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State Route 163 (California)
Encyclopedia
State Route 163 the Cabrillo Freeway, is a state highway in San Diego, California
. It is an 11-mile (18-kilometre) stretch of freeway which was once the southern end of U.S. Route 395, the San Diego portion of which was eliminated in 1972. It begins in Downtown San Diego just west of an interchange with Interstate 5, extending north to its terminus at Interstate 15 at the south end of Miramar
.
and under the Cabrillo Bridge
. Emerging from Downtown San Diego on an intersection on Ash Street, it crosses Interstate 5
before entering Balboa Park. The section of Highway 163 south of Interstate 8 through Balboa Park is not Interstate standard, featuring a wide, grassy median with many mature trees. It has only four lanes for the most part and has several sharp curves (for a freeway). In an effort to improve safety along this section, wooden guardrails with steel reinforcement were installed in December 2004 on either side of the grassy median. The section of Highway 163 north of Interstate 8 is an Interstate-standard, eight-lane freeway. Just north of the interchange with I-8, the expressway treks north, climbing uphill from Mission Valley to Linda Vista, where it has an interchange with Genesee Avenue. After a northbound only exit with Mesa College Drive / Kearny Villa Road, the interchange with Interstate 805
is northbound only in the northbound direction and southbound only in the southbound direction. In Kearny Mesa, the expressway has interchanges with Balboa Avenue, and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, in which between the two interchanges, it gains a frontage road on both sides of the expressway. Following the Clairemont Mesa Blvd. interchange, it heads north to CA 52
, where it forms one part of one of the biggest bottlenecks in San Diego County
. The expressway then heads north to Kearny Villa Road, which was a former route of Interstate 15
, before terminating at the current I-15 near Miramar and the southern terminus of the reversible lanes of I-15.
This route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System
and is designated a State Scenic Highway
.
, was the first freeway in San Diego County and one of the first in California. This stretch of road has been called one of America's most beautiful parkways.
The entire route is in San Diego
, San Diego County
.
{| class=wikitable
!Postmile
!Exit
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|0.60
|1A
|Ash Street
|No exit number northbound; northbound exit only accessible from A Street
|-
|0.89
|1A
|
|Southbound exit is part of exit 1B
|-
|0.89
|1B
|
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|1.62
|1B
|Quince Street – Balboa Park
|Northbound exit only
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|1.80
|1C
|Richmond Street – San Diego Zoo
, Museums
|Northbound exit only
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|2.49
|2A
|Robinson Avenue
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-
|2.75
|2A
|Washington Street east (I-8 Bus.)
|Signed as exit 2B northbound
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|2.75
|2B
|Washington Street west (I-8 Bus.)
|No northbound exit
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|2.98
|2C
|University Avenue
|No northbound exit
|-
|3.74
|3
|, Beaches
|Signed as exits 3A (east) and 3B (west)
|-
|4.37
|4
|Friars Road
|Northbound exit is part of exit 3B
|-
|5.79
|5
|Genesee Avenue
|Signed as exits 5A (east) and 5B (west) northbound
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|6.54
|6
|Mesa College Drive, Kearny Villa Road
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|7.04
|7A
|
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|7.04
|7A
|
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance
|-
|8.01
|7B
|Balboa Avenue
|Former SR 274
|-
|8.81
|8
|Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
|
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|9.55
|9A
|
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|9.55
|9B
|
|Signed as exit 9 southbound; no northbound entrance
|-
|R10.84
|10
|Kearny Villa Road
|
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|R11.66
|
|
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
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...
. It is an 11-mile (18-kilometre) stretch of freeway which was once the southern end of U.S. Route 395, the San Diego portion of which was eliminated in 1972. It begins in Downtown San Diego just west of an interchange with Interstate 5, extending north to its terminus at Interstate 15 at the south end of Miramar
Miramar, San Diego, California
Miramar is a neighborhood in the northern part of the city of San Diego, California, USA. It includes residential areas and commercial and light industrial districts....
.
Route description
The southernmost 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) of Route 163 passes through Balboa ParkBalboa Park (San Diego)
Balboa Park is a urban cultural park in San Diego, California. The park is named after the Spanish maritime explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa...
and under the Cabrillo Bridge
Cabrillo Bridge
The Cabrillo Bridge in San Diego, California is a historic pedestrian and automobile bridge providing access between Balboa Park and the Uptown area of San Diego...
