulevard almost looks like the number "7" on a map. Main Street, meanwhile, is the main north-south corridor through the city of Santa Ana. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Mileage sign along northbound for the next three exits: Exit 8, Dyer Road; Exit 9, Edinger Avenue/Moulton Parkway; and Exit 10A, McFadden Avenue/Newport Avenue. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Dyer Road leads southeast into Tustin and west into Santa Ana, becoming Segerstrom Avenue west of Main Street. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound California 55 at Exit 8, Dyer Road. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Mileage sign along northbound for the next three exits: Exit 9, Edinger Avenue/Moulton Parkway; Exit 10A, McFadden Avenue/Newport Avenue; and Exit 10B, Junction Interstate 5. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	California 55 enters the city of Tustin, and the first exit for that city along northbound is Exit 9, Edinger Avenue/Moulton Parkway. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound California 55 at Exit 9, Edinger Avenue/Moulton Parkway. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	In typical Caltrans District 12 fashion, an exit number plate was attached to the roadside guide sign for Exit 10A, McFadden Avenue. The only trouble is, this sign does not mention McFadden Avenue at all; instead, it implies that the next exit leads to Newport Avenue. This sign would be more effective with an exit number if it mentioned both roads. In addition, since the exit number does not appear on any of the signs that mention McFadden Avenue, it is not as useful. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Mileage sign along northbound California 55 for the next two exits: Exit 10A, McFadden Avenue and Exit 10B, Junction Interstate 5. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound California 55 at McFadden Avenue, which leads into Tustin. The next exit along northbound is for Interstate 5/Santa Ana Freeway. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Along northbound California 55, there is a direct transition ramp onto northbound Interstate 5 for high occupancy vehicles (HOV) in Tustin. This ramp leads onto an elevated center median freeway high above Interstate 5, then comes down to the freeway level a few miles north of the California 55 interchange. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	View of the northbound California 55 approach signs for the Interstate 5 exit as seen from the high occupancy vehicle lanes. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	View of the transition ramp for high occupancy vehicles from northbound California 55 to northbound Interstate 5. This ramp remains elevated above Interstate 5 for about a half mile north of the interchange. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	View of California 55 north as seen from the transition ramp from northbound Interstate 5. The next exit is 17th Street. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Seventeenth Avenue serves the city of Santa Ana to the west and Tustin to the east. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Northbound California 55 at Exit 12, 17th Street. The next exit is Exit 13, Junction California 22/Garden Grove Freeway west. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Mileage sign for the next several exits: Exit 13, Junction California 22 west; Exits 14A-B-C, Junction Orange County Route S-25/Chapman Avenue; and Exit 15, Junction Orange County Route S-18 southeast/Katella Avenue. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	California 22 is a major east-west connector, passing through the heart of Orange County and separating two of the largest cities of Santa Ana and Anaheim and the cities of Garden Grove and Westminster. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Northbound California 55 at Exit 13, Junction California 22/Garden Grove Freeway west to Garden Grove and Long Beach. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	After passing by the California 22/Garden Grove Freeway interchange, the right lane ends. California 55 continues north into the city of Orange, home to an estimated 134,500 people. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	There are three exits for Chapman Avenue (Exits 14A, 14B, and 14C). This is the first of those three exits. Chapman Avenue is Orange County Route S-25 between Interstate 5/California 57 and Orange County Route S-18 east of here, but no signs are in place for it on the freeway. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Mileage sign along northbound for the next three exits: Exit 14B, Junction Orange County Route S-25/Chapman Avenue east; Exit 14C, Junction Orange County Route S-25/Chapman Avenue west; and Exit 15, Junction Orange County Route S-18/Katella Avenue. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Northbound California 55 at Exit 14B, Junction Orange County Route S-25/Chapman Avenue east. Orange County Route S-25 passes through the city of Orange, then ends at its junction with Orange County Route S-18/Santiago Canyon Road near Orange Park Acres just northwest of the California 241/261 interchange. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Northbound California 55 at Exit 14C, Junction Orange County Route S-25/Chapman Avenue west. The next exit is Exit 15, Junction Orange County Route S-18/Katella Avenue. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Mileage sign for the next two exits, Exit 15, Junction Orange County Route S-18/Katella Avenue and Exit 17, Nohl Ranch Road/Lincoln Avenue. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Katella Avenue heads east as Orange County Route S-18 toward Irvine Lake and west into the City of Orange, meeting California 57 near Arrowhead Pond (home of the National Hockey League's Fighting Ducks) and Angels Field. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Orange County Route S-18 east follows Katella Avenue into Villa Park, then heads southeast along Santiago Canyon Road parallel to California 241 until reaching Lake Forest. At Lake Forest, Orange County Route S-18 turns southwest, meeting Interstate 5 at Exit 91 and ending at California 133 northeast of Laguna Beach. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Northbound California 55 at Exit 15, Junction Orange County Route S-18/Katella Avenue. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Mileage sign along northbound approaching the final two exits: Exit 17, Nohl Ranch Road/Lincoln Avenue and Exit 18, Junction California 91/Riverside Freeway. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	This is the first of many along northbound for the approaching California 91 Express Lanes. These high occupancy/toll (also known as HOT) lanes were constructed in the median of California 91 with private funds, and a toll is charged for all solo drivers and HOV-2 who prepay to use the lanes. In addition, carpools with three or more occupants may use the lanes for free. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Second mileage sign along northbound approaching the final two exits: Exit 17, Nohl Ranch Road/Lincoln Avenue and Exit 18, Junction California 91/Riverside Freeway. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	As California 55 approaches its junction with California 91, the typical Southern California high occupancy lane in the left lane ends, and the left lane defaults onto the eastbound California 91 Express Lanes. High occupancy vehicles as well as single occupancy vehicles that pay a toll may use that lane on California 91. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	While the next exit is Exit 17, Nohl Ranch Road/Lincoln Avenue (Historic U.S. 91), the following exit is the northern terminus of California 55 at Exit 18, Junction California 91/Riverside Freeway. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Northbound California 91 at Exit 17, Nohl Ranch Road/Lincoln Avenue. Lincoln Avenue is the original alignment of U.S. 91/California 18; both routes have since been retracted from this road, and Lincoln Avenue is now a city street. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Northbound California 55 approaching Exit 18A, Junction California 91 west to a variety of cities in Orange and Los Angeles Counties, one-half mile. California 91 is former U.S. 91. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	California 91 is a major east-west freeway, originating at the coast in Hermosa Beach just south of Manhattan Beach at California 1/Pacific Coast Highway. The multi-lane divided expressway becomes a freeway at Interstate 110, and the freeway heads east through Compton, Bellflower, Cerritos, and Buena Park before meeting California 55 in Anaheim. Passing California 55, California 91 continues east through Yorba Linda and into Riverside County, culminating in the city of Riverside at its junction with Interstate 215 and California 60. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	This ramp directly connects the California 55 high occupancy vehicle lane with the California 91 high occupancy vehicle lane. California 91 has high occupancy toll lanes in its median that allow for carpools and single drivers who pay a toll to use those lanes. They extend from California 55 east to the Orange-Riverside County Line. At the time this photo was taken, the carpool lanes were closed. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Northbound California 241 at Exit 18A, Junction California 91/Riverside Freeway west, followed by Exit 18B, Junction California 91/Riverside Freeway east and Exit 18C, High Occupancy Vehicle lane transition to eastbound California 91. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	The ramp to westbound California 91 splits off from northbound California 55; the rest of the traffic on northbound California 55 defaults onto eastbound California 91. California 55 reaches its northern terminus. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	After departing from California 91/Riverside Freeway, California 55 begins its southerly journey toward Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. The first exit along southbound is Exit 17, Lincoln Avenue/Nohl Ranch Road. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	Southbound California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway reaches Exit 17, Lincoln Avenue/Nohl Ranch Road in the city of Orange. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	The next exit along southbound is Exit 15, Katella Avenue, 1.75 miles. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	A carpool (high occupancy vehicle) lane begins here in the left lane. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	The soundwalls along California 55 in the city of Orange feature mountains laid into the bricks. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 15, Katella Avenue; Exit 14, Chapman Avenue; and Exit 13, Junction California 22/Garden Grove Freeway. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	Southbound California 55 reaches Exit 15, Katella Avenue. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	The next three exits along southbound are Exit 14, Chapman Avenue; Exit 13, Junction California 22/Garden Grove Freeway; and Exit 12B, 17th Street. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	The right lane becomes exit only for Chapman Avenue (Exit 14). Photo taken 06/23/04.
