Site Navigation Baja California California Colorado Idaho Hawaii Nevada New Mexico Oregon Utah Washington     Interstate 5 in California Routing Interstate 5 is the most important highway in California, connecting the state from the rural extremes of the north to the vastly populated urbanscape of the south. The freeway is the lifeline of the state, connecting to most of the major population centers, including Southern California, the Central Valley, Sacramento, and Northern California. This freeway was built in stages between the 1950s and the 1980s, with the last segment opening along a rural stretch north of Redding. Interstate 5 replaced U.S. 99 for much of its journey in the state, from downtown Los Angeles north to the Oregon State Line. Even though California 99, the successor to U.S. 99 in the Central Valley, is still an extant freeway of its own, most through traffic opts for Interstate 5, including the Los Angeles to San Francisco traffic. Interstate 5 Photo Journey Since Interstate 5 covers some 798 miles on its north-south journey, the roadtrip page is split to accommodate all of the photos along this route. Here is a breakdown of the northbound pages: Southern San Diego County Central San Diego County Northern San Diego County Orange County (San Clemente to Interstate 405) Orange County (I-405 to L.A. County) Los Angeles County (Orange County to San Bernardino Freeway) Los Angeles County (San Bernardino Freeway to California 14) Los Angeles County (California 14 to Kern County) Kern County Kings County Fresno County Merced County Stanislaus County San Joaquin County Sacramento County Yolo County Colusa County Glenn County Tehama County Shasta County Siskiyou County And the following pages follow Interstate 5 southbound: Siskiyou County Shasta County Tehama County Glenn County Colusa County Yolo County Sacramento County San Joaquin County Stanislaus County Merced County Fresno County Kings County Kern County Los Angeles County (Kern County to Santa Clarita) Los Angeles County (California 14 to San Bernardino Freeway) Los Angeles County (San Bernardino Freeway to Orange County) Orange County (L.A. County to I-405) Orange County (Interstate 405 to San Clemente) Northern San Diego County Central San Diego County Southern San Diego County History San Diego County The following provides a brief overview of the history of Interstate 5 in San Diego, as well as a glimpse into some future projects recently revealed for the freeway: 1954. $1,335,000 was spent on 1.4-mile segment of U.S. 101 to bypass Mission Bay Drive around Balboa Avenue (California 274). This section of the U.S. 101 freeway is commonly referred to as the "Balboa Avenue Bypass" until it is linked with the Pacific Highway segment of the U.S. 101 freeway by 1959. 1955. The last of several contracts for the construction of the U.S. 101 freeway between the south city limits of Carlsbad and Camp Pendleton was completed. 1957-1958. Montgomery Freeway (U.S. 101) between Mexican Border and National City upgraded to full freeway status with completion of interchanges at Dairy Mart Road, 27th Street, and Palomar Street. Planning between the Federal General Services Administration and the California Dept of Highways and Public Works begins for an expansion of the Port of Entry (POE) at San Ysidro border crossing. 1958. Planning begins on construction of U.S. 101 freeway between north city limits of San Diego and south city limits of Carlsbad, via Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Leucadia with the approval of the State Highway Commission. There are no budgeted plans to convert U.S. 101 through Camp Pendleton into a four-lane freeway at this time. 1958-1959. Pacific Highway segment of U.S. 101 under construction to be converted to full freeway standards between Laurel Street and Barnett Avenue. During the 1960s, this alignment is abandoned in favor a new alignment over India Street. This section of Pacific Highway is still maintained as a freeway by the City of San Diego today, complete with old signage. 1959-1960. U.S. 101 freeway under construction between National City and San Diego. This freeway will connect several discontinuous segments of San Diego regional freeways, including California 94 (Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway), U.S. 80 (Interstate 8), U.S. 395 (SR-163), and the City of San Diego's Wabash Boulevard (California 15). The U.S. 395 four-level interchange is considered to be the most extensive and complex interchange of the new U.S. 101 freeway construction. The section of U.S. 101 between Market and Laurel Streets is projected to cost $13,000,000 in Fiscal Year 1960. 