California 73 - California Travel Information

California 73

California 73 is the Foothill Corridor, a privately-constructed toll road that begins in Laguna Nigel at Junction Interstate 5, then heads northwest through Laguna Hills and skirting the city of Irvine. The route stays mostly rural between Laguna Hills and Newport Beach, then becomes a free road at MacArthur Drive. California 73 then connects with Interstate 405, thus creating a short-cut for travelers along Interstate 5 who wish to reach Long Beach, Los Angeles International Airport, and points north.

When the private contractor built the California 73 Foothill Corridor, the sign color was a little bit bluer than the then-standard green used for non-reflective, button-copy signage. These two mileage sign pictures, taken along northbound Interstate 5 for California 73, Exit 85A, show a standard sign in comparison with a contractor sign. The color contrast is striking. As a result of this, Caltrans has required the contractor to replace the bluish signs with new reflective signage that is in conformance with the new standard, since the original signs were not standard.

California 73 North
	Begin northbound California 73 on the transition ramp from northbound Interstate 5. California 73 between Interstate 5 and the first exit (Greenfield Drive) does not require a toll, so motorists may use California 73 to reach Greenfield Drive without having to pay. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 passing over Interstate 5 on the transition ramp. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 approaching Exit 2, Greenfield Drive. This exit serves Laguna Niguel and Laguna Hills. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 approaching Exit 2, Greenfield Drive. This exit is the last exit before toll. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 approaching Exit 2, Greenfield Drive, one-quarter mile. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 at Exit 3, La Paz Road. The next exit is for Aliso Creek Road. Photo taken 07/27/02.

Site Navigation

	View of northbound California 73 dual freeway as it passes over Exit 3, La Paz Road. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 approaching Exit 4, Aliso Creek Road, next right. The next exit is for California 133, El Toro Road/Laguna Canyon Road. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 at Exit 4, Aliso Creek Road. There are not many exits between California 133 and MacArthur Boulevard. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	View of northbound California 73 approaching Exit 11, Newport Coast Drive. Much of this land is rural and undeveloped. These pictures were taken late on a summer day, hence why the sun angle has made these photos dark. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 at Exit 11 Newport Coast Drive. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 approaching Exit 12, Bonita Canyon Drive, one-half mile. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 at Exit 13, Bison Avenue. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 approaching Exit 14, MacArthur Drive and John Wayne Airport. Prior to the construction of the toll road, MacArthur Drive was former California 73. At that time, California 73 turned southwest to end at California 1 in Newport Beach. The toll road extension resulted in a realignment and extension of California 73. Photo taken 07/27/02.

California 73 South
	Northbound California 73 approaching Exit 15, Birch Street, one and one-quarter miles. The ramp overhead is the connector from northbound MacArthur Drive onto northbound California 73. This marks the northern end of the toll section; from here northward, California 73 is free of tolls. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Northbound California 73 transition onto California 55 southbound (Exit 17B). Photo taken 07/27/02.
	After departing from Interstate 405, this trailblazer points the way south on California 73 toll road as an alternate route south to San Juan Capistrano and Interstate 5 to San Diego. Photo taken 07/12/04.
	Southbound California 73 reaches Exit 17B, Bear Street. The next exit is Exit 17A, Junction California 55 south (there is no access to California 55 north). Photo taken 07/12/04.
	Another trailblazer after the Bear Street interchange points the way south on California 73 toll road as an alternate route south to San Juan Capistrano and Interstate 5 to San Diego. Photo taken 07/12/04.
	The next exit along southbound is Exit 17A, Junction California 55 to Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. The toll road does not begin for another 3.25 miles. The right two lanes exit onto California 55. Photo taken 07/12/04.
	Southbound California 73 reaches Exit 17A, Junction California 55 south. Photo taken 07/12/04.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 16, Irvine Avenue/Campus Drive. The next exit is for Jamboree Road (Exit 15). Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Along southbound California 73, Exit 15 is for Jamboree Road. This is the same Jamboree Road that transitions into the California 261 toll road in Irvine. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 14B, University Drive. University Drive eastbound leads to the University of California at Irvine. The university sits snugly between University Avenue and the toll road. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 14B, University Drive, next right. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 at Exit 14B, University Drive. The next exits along southbound are MacArthur Drive and Bison Avenue, the last exits before the toll road begins. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching MacArthur Drive, one-half mile. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 at Exit 14A, MacArthur Drive. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 at Exit 13, Bison Avenue, the last exit before toll along southbound. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 12, Bonita Canyon Road. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 at Exit 12, Bonita Canyon Road. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 at Exit 11, Newport Coast Road. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 7, California 133 (El Toro Road/Laguna Canyon Road), one mile. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 7, California 133 (El Toro Road/Laguna Canyon Road), which connects to Laguna Beach and Laguna Woods. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 7, California 133 (El Toro Road/Laguna Canyon Road), one-half mile. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 at the offramp for Exit 7, California 133 (El Toro Road/Laguna Canyon Road). Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Signage for California 133 along the collector/distributor lanes along southbound. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	This sign for California 133 along the collector/distributor lanes along southbound is incorrect, as California 133 is not a freeway this far south. California 133 becomes a freeway as it heads north toward Interstate 405, and ultimately it is a toll road before ending at Junction California 241. Although plans have called for California 133 to be a freeway from Interstate 405 south to California 1, those plans have never come to fruition. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 4, Aliso Creek Road, two miles. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 4, Aliso Creek Road, one mile. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 3, La Paz Road/Moulton Parkway, one-half mile. The mileage sign lists Moulton Parkway and Greenfield Drive as subsequent exits, but Moulton Parkway is really accessed via Exit 3. Note the non-reflective overlay used on the mileage for Moulton Parkway. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 3, La Paz Road/Moulton Parkway, next right. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 at Exit 3, La Paz Road/Moulton Parkway. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	View of the actual exit signage for La Paz Road and Moulton Parkway on the collector-distributor lanes as seen from the main lanes along Southbound California 73. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 approaching Exit 2, Greenfield Drive, one-half mile. The next and final exit is for Interstate 5. Photo taken 07/27/02.
	Southbound California 73 at Exit 2, Greenfield Drive. Greenfield Drive connects to Crown Valley Parkway, which is a good route toward the newer communities of eastern Orange County. Photo taken 07/27/02.

Page Updated September 22, 2004.