Interstate 15 - California Travel Information

Southbound - California 163 to Interstate 5

Southbound Interstate 15, California 163 to Interstate 8
	After the split from California 163, the next exit along southbound is Exit 11, Junction California 52 and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard followed by Exit 9, Balboa Avenue/Tierrasanta Boulevard. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The right two lanes exit onto Exit 11, Junction California 52 and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, with the far right lane "exit only." Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 11, Junction California 52 east to Santee and west to La Jolla. In addition, this ramp connects to a collector/distributor lane that connects to east-west Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. Clairemont Mesa Boulevard heads east into Tierrasanta and west through Kearny Mesa to Clairemont Mesa. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Now on the collector/distributor lane, motorists first meet the ramp onto westbound California 52, which passes between Kearny Mesa and the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, past the Miramar Landfill, before entering the San Clemente Canyon en route to La Jolla. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The next offramp is the transition from southbound Interstate 15 to eastbound California 52 to Tierrasanta Norte, Mission Trails, and the city of Santee. Note the mileage sign mounted on the overpass for California 52. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Still on the collector/distributor lane, this sign bridge points to the offramp to California 52 east. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The collector/distributor lane widens to two lanes as it approaches the exit to Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. Motorists may also return to Interstate 15 south via the left lane. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	On the collector/distributor lane is the offramp to Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. After this ramp, the c/d lane returns to the Interstate 15 main lanes. Photo taken 08/08/04.

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	After Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, the next major east-west route is Balboa Avenue west through Kearny Mesa and Clairemont Mesa to Pacific Beach and Tierrasanta Boulevard east into Tierrasanta. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound Interstate 15 next reaches Exit 9, Former California 274, Balboa Avenue. Even though the actions to remove California 274 from the state highway system occurred between 1999 and 2001, the signs still remain posted as of September 2004. Note the flyover ramp from northbound Interstate 15 onto westbound California 274. This marks the eastern terminus of California 274. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The next three exits along southbound Interstate 15 are Exit 8, Aero Drive; Exit 7, Friars Road; and Exit 6, Junction Interstate 8 (with connections to Camino del Rio South, Fairmount Avenue, and Mission Gorge Road). Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound Interstate 15 next approaches Exit 8, Aero Drive. This exit leads to the Stonecrest Mall, which features a Wal-Mart and Fry's Electronics Store. Because of this strip mall, as well as a nearby housing development, traffic has become increasingly challenging in this area. Photo taken 03/05/02.
	Aero Drive heads east over the hill to Mission Gorge Road and west into Serra Mesa, with connections to California 163 and Interstate 805. Use Aero Drive west to Murphy Canyon Road south to reach Stonecrest Mall. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The next exit along southbound Interstate 15 is Exit 7, Friars Road. The auxiliary lane here came from Murphy Canyon Road, which is former California 103. This particular ramp was placed as mitigation for people leaving the shopping areas at Stonecrest (Wal-Mart, Fry's Electronics, Vons Grocery, and several smaller shops). There is no corresponding offramp from northbound Interstate 15. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	This mileage sign provides the distance to the next two exits along southbound Interstate 15: Exit 7, Friars Road and Exit 6B, Junction Interstate 8 west/Camino del Rio South and Junction Interstate 8 east. Photo taken 08/08/04.