1962. A Texaco Map shows U.S. 101 at freeway grade along the Montgomery Freeway in the South Bay, at the Balboa Avenue Bypass, and around Carlsbad and Oceanside. U.S. 101 is routed along current Gilman Drive, which used to bisect the University of California at San Diego campus. Today, this old alignment is removed from service. 1966-1967. Entire Interstate 5 (U.S. 101) freeway complete between National City north to Rosecrans Street, while it is under construction through Rose Canyon north of Balboa Avenue Bypass. Ardath Road and future California 52 interchange also under construction as a part of this project. Old Mission Bay Drive near Balboa Avenue commissioned as Business Loop I-5, which is still signed today. Late 1960s. Interstate 5 constructed and opened to traffic between Friars Road and De Anza Cove on east bank of Mission Bay. 1971. Entire Interstate 5 freeway completed; remaining U.S. 101 signs are removed. 1970s. Business Loop I-5 routed along Pacific Highway and Harbor Drive briefly in the early 1970s, although some maps show this designation as late as the 1990s. Signage is gone by the late 1970s. Mid-1995. Phase One of Interstate 5/805/California 56 interchange upgrade ($52,000,000). Early 1996. Southbound auxiliary lanes completed along Interstate 5 in Del Mar area ($8,000,000). 1999. Interstate 5 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV/Carpool) Lanes at Interstate 5/Interstate 805/California 56 merge under construction, and direct connections from northbound Interstate 5 to eastbound California 56 and from westbound California 56 to southbound Interstate 5 are completed. Other direct transitions at this interchange (southbound to eastbound and westbound to northbound) are proposed but remain unfunded. As for the HOV lanes, the lanes between Interstate 805 and Del Mar Heights Road are completed, additional HOV lanes will be constructed between Del Mar Heights Road and Birmingham Drive. By 2020, HOV lanes are planned extend all the way to California 76 in Oceanside. Spring 2000. Plans announced to realign the Interstate 5/San Ysidro border crossing into Mexico with an unspecified completion date. Summer 2000. Additional details provided on the proposed dual freeway for Interstate 5 from Interstate 805 north to Del Mar Heights Road. The local planning agency, SANDAG, hopes to widen the existing eight-lane freeway by adding two HOV express lanes and a six-lane outer separation ("dual freeway") for all trucks and local traffic exiting at Carmel Valley Road or California 56. This project, conducted in five stages, will cost over $170 million. The construction of the dual freeway began with the two new northbound lanes between Carmel Mountain Road and Del Mar Heights Road along Interstate 5. This construction started in 1995 and is ongoing with the recent completion of the first connections to California 56. Plans call for this segment of Interstate 5 to be 12 to 14 lanes wide. By 2003, there will be three lanes on either side of the main freeway. These three lanes will handle local traffic, while the main four lanes handle through traffic. Right-of-way for this expansion has already been secured, although some sound walls may need to be constructed as mitigation to the freeway's neighbors. Spring 2001. Caltrans announces a signage replacement program for all Interstate highways in the state, and these signs will feature exit numbers. The first such sign along Interstate 5 in San Diego County is for Exit 1B, Via de San Ysidro, along northbound. Many thanks to Merle F. McClelland for his assistance in creating this historical chronology. Statewide Opening Dates of Interstate 5 Mexico Border to Interstate 805 – July 13th, 1973 Interstate 805 to Coronado Avenue – Circa 1955 Coronado Avenue to E Street – Circa 1952 E Street to 24th Street – November 15th, 1991 24th Street to 18th Street – August 19th, 1965 18th Street to Vesta Street – September 1st, 1965 Vesta Street to Island Street – February 28th, 1964 Island Street to India Street – Circa 1963 India Street to Pacific Highway – August 30th, 1965 Pacific Highway to Old Town Avenue – April 17th, 1967 Old Town Avenue to San Diego River – July 21st, 1969 San Diego River to Sea World Drive – July 26th, 1967 Sea World Drive to De Anza Road - June 2nd, 1969 De Anza Road to Damon Street – Circa 1954 Damon Street to Interstate 805 – June 21st, 1966 Interstate 805 to Poinsettia Avenue – Circa 1963 Poinsettia Avenue to Palomar Airport Road – June 21st, 1966 Palomar Airport Road to north city limits of Oceanside – Circa 1953 North city limits of Oceanside to Las Pulgas Road – October 23rd, 1967 Las Pulgas Road to San Onofre Creek – May 23rd, 1968 San Onofre Creek to Cristanitos Road – November 20th, 1968 Cristanitos Road to El Camino Real – Circa 1958 El Camino Real to San Juan Road – Circa 1960 San Juan