	Prior to the offramp to Exit 14/Chapman Avenue is this overhead sign assembly for Exit 13, an interchange with California 22/Garden Grove Freeway west to Long Beach. Exit 13 marks the eastern terminus of California 22. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	Southbound California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway reaches Exit 14, Chapman Avenue into the city of Orange. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	The next three exits along southbound are Exit 13, Junction California 22/Garden Grove Freeway and Exits 12B-A, 17th Street east to Tustin and west to Santa Ana. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	The right lane becomes exit only for westbound California 22. California 22 is a four to eight-lane freeway that connects California 55 (Orange, Tustin, and Santa Ana) with Long Beach via Garden Grove and Westminster. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	Southbound California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway reaches Exit 13, Junction California 22 west to Long Beach. The next exit along southbound is Exits 12B-A, 17th Street. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	The next four exits along southbound are The next three exits along southbound are Exit 12B, 17th Street west to Santa Ana; Exit 12A, 17th Street east to Tustin; Exit 11B, 4th Street/Irvine Boulevard; and Exit 11A, Junction Interstate 5 south to Irvine. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	This is the first instance of an exit sign that says "Exits ###B-A" in the exit tab that we've found in California. The first exit is Exit 12B, 17th Street west. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	Southbound California 55 reaches Exit 12B, 17th Street west to Santa Ana; the next ramp is for Exit 12A, 17th Street east to Tustin. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	Southbound California 55 next reaches Exit 12A, 17th Street east to Tustin. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	The next exit along southbound is Exit 11B, Fourth Street/Irvine Boulevard, 0.25 mile, followed by the ramp to Interstate 5 south to Irvine, 0.50 mile. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	Use the right two lanes to reach Exit 11B, Fourth Street/Irvine Boulevard. The three left lanes continue through along southbound California 55, while the number three and four lanes may be used to reach southbound Interstate 5/Santa Ana Freeway. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	Southbound California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway reaches Exit 11A, Junction Interstate 5 south to Irvine, San Clemente, and San Diego. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	Once on the transition ramp from southbound California 55 to southbound Interstate 5, a ramp for Interstate 5's Exit 102, Newport Boulevard, is posted. Photo taken 06/23/04.
	Southbound California 55 at Exit 4, Fair Drive and Del Mar Avenue. The Orange County Fair is visible in the background, and traffic trying to reach the fair caused some traffic delays. The exit number tabs on these signs were pasted onto the overhead signs in late 2003 or early 2004. Photo taken 05/30/04.
	The next exit along southbound California 55 is Exit 3, 22nd Street and Victoria Street. Photo taken 07/28/02.
	Southbound California 55 reaches Exit 3, 22nd Street and Victoria Street. The freeway ends in another three-quarters of a mile at 19th Street (followed with another traffic signal at its intersection with Harbor Boulevard). Photo taken 05/30/04.
	Southbound California 55 approaches the southern end of the freeway, one-half mile. This freeway was planned for continuation south to Newport Beach, but local opposition prevented the freeway from being built over its final mile and a half before reaching California 1. Right of way formerly considered for the freeway in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach is today occupied by commercial establishments and strip malls in Costa Mesa as well as some open space in Newport Beach. Photo taken 05/30/04.
	Southbound California 55 reaches the southern end of the freeway in Costa Mesa. The state highway transitions from the sub-grade freeway onto Newport Boulevard, which carries California 55 southwest into the city of Newport Beach, the final destination of California 55. Photo taken 05/30/04.
	At the end of the freeway, California 55 meets a traffic signal at 19th Street. As California 55 plies through Costa Mesa, it will pass by a variety of traffic signals before entering the city of Newport Beach. To see original California 55, follow signs for Old Newport Boulevard. Photo taken 05/30/04.
	California 55 finally reaches Exit 1, Junction California 1. This marks the southern terminus of California 55. Continuing straight ahead leads to city hall, the civic center, and the Balboa Island area of Newport Beach. Photo taken 05/30/04.
Scenes Pertaining to California 55
	Northbound California 55 Freeway Entrance assembly at Exit 17, Lincoln Avenue. Photo taken 09/16/00.

Page Updated September 22, 2004.