California State Route 52
Encyclopedia
State Route 52 is a state highway in the U.S. state
of California
in San Diego County
, that extends from La Jolla Parkway at Interstate 5 in La Jolla to Route 67
in Santee
. Route 52 is a freeway for its entire length. Prior to 1993, the segment between Interstate 5 and Interstate 805 bore the official name "Mount Soledad Freeway".
and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System
. However, it is not a scenic highway as designated by Caltrans.
SR 52 begins just west of I-5 as La Jolla Parkway. The road becomes a freeway as it intersects with I-5 before entering San Clemente Canyon, designated as Marian Bear Memorial Natural Park. After a few exits, SR 52 interchanges with I-805 before exiting the canyon and travelling along the southern edge of MCAS Miramar. After passing the Miramar Recycling Center, SR 52 intersects with SR 163 towards downtown San Diego and with I-15. The freeway leaves the military base and enters the San Diego neighborhood of Tierrasanta
before traversing Mission Trails Regional Park
, an open space preserve. SR 52 crosses the San Diego River
before entering the city of Santee
, where SR 52 parallels the river as well as Mission Gorge Road. SR 52's temporary terminus was at the interchange with SR 125 where traffic was automatically routed south onto SR 125. On March 29, 2011, a new freeway segment of SR 52 opened to traffic, extending the route to its new terminus at SR 67
.
.
Where SR 52 meets with Interstate 15 and SR 163, is one of the worst traffic bottlenecks in the county during morning rush-hour as three westbound lanes narrow to two. To lessen the bottleneck, a construction crew in March 2007 is currently widening this 2½-mile stretch to three lanes in both directions.
In 2006, MTS, in cooperation with SANDAG, Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol
, began a pilot program to operate transit buses on the shoulders of SR 52, between Kearny Villa Road and I-805. During rush hour times, buses could use these shoulders as a transit-only lane to bypass slow traffic on the main lanes. This included the use of the freeway shoulders on the ramp connectors between SR 52 and I-805.
Construction of SR 52 from SR 125
eastward to SR 67
began in early 2008, and was opened to traffic on March 29, 2011. The official "ribbon cutting" ceremony took place at 8:30 a.m. on March 19, 2011 on the freeway at the Cuyamaca Street interchange (exit 17).
The entire route is in San Diego County
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Postmile
!Exit
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=11|San Diego
|0.32
|
|La Jolla Parkway
|Continuation beyond I-5
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|0.32
|1A
|
|No exit number eastbound; no access from SR 52 east to I-5 north
|-
|1.35
|1B
|Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Regents Road
|Signed as exit 1 eastbound
|-
|2.29
|2
|Genesee Avenue
|
|-
|3.76
|3
|
|
|-
|5.49
|5
|Convoy Street
|
|-
|6.60
|6
|
|
|-
|6.93
|7
|Kearny Villa Road
|
|-
|7.31
|7
|
|
|-
|8.71
|8
|Santo Road
|
|-
|13.27
|13
|Mast Boulevard
|
|-
|rowspan=6|Santee
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|14.77
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|14
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Mission Gorge Road
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-
|14.77
|15A
|
|Signed as exit 15 eastbound
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|
|15B
|Fanita Drive
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|
|17
|Cuyamaca Street
|
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|
|18A
|Magnolia Avenue
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-
|
|18
|
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; signed as exits 18B (south) and 18C (north)
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
, that extends from La Jolla Parkway at Interstate 5 in La Jolla to Route 67
California State Route 67
State Route 67 runs from Interstate 8 in El Cajon to Lakeside as the San Vicente Freeway. It then becomes a smaller roadway through Poway and becomes Main Street in Ramona before ending into State Route 78....
in Santee
Santee, California
Santee is a suburban city in San Diego County, California with a population of 53,413 at the 2010 census. Although it is a part of the East County region, Santee is located just from the Pacific Ocean. The city is connected to the coastline by State Route 52, a six-lane freeway that runs from...
. Route 52 is a freeway for its entire length. Prior to 1993, the segment between Interstate 5 and Interstate 805 bore the official name "Mount Soledad Freeway".
Route description
State Route 52 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway SystemCalifornia Freeway and Expressway System
The California Freeway and Expressway System is a system of existing or planned freeways and expressways in the U.S. state of California. It is defined by the Streets and Highways Code.-List of roads in the system:*State Route 1 *State Route 2...
and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System
State Scenic Highway System (California)
The State Scenic Highway System is a list of highways, mainly state highways, that have been designated by the California Department of Transportation as scenic highways. The California State Legislature, primarily through Section 263 of the Streets and Highways Code, makes highways eligible for...
. However, it is not a scenic highway as designated by Caltrans.
SR 52 begins just west of I-5 as La Jolla Parkway. The road becomes a freeway as it intersects with I-5 before entering San Clemente Canyon, designated as Marian Bear Memorial Natural Park. After a few exits, SR 52 interchanges with I-805 before exiting the canyon and travelling along the southern edge of MCAS Miramar. After passing the Miramar Recycling Center, SR 52 intersects with SR 163 towards downtown San Diego and with I-15. The freeway leaves the military base and enters the San Diego neighborhood of Tierrasanta
Tierrasanta, San Diego, California
Tierrasanta, Spanish for "holy land," is a community within the city of San Diego, California. The symbol of Tierrasanta is an encircled Conquistador cross, similar to the Montserrat Cross of Barcelona, Spain, though it holds no religious meaning...
before traversing Mission Trails Regional Park
Mission Trails Regional Park
Mission Trails Regional Park is a 5,800 acre open space preserve within the city of San Diego, California, established in 1974. It is the sixth largest municipally-owned park in the United States, and the largest in California.-Description:...