Road to Junipero Serra Road – Circa 1958 Junipero Serra Road to El Toro Road – Circa 1959 El Toro Road to Red Hill Avenue – Circa 1958 Red Hill Avenue to California 22 – Circa 1955 California 22 to Orange/Los Angeles County Line – Circa 1957 Los Angeles County Line to Shoemaker Avenue – Circa 1955 Shoemaker Avenue to Pioneer Boulevard – Circa 1954 Pioneer Boulevard to Washington Boulevard – Circa 1953 Washington Boulevard to Indiana Street – Circa 1951 Indiana Street to California 60 – Circa 1948 California 60 to Fourth Street – Circa 1960 Fourth Street to Interstate 10 – Circa 1959 Interstate 10 to Pasadena Avenue – Circa 1960 Pasadena Avenue to California 110 – Circa 1962 California 110 to Glendale Boulevard – Circa 1961 Glendale Boulevard to Alameda Avenue – Circa 1957 Alameda Avenue to Magnolia Boulevard – Circa 1959 Magnolia Boulevard to Roscoe Boulevard – Circa 1960 Roscoe Boulevard to Lankershim Boulevard – Circa 1961 Lankershim Boulevard to Interstate 210 – Circa 1963 Interstate 210 to Weldon Canyon Road – Circa 1955 Weldon Canyon Road to Calgrove Boulevard – October 13th, 1967 Calgrove Road to Valencia Boulevard – October 19th, 1967 Valencia Boulevard to California 126 – February 11th, 1965 California 126 to Lake Hughes Road – November 20th, 1968 Lake Hughes Road to Templin Highway – August 27th, 1970 Templin Highway to Gorman Road – October 23rd, 1967 Gorman Road to Grapevine Creek – September 1st, 1966 Grapevine Creek to California Aqueduct – Circa 1960 California Aqueduct to California 99 – December 23rd, 1969 California 99 to California 119 – March 1st, 1972 California 119 to Rowlee Road – February 4th, 1970 Rowlee Road to California 46 – August 21st, 1967 California 46 to Weiser Road – November 11th, 1970 Weiser Road to California 41 – February 25th, 1972 California 41 to Avenal Cutoff – May 1st, 1969 Avenal Cutoff to California 33 – September 29th, 1970 California 33 to California 152 – March 1st, 1972 California 152 to Whitworth Road – June 13th, 1966 Whitworth Road to Gaffery Road – November 1st, 1967 Gaffery Road to Paradise Cutoff – November 23rd, 1971 Paradise Cutoff to Roth Road – July 1st, 1972 Roth Road to Eighth Street – October 25th, 1971 Eighth Street to Stockton Viaduct – September 30th, 1972 Stockton Viaduct to Benjamin Holt Drive – July 18th, 1970 Benjamin Holt Drive to Hammer Lane – November 23rd, 1971 Hammer Lane to Thornton Road – February 7th, 1978 Thornton Road to Walnut Grove Road – September 21st, 1979 Walnut Grove Road to Dierssen Road – October 12th, 1979 Dierssen Road to Beach Lake Road – October 22nd, 1975 Beach Lake Road to California 160 – November 22nd, 1974 California 160 to Sutterville Road – January 2nd, 1975 Sutterville Road to Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 – July 15th, 1970 Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 to California 275 (Tower Bridge) "Boat Section" – Janurary 21st, 1971 California 275 to Sacramento Viaduct – July 15th, 1970 Sacramento Viaduct to Richards Boulevard – Feburary 11th, 1969 Richards Boulevard to Garden Highway – October 17th, 1968 Garden Highway to California 99 – August 7th, 1968 California 99 to WN Canal – December 18th, 1968 WN Canal to County Road 22 – July 9th, 1969 County Road 22 to County Road 102 – September 19th, 1969 County Road 102 to California 16 – April 3rd, 1973 California 16 to Interstate 505 – August 6th, 1970 Interstate 505 to County Line Road – October 10th, 1968 County Line Road to Meyers Road – November 21st, 1967 Meyers Road to North Maxwell Road – December 2nd, 1971 North Maxwell Road to County Road 60 – June 23rd, 1970 County Road 60 to County Road 33 – August 12th, 1966 County Road 33 to Glenn/Tehama County Line – June 16th, 1966 Glenn/Tehama County Line to Corning Road – August 29th, 1966 Corning Road to South Main Street – December 21st, 1965 South Main Street to North Red Bluff Road – November 11th, 1965 North Red Bluff Road to Bowman Road – May 1st, 1964 Bowman Road to Cottonwood Road – August 7th, 1964 Cottonwood Road to Riverside Avenue – December 9th, 1966 Riverside Avenue to California 273 – August 19th, 1966 California 273 to Pit River Road – December 21st, 1967 Pit River Road to Obrien Road – October 21st, 1968 Obrien Road to Antler Summit Road – November 21st, 1966 Antler Summit Road to Roadside Rest Area – August 22nd, 1972 Roadside Rest Area to Sims Road – Circa 1957 Sims Road to Sweetbrier Road – Circa 1962 Sweetbrier Road to Mott Avenue – Circa 1960 Mott Avenue to Mount Shasta Road – October 16th, 1964 Mount Shasta Road to North Weed Boulevard – August 6th 1973 North Weed to Julien Creek Bridge – October 30th, 1969 Julien Creek Bridge to California 96 south junction – October 9th, 1970 California 96 south interchange to California 