Southbound California 15 from Interstate 8 to Interstate 5
	Southbound Interstate 15 next approaches Exit 7, Friars Road and Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers National Football League team and the San Diego State University Aztecs football team. The stadium used to be used for the San Diego Padres Major League Baseball team, but the Padres have since relocated to its own ballpark (Petco Park) in downtown San Diego, and its first game took place in April 2004. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Prior to the completion of the 40th Street Freeway, signs such as this one warned truck traffic to use Interstate 8 and Interstate 805 to avoid the Mid-City area, since it was frequently congested. This sign, located on southbound Interstate 15 approaching Junction Interstate 8, was removed by 2001. Photo taken 06/22/99.
	The next exit along southbound Interstate 15 is Exit 6B, Junction Interstate 8. This auxiliary sign indicates that Mission Gorge Road and Fairmount Avenue may be accessed by using the Interstate 8 eastbound transition ramp. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound Interstate 15 approaches Junction Interstate 8, next right. Note that the overhead sign still refers to this route as Interstate 15, even though it changes to California 15 immediately after the interchange. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound Interstate 15 reaches the transition ramp to Interstate 8. Use Interstate 8 east to reach San Diego State University, La Mesa, El Cajon, and the Laguna Mountains. Use Interstate 8 west to reach Interstate 805, Interstate 5, Mission Bay, and Ocean Beach. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	As southbound Interstate 15 crosses over Interstate 8, the freeway changes into California 15 (even though there are no end shields or any state California 15 shields). Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The next three exits along southbound California 15 are Exit 6A, Adams Avenue; Exit 5B, El Cajon Boulevard; and Exit 5A, University Avenue. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	As California 15 ascends to City Heights, use the right lane to access Exit 6A, Adams Avenue. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound California 15 reaches Exit 6A, Adams Avenue. Adams Avenue is an east-west city street that passes through Talmadge, Kensington, North Park, and University Heights. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound California 15 reaches Exit 6A, Adams Avenue. This freeway opened in its entirety in December 2001. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The next exit along southbound is Exit 5B, Junction Business Loop I-8/El Cajon Boulevard, followed by Exit 5A, University Avenue. The Boulevard Transit Plaza is located near the El Cajon Boulevard bridge deck over California 15. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound California 15 approaches Exit 5B, Junction Business Loop I-8/El Cajon Boulevard (Historic U.S. 80). Until 2002, Business Loop I-8 was signed sporadically through City Heights and Mid-City. However, the old, faded business loop shields that used to grace El Cajon Boulevard were all removed in most parts of the city of San Diego; the loop is not signed at all in La Mesa. In effect, this business route has been decommissioned, even though maps generally still show it and some freeway signs still mention it. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound California 15 reaches Exit 5B, Junction Business Loop I-8/El Cajon Boulevard (Historic U.S. 80). The next exit is Exit 5A, University Avenue. Despite its name, University Avenue does not directly serve any local university, although it does come close to San Diego State University. It was so named because it used to connect with a teaching college that eventually relocated to the site of San Diego State University on Montezuma Mesa (at the junction of Interstate 8 and College Avenue). Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound California 15 next reaches the ramp to the collector-distributor lane for Exit 5A, University Avenue. The City Heights Transit Plaza was added to the California 15 corridor to enhance its multimodal utility for motorists and users of transit. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	University Avenue is a major east-west corridor that connects the city of La Mesa, the neighborhoods of Rolando, Darnall, and City Heights with North Park, Hillcrest, and Mission Hills. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The left four lanes continue as southbound California 15, while the two right lanes are separated into a collector-distributor lane as the freeway passes under a cut and cover tunnel. California 15 was intended to have two city blocks of cut and cover tunnel, but there was only funding enough for one city block of tunnel, which is what lies ahead. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound California 15 next approaches Exit 3, Junction Southbound Interstate 805 and Eastbound California 94, one-half mile. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Exit 3 only provides for a transition from southbound California 15 to southbound Interstate 805; there is no access to northbound Interstate 805. Additionally, there is no direct exit to eastbound California 94, so traffic looking for eastbound California 94 must taken Interstate 805 south. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound California 15 reaches Exit 3, Junction Southbound Interstate 805 and Eastbound California 94. Note the use of a regular California 94 shield on the left panel of this sign assembly. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	After Interstate 805 traffic peels off southbound California 15, the freeway narrows to three lanes along southbound. Although it cannot be seen from this picture, Interstate 805 rides very closely to California 15 for about a quarter of a mile. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The final four exits along southbound are: Exit 2B, California 94 west; Exit 2A, Market Street; Exit 1B, Ocean View Boulevard; and Exits 1B-A, Junction Interstate 5/Montgomery Freeway. After Exits 1B-A, mainline traffic is directed to 32nd Street. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Following the previous exit mileage sign is another one, this time only listing the next three exits: Exit 2B, California 94 west; Exit 2A, Market Street; and Exit 1C, Ocean View Boulevard. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Some of the first reflective signs placed in San Diego County were the advance signs placed for California 94 when the city of San Diego paid to have Caltrans sign the freeway in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This roadside sign in advance of Exit 2B is one such sign. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound California 15 reaches Exit 2B, California 94 west. The right lane (number three) becomes exit only, leaving only two through lanes to pass under California 94. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	As the California 15 southbound passes under the substandard California 94 interchange, this mileage sign provides the distance to the final three exits along southbound: Exit 2A, Market Street; Exit 1C, Ocean View Boulevard; and Exits 1B-A, Junction Interstate 5/Montgomery Freeway. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Two new lanes merge onto southbound, and the first exit to found is Exit 2A, Market Street. Through traffic should remain in the left lanes for now. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound California 15 reaches Exit 2A, Market Street. A former exit to Imperial Avenue was removed in the late 1990s and early 2000s to help bring this segment of freeway up to Interstate standards. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The next exit along southbound is Exit 1C, Ocean View Boulevard. The rest of the freeway prepares for the interchange with Interstate 5 north to downtown and Coronado and south to Mexico. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound California 15 reaches Exit 1C, Ocean View Boulevard. Unlike most of Interstate 15 in San Diego, the section south of Interstate 805 is mostly asphalt and varies between two and four lanes in each direction. The end of the freeway is visible in the distance. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	After the Ocean View Boulevard interchange, California 15 approaches its final interchange, Exits 1B-A, Junction Interstate 5/Montgomery Freeway. As part of this interchange, one of the ramps continues south as Wabash Boulevard to meet 32nd Street and Harbor Drive with a direct connection to the 32nd Street Naval Station. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound California 15 approaches Exit 1, Junction Interstate 5. The freeway continues south of the Interstate for as city-maintained Wabash Boulevard, which ends at 32nd Street near Harbor Drive. Although there is no end shield present, there used to be a northbound Interstate 15 shield along northbound Wabash Boulevard where the limited access segment begins until early 2004. Use the left lanes for southbound Interstate 5 and right lanes for northbound Interstate 5. The middle lanes continue to the Main Street offramp, 32nd Street, and Harbor Drive. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	California 15 comes to its end here, as the left lanes angle toward Exit 1B, southbound Interstate 5 to National City, Chula Vista, San Ysidro, and Tijuana (Mexico) and the right lanes exit to Exit 1A for north Interstate 5 to downtown. The middle lanes act as "Exit 0" to Main Street and Harbor Drive. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Now on the transition ramp for Exit 1A, the ramp splits into northbound Interstate 5, a loop ramp to Main Street, and Wabash Boulevard south to 32nd Street and Harbor Drive. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Southbound Wabash Boulevard reaches the exit ramp to Exit 1A. The next exit is for Main Street. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The freeway ends and California 15 officially ends as a state maintained highway. The city of San Diego begins its maintenance of Wabash Boulevard here. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	The speed limit along southbound drops from freeway speeds to 25 miles per hour. A traffic signal ahead marks the end of controlled access. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Use the right lane for information on admittance into the naval station. Photo taken 08/08/04.
	Now reaching the southern end of the freeway, all remnants of California 15 come to an end, and motorists are afforded several choices at this five-way intersection. To reach Harbor Drive and 32nd Street south, continue straight while trending left at this light. Photo taken 08/08/04.

Page Updated September 15, 2004.