The next exit along eastbound Interstate 8 is part of the California 125 interchange complex: Exit 14B, Grossmont Center Drive and La Mesa Boulevard. The offramp to the right is the transition from eastbound Interstate 8 to California 125. The next exit is for Severin Drive and Fuerte Drive. Immediately after this interchange complex, Interstate 8 reaches the Grossmont Summit, and it begins its descent into the El Cajon Valley. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Immediately after the offramp to Exit 14B, Grossmont Center Drive is Exit 14C, Fuerte Drive and Severin Drive. Interstate 8 reaches Grossmont Summit and prepares to descend from La Mesa ("the table") into the city El Cajon, translated as "the box." Note that as traffic merges onto Interstate 8 east from California 125, the freeway widens to six lanes along eastbound. This configuration will remain in place until reaching Exit 15. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 8 is Exit 15, Junction Business Loop I-8/El Cajon Boulevard, one mile. El Cajon Boulevard follows Old U.S. 80 through downtown El Cajon. The signed business route rejoins Interstate 8 at the Greenfield exit east of town, but the old alignment of U.S. 80 continues to be called "Business Route 8" as far east as Exit 22. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Old U.S. 80 was pretty much buried up by the construction of Interstate 8 in the 1960s as the freeway crosses the Grossmont Summit. However, upon reaching Exit 15, Old U.S. 80 continues as an extant route from this exit all the way east to the Viejas Indian Reservation and Casino (East Willows Road exit), and it resumes as its own route again at Exit 40, California 79. Business Loop I-8/Old U.S. 80/El Cajon Boulevard is the main route into El Cajon. El Cajon may have been given this name due to the fact that it sits in a valley, and the valley inversion layer traps heat within the immediate vicinity. The summers can be far hotter in this area than in locations west of Grossmont Summit. Photo taken 08/20/04.
In typical Caltrans fashion, the business route is signed merely with this single advance sign, "Route 8 Business next right." Interstate 8 enters the city of El Cajon, the next eastern suburb after La Mesa. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 15, Junction Business Loop I-8/El Cajon Boulevard east to El Cajon. Both the number five and number six lanes are exit-only. To reach Chase Avenue, use the far right lane. For the business route, follow the signs for El Cajon Boulevard; a green reassurance shield is present at the bottom of the offramp after the Chase Avenue ramp. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The next three exits along eastbound are Exit 16, Main Street east to downtown and west to Fletcher Hills; Exit 17A, Johnson Avenue; and Exit 17B, Junction California 67 north to Ramona/Magnolia Avenue south to downtown. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 16, Main Street in El Cajon. Main Street meets El Cajon Boulevard a short distance east of here, near downtown El Cajon. At that intersection, Main Street continues east as Business Loop I-8. Photo taken 01/27/06.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 8 is Exit 17A, Johnson Avenue in El Cajon. To reach the El Cajon Mall, use Johnson Avenue north. Immediately after the Johnson Avenue offramp is the connection to northbound California 67/Ramona Freeway (Exit 17B) and Magnolia Avenue (Exit 17C). Photo taken 08/20/04.
Exit 17A (Johnson Avenue) is one of the few overhead signs with exit numbers in El Cajon. Use this exit to Parkway Plaza and the large commercial area north of Interstate 8 via Johnson Avenue. Photo taken 01/27/06.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 17A, Johnson Avenue in El Cajon. The next two exits are for California 67 freeway north and Magnolia Avenue south. Photo taken 01/27/06.
California 67, a freeway route, is the sixth and final north-south freeway encountered by Interstate 5 (after Interstate 5, California 163, Interstate 805, Interstate 15, and California 125). California 67 heads north toward the San Vicente Reservoir, passing through the San Diego River Valley en route to Santee and Lakeside, then takes a sharp grade up toward Poway and ultimately Ramona, where it ends at an intersection with California 78. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 17B, California 67 in El Cajon. The next exit is Exit 17C, Magnolia Avenue, which leads south into the heart of downtown. From downtown, Magnolia Avenue northbound may be used to reach either Interstate 8 or California 67. Photo taken 08/20/04.