96 north junction – July 1st, 1968 California 96 north interchange to Bailey Hill Road – August 22nd, 1974 Bailey Hill Road to Oregon State Line – June 3rd, 1966 Many thanks to C.J. Moon for his assistance in providing this historical chronology. Scenes Pertaining to Interstate 5 These trailblazer shields for Interstate 5 and Interstate 8 are posted on northbound Congress Avenue in Old Town San Diego prior to the Taylor Street intersection near the transit center. Photos taken 03/18/09. A massive viaduct carries ten lanes of Interstate 5 over the Old Town Transit Center parking lot and Pacific Highway in Old Town San Diego. These pictures were taken looking east from Pacific Highway toward the viaduct, then looking south while under the viaduct. Photos taken 03/18/09. These trailblazer shields for Interstate 5 are posted along westbound Rosecrans Street at Pacific Highway (Old U.S. 101 and Old Business Loop I-5). Follow Pacific Highway south to Interstate 5 south or north to Interstate 5 north (via the Sea World Drive interchange). Photos taken 03/18/09. Now traveling on Sea World Drive in San Diego's Morena District, this series of signs follows Sea World Drive west to the connection to Interstate 5. Note the state-named button copy Interstate 5 shield still in use at the interchange; the sign also includes Interstate 8 shields since that freeway is less than a mile south of this interchange. A bridge carries Sea World Drive over West Morena Boulevard, the railroad, and Interstate 5 itself. Photos taken 03/17/09. Westbound Lyons Avenue approaches Interstate 5 Exit 167. At this interchange, Lyons Avenue leaves the city of Santa Clarita and changes into Pico Canyon Road en route to Stevenson Ranch. The first right connects to Interstate 5 north to Magic Mountain, Castaic, and Sacramento; the next left connects to Interstate 5 south to Los Angeles. Photos taken 11/25/04. This Interstate 5 south trailblazer shield is posted on the Lyons Avenue and Pico Canyon Road overpass prior to the left turn to Interstate 5 south in Santa Clarita. Plenty of motorist services (food, gas, lodging) are available at this interchange (Exit 167). Photos taken 11/25/04. The Central Valley looms as we look north on Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway on the Grapevine grade. The eight-lane freeway is one of the busiest rural freeways in the state, as it serves part of the main route from Northern California to Los Angeles. Photo taken 09/25/05. Now looking south from the same vantage point, Interstate 5 climbs the Grapevine grade toward Fort Tejon. Photo taken 09/25/05. A 1933 concrete culvert provides drainage under the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 on the Grapevine section of the Golden State Freeway. This particular culvert is located just south of the water turnoff. Photos taken 09/25/05. Interstate 5 travels through the Grapevine in order to ascend from the Central Valley into the Tehachapi Mountains. This view of the Grapevine grade is seen from Digier Road near the Fort Tejon interchange (Exit 210). The single-slab, concrete segment can be seen in the next suite of photos. Photo taken 09/25/05. Within the Grapevine, this section of single-slab concrete old alignment of U.S. 99 is located near the "Exit 210, Fort Tejon One Mile" advance sign. While cleaning the highway in 2005, we were able to walk this rarely seen stretch of old alignment. Most of these photos are taken while walking along what would be southbound U.S. 99 except the last two photos, which face northbound U.S. 99. Photos taken 09/25/05. This sign for Interstate 5 north is unusual because it still shows the original U.S. 99 designation on the sign. Prior to its signs being removed in the years after 1964 (the year it was officially decommissioned), Interstate 5 and U.S. 99 were cosigned in Kern County south of the Exit 221 merge. Note the outline of a former U.S. 99 shield on the right side of this sign. The sign is located on southbound Lebec Service Road near Exit 207. Photos taken 09/25/05. At Exit 207 (Lebec), this trailblazer shield points the way to Interstate 5/Golden Freeway north on the Lebec Service Road (on the east side of the freeway; Old U.S. 99 is located on the west side of Interstate 5 at Exit 207). Photo taken 09/25/05. In the same vicinity, now traveling north on Lebec Service Road near Exit 207, this sign points the way to Lebec by crossing over Interstate 5 to the west. To Interstate 5 north to Bakersfield (the official control city is Sacramento; this sign was added before most signs were changed from Bakersfield to Sacramento), use Lebec Service Road north. The previous trailblazer shield can be seen in context. Photo taken 09/25/05. Page Updated May 10, 2009.