California 241 is the Foothills Toll Road in Orange County, starting near Coto de Caza along Oso Parkway in Orange County and continuing northerly to meet California 91 in the Santa Ana Canyon. It was constructed in stages through the mid- to late-1990s. Only the segment connecting the existing toll road to Interstate 5 in San Diego County has not been constructed at this time.
California 241 North
Oso Parkway approaching Junction California 241 (Foothill Toll Road). This is a standard approach sign for the Orange County Toll Roads. Notice the angular shield on this sign. This particular sign is located near Exit 3 toward the southern end of the toll road. Photo taken 09/16/00.
Northbound California 241 approaching Exit 4, Santa Margarita Parkway, three-quarters of a mile. This highway was constructed with four lanes, two in each direction, but it was graded to accommodate as many as eight lanes plus two high-occupancy vehicle lanes when the freeway is built out. This kind of traffic flow is more likely to occur as more housing developments are constructed in the Orange County Foothills and once the toll road is extended to Interstate 5. Photo taken 09/16/00.
Northbound California 241 at Exit 7, Portola Parkway. A toll must be paid at this exit ramp. The next exit is Alton Road, one and one-half miles. Photo taken 09/16/00.
Although not meaning to confuse anyone, there are two Portola Parkway exits on California 241. The first such meeting is at Exit 7, and a second junction with Portola Parkway occurs at Exit 10. This second interchange is referred to as "Portola Parkway - Irvine," since Portola Parkway leads southwest into Irvine from this interchange. This mileage sign on northbound shows the manner in which Portola/Irvine is signed. The next exit is southbound California 133 after a mainline toll plaza. Photo taken 09/16/00.
The toll booths are coin-based rather than ticket-based, so there are several of them along California 241. This particular plaza is in between Exits 10 and 12 along northbound. For frequent users, there is a program called Fastrak that allows motorists to drive under a transponder without stopping to pay a toll. The transponder automatically charges the account of Fastrak members each time they pass through the toll plaza. Photo taken 09/16/00.
Northbound California 241 at Exit 12, Junction Southbound California 133. This is the only freeway connection from California 241 to Interstate 5 that remains in Orange County, as California 261 does not have a direct interchange with Interstate 5. This is the reason why this exit is touted as a connection to Interstate 5 along northbound (as shown in this sign assembly), even though California 133 angles to the southwest toward its junction with that freeway. California 241 continues north from here on its way toward Santa Ana Canyon (Junction California 91). Photo taken 09/16/00.
Indeed, northbound traffic cannot even access southbound California 261, so motorists are advised to take California 133 to reach California 261. Photo taken 09/16/00.
Northbound California 241 at Exit 17, Chapman Avenue (Orange County Route S-25) and Santiago Canyon Road (Orange County Route S-18). Chapman Avenue, which is barely signed as County Route S-25, leads west into Orange and Anaheim. Santiago Canyon Road/County Route S-18 parallels California 241 as it heads in a southeasterly direction. Notice how undeveloped the land is in this picture. Photo taken 09/16/00.
California 241 passes through plenty of open space, which is an increasing rarity in Orange County specifically and in Southern California in general. It is possible that the land seen in this picture could be earmarked for future development for more housing, shopping, and other amenities. Photo taken 09/16/00.
Northbound California 241 passes through some very rural terrain between the California 261 interchange and California 91, and there is not much traffic on the road at this point. The freeway widens out to six lanes here due to the steep grade of the upcoming hill and to accommodate upcoming transition ramps to California 91. Photo taken 09/16/00.
This picture provides a comparison of the hills that remain undeveloped and the hills that are covered with housing tracts. Notice how much greener the hillside is on the right compared to the one in the back that has no houses on it. This view is possible due to an extremely sharp decline from this vantage point down to the valley below. The next, and final, exit along northbound is Exit 24, Junction California 91, which sits at the floor of the valley, parallel to the Santa Ana River. There is no direct connection between the California 241 toll road and the California 91 Toll Express Lanes. It is a major shift to drive on overcrowded California 91 after a relatively peaceful ride along California 241. Photo taken 09/16/00.
End California 241 at its junction with California 91 (Riverside Freeway). Keeping true to recent Caltrans practice, these California 91 do not reference the name "Riverside Freeway," even though most older signs continue to reference the original name. Photo taken 09/16/00.
Other California 241 Pictures
The Orange County Toll Roads generally use a different style of freeway entrance signage than most California freeways. This particular freeway entrance assembly, located along Oso Parkway (Exit 3), uses the standard Foothill Corridor logo in lieu of a freeway entrance sign. Also notice the slightly angular look to this California state shield. At the time this photo was taken, this was the first exit along northbound California 241; since then, the toll road has been extended south to Antonio Parkway. A further extension of the toll road to Interstate 5 near the Basilone Road exit in San Diego County is proposed, but it has encountered environmental and military opposition. Photo taken 09/16/00.