. Emerging from Downtown San Diego on an intersection on Ash Street, it crosses Interstate 5
Interstate 5 in California
Interstate 5 is a major north–south route of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. state of California. It begins at the Mexico – United States border at the San Ysidro crossing, goes north across the length of California and crosses into Oregon south of the Medford-Ashland metropolitan...
before entering Balboa Park. The section of Highway 163 south of Interstate 8 through Balboa Park is not Interstate standard, featuring a wide, grassy median with many mature trees. It has only four lanes for the most part and has several sharp curves (for a freeway). In an effort to improve safety along this section, wooden guardrails with steel reinforcement were installed in December 2004 on either side of the grassy median. The section of Highway 163 north of Interstate 8 is an Interstate-standard, eight-lane freeway. Just north of the interchange with I-8, the expressway treks north, climbing uphill from Mission Valley to Linda Vista, where it has an interchange with Genesee Avenue. After a northbound only exit with Mesa College Drive / Kearny Villa Road, the interchange with Interstate 805
Interstate 805
Interstate 805 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass of Interstate 5, running along the eastern areas of the Greater San Diego area from San Ysidro near the Mexico–U.S...
is northbound only in the northbound direction and southbound only in the southbound direction. In Kearny Mesa, the expressway has interchanges with Balboa Avenue, and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, in which between the two interchanges, it gains a frontage road on both sides of the expressway. Following the Clairemont Mesa Blvd. interchange, it heads north to CA 52
California State Route 52
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...
, where it forms one part of one of the biggest bottlenecks 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...
. The expressway then heads north to Kearny Villa Road, which was a former route of Interstate 15
Interstate 15 in California
In the U.S. state of California, Interstate 15 is a major north–south route through the San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego Counties, and it has a length of in the state. It is a major thoroughfare for traffic between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as points beyond...
, before terminating at the current I-15 near Miramar and the southern terminus of the reversible lanes of I-15.
This route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System
California 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 designated a State Scenic Highway
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...
.
History
The southernmost portion of the highway, running through Balboa Park, was designated a California Historic Parkway in 2002. This segment, which opened in 1948 as part of U.S. Route 395U.S. Route 395
U.S. Route 395 is a U.S. Route in the western United States. The southern terminus of the route is in the Mojave Desert at Interstate 15 near Hesperia. The northern terminus is at the Canadian border near Laurier, where the road becomes Highway 395 upon entering British Columbia. At one time, the...
, was the first freeway in San Diego County and one of the first in California. This stretch of road has been called one of America's most beautiful parkways.
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
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...
, 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
!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
|-
|0.60
|1A
|Ash Street
|No exit number northbound; northbound exit only accessible from A Street
|-
|0.89
|1A
|
|Southbound exit is part of exit 1B
|-
|0.89
|1B
|
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|1.62
|1B
|Quince Street – Balboa Park
Balboa Park (San Diego)
Balboa Park is a urban cultural park in San Diego, California. The park is named after the Spanish maritime explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa...
|Northbound exit only
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|1.80
|1C
|Richmond Street – San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, is one of the most progressive zoos in the world, with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species...
, Museums
|Northbound exit only
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|2.49
|2A
|Robinson Avenue
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-
|2.75
|2A
|Washington Street east (I-8 Bus.)
|Signed as exit 2B northbound
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|2.75
|2B
|Washington Street west (I-8 Bus.)
|No northbound exit
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|2.98
|2C
|University Avenue
|No northbound exit
|-
|3.74
|3
|, Beaches
|Signed as exits 3A (east) and 3B (west)
|-
|4.37
|4
|Friars Road
|Northbound exit is part of exit 3B
|-
|5.79
|5
|Genesee Avenue
|Signed as exits 5A (east) and 5B (west) northbound
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|6.54
|6
|Mesa College Drive, Kearny Villa Road
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|7.04
|7A
|
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|7.04
|7A
|
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance
|-
|8.01
|7B
|Balboa Avenue
|Former SR 274
|-
|8.81
|8
|Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
|
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|9.55
|9A
|
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|9.55
|9B
|
|Signed as exit 9 southbound; no northbound entrance
|-
|R10.84
|10
|Kearny Villa Road
|
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|R11.66
|
|
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance