State Route 163 (SR163), or the Cabrillo Freeway, is a state highway in San Diego, California. The 11.088-mile (17.844km) stretch of the former US 395 freeway runs from downtown San Diego just south of an interchange with Interstate 5 (I-5), extending north through historic Balboa Park and various neighborhoods of San Diego to an interchange with I-15 in the neighborhood of Miramar. The freeway is named after Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the first European to navigate the coast of present-day California.

The historic section of freeway through Balboa Park south of I-8 was the first freeway in San Diego County and one of the first in California. Before 1964, this was the southernmost section of U.S. Route 395 (US395), which was truncated to Hesperia when it was replaced by I-15. This section is also designated as a State Scenic Highway.

Route description

The Cabrillo Freeway leading into downtown San Diego

Route 163 is defined in section 463 of the California Streets and Highways Code, and that the highway is "from Route 5 near Balboa Park in San Diego to Route 15 near Miramar Naval Air Station".

SR163 begins in downtown San Diego at an at-grade intersection with A Street and 11th Avenue. Shortly after, the freeway has an interchange with I-5 before entering Balboa Park. This 2.5-mile (4.0km) section of SR163 is built to parkway standards, featuring a wide, grassy median with trees, four through traffic lanes, and several very sharp curves, also passing under the Cabrillo Bridge. Shortly after leaving Balboa Park, SR163 has an interchange with I-8 in Mission Valley. North of this interchange, SR163 becomes a modern, Interstate-standard, eight-lane freeway. Continuing north, the freeway climbs uphill from Mission Valley to Linda Vista, where it has a partial interchange with I-805; traffic northbound on one freeway can only transfer only onto northbound of the other and southbound traffic can only transfer onto southbound direction of the other freeway. In Kearny Mesa, the freeway has a partial interchange with SR52, one of the biggest bottlenecks in San Diego County. The freeway then heads north to and merges with I-15 near Miramar, where the southern terminus of the high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes of I-15 are located. Ramps were built to allow traffic on SR163 to enter and exit the express lanes of I-15.

SR163 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System and is part of the National Highway System, a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration. SR163 is eligible to be included in the State Scenic Highway System, and is designated as a scenic highway in Balboa Park by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), meaning that it is a substantial section of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community.

History

The southernmost portion of the highway, running through Balboa Park, began construction in 1942 and opened in 1948 as part of US395; it was the first freeway in San Diego County and one of the first in California. The Cabrillo Freeway was also part of US80 from the late 1940s until 1964. This stretch of road has been called one of America's most beautiful parkways, and was designated a California Historic Parkway in 2002.

On May 17, 1995, former US soldier and plumber Shawn Nelson stole a tank from the National Guard armory and went on a destructive rampage throughout San Diego. Driving onto SR 163, the tank was eventually disabled when it became stuck on a traffic barrier, where Nelson was shot and killed by San Diego police.

Exit list

The entire route is in San Diego, San Diego County.

mikmExitDestinationsNotes
0.000.00—10th AvenueContinuation beyond Ash Street; south end of SR 163; northbound entrance only accessible from 11th Avenue and A Street
0.060.0971AAsh StreetNo exit number northbound
0.060.097I-5 north (San Diego Freeway)/ 4th Avenue– Los AngelesSouthbound exit is part of exit 1B; I-5 south exit 16
0.360.581BI-5 south (San Diego Freeway)/ Park BoulevardSouthbound exit and northbound entrance; I-5 north exit 16A
0.360.581BQuince Street– Balboa ParkNorthbound exit only
1.272.041CRichmond Street– San Diego Zoo, MuseumsNorthbound exit only
2.223.572ARobinson AvenueNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; serves Scripps Mercy Hospital, Hillcrest Medical Center at UC San Diego Health
2.223.572AWashington Street east (I-8 Bus.)Signed as exit 2B northbound; former US 80
2.223.572BWashington Street west (I-8 Bus.)No northbound exit; serves Scripps Mercy Hospital, Hillcrest Medical Center at UC San Diego Health
2.453.942C6th Avenue, University AvenueNo northbound exit
3.215.173I-8/ Hotel Circle– El Centro, BeachesSigned as exits 3A (east) and 3B (west); I-8 east exits 4B-C, west exits 4A-B
3.846.184Friars RoadNorthbound exit is part of exit 3B
5.268.475Genesee AvenueSigned as exits 5A (east) and 5B (west) northbound; serves Sharp Memorial Hospital
6.019.676Mesa College Drive / Kearny Villa RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; serves Sharp Memorial Hospital
6.5110.487AI-805 north (Jacob Dekema Freeway)– Los AngelesNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; I-805 south exit 20
6.5110.487AI-805 south (Jacob Dekema Freeway)– Chula VistaSouthbound exit and northbound entrance; I-805 north exit 20B
7.4812.047BBalboa AvenueFormer SR 274
8.2813.338Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
9.0214.529ASR52 eastNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; SR 52 exit 6
9.0214.529BSR52 westSigned as exit 9 southbound; no northbound entrance; SR 52 exit 6
10.3116.5910Kearny Villa RoadFormer US 395
—I-15 Express Lanes northNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
11.2318.07—I-15 north (Escondido Freeway)– EscondidoNo access to I-15 south; I-15 south exit 12
1.000mi = 1.609km; 1.000km = 0.621mi Electronic toll collectionIncomplete access

See also

  • California Roadsportal

External links

  • from California @ AARoads.com
  • from California Highways