, an open space preserve. SR 52 crosses the San Diego River
San Diego River
The San Diego River is a river in San Diego County, California. It originates in the Cuyamaca Mountains northwest of the town of Julian, then flows to the southwest until it reaches the El Capitan Reservoir, the largest reservoir in the river's watershed at . Below El Capitan Dam, the river runs...
before entering the city of Santee
Santee, California
Santee is a suburban city in San Diego County, California with a population of 53,413 at the 2010 census. Although it is a part of the East County region, Santee is located just from the Pacific Ocean. The city is connected to the coastline by State Route 52, a six-lane freeway that runs from...
, where SR 52 parallels the river as well as Mission Gorge Road. SR 52's temporary terminus was at the interchange with SR 125 where traffic was automatically routed south onto SR 125. On March 29, 2011, a new freeway segment of SR 52 opened to traffic, extending the route to its new terminus at SR 67
California State Route 67
State Route 67 runs from Interstate 8 in El Cajon to Lakeside as the San Vicente Freeway. It then becomes a smaller roadway through Poway and becomes Main Street in Ramona before ending into State Route 78....
.
History
Originally, SR 52 was the Soledad Highway, signed without control cities, receiving only an "East" or "West" designation at the handful of street entry points, and "San Clemente Canyon" on signs for the highway from Interstate 5. Between 1966 and 1972, several sections of the original route were completed and only connected between Interstate 5/Ardath Road (now called La Jolla Parkway) and Interstate 805. SR 52 had multiple extensions since. In 1987, the highway was extended to Convoy Road in Kearny Mesa, and by 1988, an extension to Santo Road in Tierrasanta. SR 52 successfully relieved a parallel east–west route Interstate 8, five miles (8 km) to the south, of some congestion. However, it became overwhelmed as soon as construction to Mission Gorge Road was completed in December 1993, as it was the only east-west freeway connecting directly with the suburban city of SanteeSantee, California
Santee is a suburban city in San Diego County, California with a population of 53,413 at the 2010 census. Although it is a part of the East County region, Santee is located just from the Pacific Ocean. The city is connected to the coastline by State Route 52, a six-lane freeway that runs from...
.
Where SR 52 meets with Interstate 15 and SR 163, is one of the worst traffic bottlenecks in the county during morning rush-hour as three westbound lanes narrow to two. To lessen the bottleneck, a construction crew in March 2007 is currently widening this 2½-mile stretch to three lanes in both directions.
In 2006, MTS, in cooperation with SANDAG, Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol
California Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of California. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and also acts as the state police....
, began a pilot program to operate transit buses on the shoulders of SR 52, between Kearny Villa Road and I-805. During rush hour times, buses could use these shoulders as a transit-only lane to bypass slow traffic on the main lanes. This included the use of the freeway shoulders on the ramp connectors between SR 52 and I-805.
Construction of SR 52 from SR 125
California State Route 125
State Route 125 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that currently runs from State Route 905 in Otay Mesa near the U.S.–Mexico border to State Route 52 in Santee....
eastward to SR 67
California State Route 67
State Route 67 runs from Interstate 8 in El Cajon to Lakeside as the San Vicente Freeway. It then becomes a smaller roadway through Poway and becomes Main Street in Ramona before ending into State Route 78....
began in early 2008, and was opened to traffic on March 29, 2011. The official "ribbon cutting" ceremony took place at 8:30 a.m. on March 19, 2011 on the freeway at the Cuyamaca Street interchange (exit 17).
Exit list
- Note: Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured in 1964, based on the alignment as it existed at that time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage.
The entire route is in San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Postmile
!Exit
Exit number
An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore....
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=11|San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
|0.32
|
|La Jolla Parkway
|Continuation beyond I-5
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|0.32
|1A
|
|No exit number eastbound; no access from SR 52 east to I-5 north
|-
|1.35
|1B
|Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Regents Road
|Signed as exit 1 eastbound
|-
|2.29
|2
|Genesee Avenue
|
|-
|3.76
|3
|
|
|-
|5.49
|5
|Convoy Street
|
|-
|6.60
|6
|
|
|-
|6.93
|7
|Kearny Villa Road
|
|-
|7.31
|7
|
|
|-
|8.71
|8
|Santo Road
|
|-
|13.27
|13
|Mast Boulevard
|
|-
|rowspan=6|Santee
Santee, California
Santee is a suburban city in San Diego County, California with a population of 53,413 at the 2010 census. Although it is a part of the East County region, Santee is located just from the Pacific Ocean. The city is connected to the coastline by State Route 52, a six-lane freeway that runs from...
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|14.77
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|14
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Mission Gorge Road
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-
|14.77
|15A
|
|Signed as exit 15 eastbound
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|
|15B
|Fanita Drive
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|
|17
|Cuyamaca Street
|
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|
|18A
|Magnolia Avenue
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-
|
|18
|
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; signed as exits 18B (south) and 18C (north)