Westways magazine
Plank road across the desert between San Diego and Yuma, 1926.
Coast Highway US 101 / Interstate 5
California Highways & Public Works
Looking north on US 101 in what is now Camp Pendleton, in 1938. Location is what is now I-5 near Las Pulgas Road.
California Highways & Public Works
Southbound US 101 (now I-5) at Vista Way (CA 78) in 1954.
Northbound Coast Highway (Old US 101) at Anacapa Road in South Carlsbad, 1977. Three freeway style interchanges still existed at the time: Palomar Airport Rd, Anacapa Rd, and Ponto Rd. The last two had left lane on- and off-ramps for the southbound directions, so only the northbound lanes were bridged. These two were replaced with traffic lights in the 1980's.
California Highways & Public Works
Map of the south Carlsbad freeway in 1954. Note the connection with the current I-5 routing at Palomar Airport Road (then known as Las Encinas, the second interchange on the left).
The Barnett Ave interchange with Pacific Highway (old US 101) near MCRD. Wood railing was used instead of steel during World War II.
Interstate 15 / US 395 / California 163
California Highways & Public Works
1947 construction of the US 395 Cabrillo Freeway (now CA 163) at Washington Street, coming out of Balboa Park.
California Highways & Public Works
Original configuration of the US 395 / US 80 (now CA 163/I-8) Mission Valley interchange, built in 1947 and reconfigured in 1960 (and again in 1991).
California Highways & Public Works
Two lane US 395 (now I-15) being widened to four lanes. At Poway Road in 1965.
San Diego Evening Tribune
View north in 1975 from the median of I-15 near Mercy Road, with the Poway Road interchange in the distance. The bridge on the right originally carried both directions of traffic on US 395. New northbound lanes have since been built adjacent to the southbound lanes, with the old US 395 bridge used as a bike route.
1978: Newly rebuilt northbound lanes, near Poway Road. Reversible lanes were later added in the center median.
San Diego Evening Tribune
Looking south on I-15 from the Carmel Mountain Road overpass, 1975.
I-15 construction from eastbound CA78, Escondido, 1975.
CA 78 at old US395 (signed at the time as I-15) in 1975. I-15/US 395 was routed on what is now Centre City Parkway in Escondido (a previous alignment was a couple of blocks to the east on Escondido Blvd).
Opening day on the I-15 freeway through Escondido in 1977. Looking south near the Valley Parkway exit.
Transition from the old 395 routing to the new I-15 freeway in north Escondido. Taken on February 28, 1977, opening day for the I-15 freeway through Escondido.
I-15 construction near Deer Springs Rd, north of Escondido in 1977.
San Diego Evening Tribune
I-15 construction north of Escondido in 1979, looking south. Gopher Canyon Road is just off the bottom of this picture.
I-15 under construction in 1977, looking south from US 395 near CA 76. Lilac Rd bridge work is to the left at the top of the grade, and Shearer's Grade is in the center, climbing the hill.
San Diego Evening Tribune
Construction of the I-15 Lilac Rd overcrossing, south of Fallbrook, CA, 1977.
The I-15 Lilac Rd bridge in 2006.
South of California 76 there was a long grade on US 395 known as Shearer's Grade. Long backups were common here. You can still drive this stretch (called "Old Hwy 395"), here it is in 2006.
A couple of old postmile signs still stand on old 395.
Above: The Bonsall Bridge on California 76 in 1974. Below: No longer in use, 2006