As part of the same interchange complex, eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 17C, Magnolia Avenue south to downtown. Prior to the construction of the Exit 17B flyover ramp from eastbound to northbound, the interchange between Interstate 8 and California 67 was a cloverleaf. The interchange is now a modified cloverleaf with a collector-distributor lane along with a flyover ramp. Additionally, prior to the construction of Interstate 8, California 67 used to continue south as a state highway into downtown El Cajon, then merged with U.S. 80 west over Grossmont Summit and then south into La Mesa along what is today California 125. California 67 at that time used to end at the approximate location of the California 125/California 94 interchange in Spring Valley. Photo taken 08/20/04.
From the main lanes, this view shows the collector-distributor lanes to Magnolia Avenue and ... another ramp to California 67 north! Since the original freeway was a cloverleaf, the loop ramp from eastbound to northbound was never removed. Therefore, there are two ways to get onto northbound California 67 from eastbound Interstate 8. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 8 is Exit 18, Mollison Avenue, next right. This exit number sign and overhead sign bridge was placed in Summer 2003. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 18, Mollison Avenue. The next exit is Exit 19, Second Street (Former California 54). The California 54 shield on the Second Street panel is covered by a green overlay. Interstate 8 loses a lane from four to three lanes in each direction in this general vicinity. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 8 is Exit 19, Former California 54/Second Street. The shield has been covered by a green sticker material, and the outline of the shield and number can be seen upon close inspection of the sign. This picture does not clearly show this feature, however. This route is now known as "Business Route 54." California 54 is still planned for extension north to meet Interstate 8, but the alignment has not yet been determined, nor have funds been allocated for this purpose. Photo taken 08/20/04.
In Summer 2004, the Interstate 8 bridge over Second Street (Exit 20) was renamed in memory of Danielle Van Dam, the little girl who was kidnapped, assaulted, and murdered by a neighbor. After this interchange, Interstate 8 shrinks to only two lanes in each direction. A project is planned to expand Interstate 8 to three lanes in each direction as far east as Exit 22/Los Coches Road. Photo taken 08/20/04.
This mileage sign along eastbound shows the distance to Alpine (unincorporated community in San Diego County), El Centro (Imperial County), and Yuma (across the Colorado River in Arizona). This mileage sign is the first one to mention the distance to Yuma; until now, the control city has been El Centro. Mounted on the bridge over Second Street (Former California 54), this mileage sign is unusual for being located in the center of the freeway. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The next exit along eastbound is Exit 20, Greenfield Drive to the unincorporated community of Crest. The Fires of October 2003 nearly destroyed this small community. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The next exit along eastbound is Exit 22, Los Coches Road, 0.75 mile. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Interstate 8 enters the community of Lakeside, population 54,400 as of 2000. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 22, Los Coches Road. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The Laguna Mountains rise in the distance as Interstate 8 begins its lengthy ascension to Laguna Summit (Exit 47). This picture, taken at Exit 22, Los Coches Road, indicates it will take approximately 25 miles to gain over 3,000 feet of elevation. Photos taken 08/20/04 and 01/27/06.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 8 is Exit 23, Lake Jennings Park Road, one mile. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Alpine is eight miles ahead, and El Centro is another 90 miles east of Alpine. Those 90 miles were treacherous in the days of U.S. 80, back when motorist services were scarce and breakdowns were common. With the advent of a 70-miles per hour freeway, a trip that used to take a day can now be accomplished in an hour and a half. To relive the old days, much of old U.S. 80, especially between Descanso and Jacumba via Pine Valley, Live Oak Springs, and Boulevard, is still intact with twin-slab concrete poured in the 1930s. On that old road, asphalt shoulders are required to ensure sufficient width to accommodate today's larger vehicles. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Flinn Springs County Park is accessible from Interstate 8 via Lake Jennings Park Road. Even though this sounds like a park with swimming, don't be fooled. There is no freshwater spring or lake swimming open to the public in San Diego County, as all reservoirs are closed to swimming. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 23, Lake Jennings Park Road. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The power lines visible in the background of the Exit 23 interchange are part of a major transmission system taking power from the northern part of the county south to the San Miguel Substation (terminus of the San Diego-Imperial Valley Interconnect Transmission Line) and to Mexico. Mexico and the United States regularly import and export power depending upon needs and generation capacity. Additional generation facilities are being constructed in Mexico to meet the increase demand for electricity in Tijuana and San Diego. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Only a year and a half later, the power lines were changed to allow for higher capacity transmission, as shown here. The new power lines were incomplete at this time. Photo taken 01/27/06.
Eastbound Interstate 8 shield after Exit 23/Lake Jennings Park Road. Photo taken 08/20/04.
For the first time, Interstate 8 has a 70 miles-per-hour speed limit. Photo taken 08/20/04.
This mileage sign again provides the distance to Alpine and El Centro along eastbound Interstate 8; Yuma is omitted. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Since leaving El Cajon, the freeway has gradually gained elevation, and this is documented in this 1,000-feet elevation sign. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 8 is Exit 27, Harbison Canyon Road and Dunbar Lane. This exit serves unincorporated San Diego County east of El Cajon. However, suburban services are located at this exit. Although unsigned, this exit leads to Old U.S. 80. A new, reflective exit number sign was installed here in 2005. Photos taken 08/20/04 and 01/27/06.
The Fires of October 2003 burned the original guide sign, so this replacement sign with exit number was replaced in early 2004. Harbison Canyon features a nudist resort and additional outlying homes. As San Diego grows, more and more people are turning to the urban fringes to make their homes. Alpine is the capital of outlying homes. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 27, Harbison Canyon Road and Dunbar Lane. Photo taken 08/20/04.
After Exit 27, Interstate 8 enters the unincorporated community of Alpine, which has a population of 15,300 (and growing). Photo taken 08/20/04.
Beautiful Puetz Valley and Harbison Canyon come into view as Interstate 8 descends to a valley then ascends to the central part of Alpine. To the north, you can see El Capitan Reservoir, which is situated along the San Diego River. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Yet another Alpine and El Centro mileage sign comes into view along eastbound. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 8 is Exit 30, Alpine Boulevard/Junction Business Loop I-8 east. This is the third instance of a business route for Interstate 89, but it is also the final Business Loop I-8 along eastbound until reaching El Centro. Alpine is a rapidly growing bedroom community that has seen its share of new developments springing up near the Interstate 8 interchanges. Photo taken 08/20/04.
As Interstate 8 crosses the Laguna Mountains (and the Laguna Summit, Crestwood Summit, and Tecate Divide), the freeway may encounter strong winds, especially on the high rolling hills east of Laguna Summit. Wind advisories are common along Interstate 8 through the mountains both during the fall Santa Ana winds and winter storms. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Business Loop I-8 east follows Alpine Boulevard from Exit 30 east through downtown Alpine and back to Exit 33/West Willows Road. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 30, Alpine Boulevard/Junction Business Loop I-8 east. Tavern Road leads south from Alpine to connect to Dehesa Road near the Sycuan Indian Reservation and Casino. From eastbound, a better route to reach Sycuan Casino would be via Exit 19 (Second Street south) then east on Washington, which changes into Dehesa Road upon leaving the El Cajon city limits. Photo taken 08/20/04.
At the top of the offramp from Interstate 8 east to Business Loop I-8/Alpine Boulevard, turn right to enter unincorporated Alpine. A small shopping plaza is located on the south side of Interstate 8, with retail, restaurants, and a motel available. Photo taken 01/27/06.
The next exit after Exit 30 is Exit 33, which is again Alpine Boulevard, where it returns to Interstate 8. Exit 33 is for Business Loop I-8/Alpine Boulevard/Old U.S. 80/West Willows Road. Willows Road is the route that leads into Viejas Indian Reservation and Casino, so this route is frequently busy on the weekends, when visitors from the city come to the country to gamble. The traffic count on Willows Road has increased substantially over the past several years. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Between Harbison Canyon and Pine Valley Creek Bridge, Interstate 8 eastbound carries three lanes to allow slower traffic to stay in the far right lane. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The Decansco Ranger Station for the Cleveland National Forest may be reached via Exit 33 along the south side of the freeway off Alpine Boulevard. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Indeed, Interstate 8 departs Alpine and enters the Cleveland National Forest. There are not many trees at this elevation in the national forest, but there are plenty of forests scattered among the Laguna Mountains. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 33, Alpine Boulevard/Business Loop I-8 west. This exit also leads to Willows Road. This is the eastern end of the business loop through unincorporated Alpine. Photo taken 08/20/04.
This tiny sign greets travelers to the Viejas Indian Reservation, which has one of the most prominent Indian Casinos in San Diego County due to its proximity to the freeway. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The Viejas Indian Casino marquee sign and waterfall greets motorists. To reach the casino, use either Exits 33 or 36. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The next exit along eastbound is Exit 36, East Willows Road, 0.75 mile. Photo taken 08/20/04.
On this day, the variable message sign in advance of Exit 36 indicates that winds are indeed strong and persistent across the mountains. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 36, East Willows Road. At this interchange old U.S. 80 is again underneath the freeway, so there is no extant frontage road. Rejoin old U.S. 80 at Exit 40, Junction California 79. The next exit is a Vista Point (Exit 37). Photo taken 08/20/04.
This reassurance shield for Interstate 8 is posted immediately after the East Willows Road interchange just east of Viejas Indian Reservation. Between Exits 36 and 40, there is no parallel frontage road for Interstate 8. Photo taken 01/27/06.
The first advance sign for the vista point (Exit 37) is mounted on the overpass for East Willows Road. Photo taken 08/20/04.
There are no facilities at the Vista Point, but a Rest Area is located 13 miles ahead at the Buckman Springs Road Interchange (Exit 51, Junction San Diego County Route S-1 South). Photo taken 01/27/06.
The Exit 37 Vista Point is a worthy stop for two reasons: (1) the old alignment of U.S. 80 used to swing out onto this ledge, and remnants of the old road can still be seen in the vista point parking area and (2) the view from Interstate 8 into Japatul Valley shows some of the impacts of the Alpine Fire from July 2000. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 37, Vista Point. Although the valley views and old alignment of U.S. 80 are worthwhile, there are no facilities at this parking area. Photo taken 08/20/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 8 is Exit 40, Junction California 79 north and Japatul Valley Road south. This exit leads to the communities of Descanso, Guatay, and Pine Valley, each of which are located along or near Historic U.S. 80. These communities are rural in nature, but an influx of city folks looking for country peace have slowly swelled the population counts in these areas. Most of the people who have moved into these areas commute daily to jobs in the city. Photo taken 08/20/04.
To reach Julian, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and Descanso, use California 79 north. Photo taken 08/20/04.
California 79 leads north to the recreational areas of Cleveland National Forest and Rancho Cuyamaca State Park, so much of the highway is a rural, two-lane, winding road. This exit marks the southern terminus of California 79, but the highway continues southbound as Japatul Valley Road. Japatul Valley Road starts heading south, then turns west toward Dehesa Road. This is one of the most beautiful backcountry drives in San Diego County, and it is not too difficult to reach it from the freeway. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Indeed, California 79 is signed on this brown shield for Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. During the height of the October 2003 wildfires, this park was closed, but it has since been partially reopened for limited camping and hiking. On occasion, the smell of burnt wood remains in the many stumps and dead trees that remain. Lake Cuyamaca is a reservoir found in the state park. Photo taken 08/20/04.
Eastbound Interstate 8 reaches Exit 40, Junction California 79 north and Japatul Valley Road south. Deceleration for this exit can be challenging, since the exit ramp is on an upgrade and slow trucks are using the right lane. Photo taken 08/20/04.
