Site Navigation Baja California California Colorado Idaho Hawaii Nevada New Mexico Oregon Utah Washington Wyoming     California 73 Routing California 73 is the Foothill Corridor, a privately-constructed toll road that begins in Laguna Nigel at Junction Interstate 5, then heads northwest through Laguna Hills and skirting the city of Irvine. The route stays mostly rural between Laguna Hills and Newport Beach, then becomes a free road at MacArthur Drive. California 73 then connects with Interstate 405, thus creating a short-cut for travelers along Interstate 5 who wish to reach Long Beach, Los Angeles International Airport, and points north. History The toll road segment from Interstate 5 to MacArthur Boulevard (called the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor) opened to traffic in November 1996. The Corona del Mar Freeway segment from MacArthur Boulevard to Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway opened to traffic in 1978 and is free of tolls. Prior to the completion of the toll road in 1996, California 73 was previously aligned onto MacArthur Boulevard south to end at California 1/Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. The southern endpoint changed to Interstate 5 once the freeway was constructed. When the private contractor built the California 73 Foothill Corridor in 1996, the overhead and roadside guide signs were installed with a non-standard color. The color used was a little bit bluer than the standard forest green used at that time for non-reflective, button-copy signage. Due to the substandard nature of the signs, Caltrans required the contractor to replace the semi-bluish signs with new reflective signage that is in conformance with the new standard. Highway Guide California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor north This view looks northwest as traffic splits from Interstate 5 north onto northbound California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor on the transition ramp from northbound Interstate 5. California 73 between Interstate 5 and the first exit (Greenfield Drive) does not require a toll, so motorists may use California 73 to reach Greenfield Drive without having to pay. Photo taken 07/27/02. California 73 north passes over the main lanes of Interstate 5 on the transition ramp. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor is Exit 2, Greenfield Drive. This exit serves Laguna Niguel and Laguna Hills. Photo taken 07/27/02. Greenfield Drive is the last exit before toll. Photo taken 07/27/02. California 73 approaches Exit 2, Greenfield Drive, one-quarter mile. Photo taken 07/27/02. Northbound California 73 meets Exit 3, La Paz Road. The next exit is for Aliso Creek Road. Photo taken 07/27/02. This view looks at northbound California 73's dual freeway arrangement as it passes over La Paz Road (Exit 3). Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor is Exit 4, Aliso Creek Road, next right. The next exit is for California 133, El Toro Road/Laguna Canyon Road. Photo taken 07/27/02. Northbound California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor reaches Exit 4, Aliso Creek Road. There are not many exits between California 133 and MacArthur Boulevard. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor is Exit 11, Newport Coast Drive. Much of this land is rural and undeveloped. These pictures were taken late on a summer day, hence why the sun angle has made these photos dark. Photo taken 07/27/02. Northbound California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor reaches Exit 11, Newport Coast Drive. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor is Exit 12, Bonita Canyon Drive, one-half mile. Photo taken 07/27/02. Northbound California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor reaches Exit 13, Bison Avenue. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor is Exit 14, MacArthur Drive and John Wayne Airport. Prior to the construction of the toll road, MacArthur Drive was former California 73. At that time, California 73 turned southwest to end at California 1 in Newport Beach. The toll road extension resulted in a realignment and extension of California 73. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor is Exit 15, Birch Street, one and one-quarter miles. The ramp overhead is the connector from northbound MacArthur Drive onto northbound California 73. This marks the northern end of the toll section; from here northward, California 73 is free of tolls. Photo taken 07/27/02. California 73/Corona Del Mar Freeway north This photo shows the transition from California 73/Corona Del Mar Freeway north to California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway south at Exit 17B. Photo taken 07/27/02. California 73/Corona Del Mar Freeway south After departing from Interstate 405, this trailblazer points the way south on California 73 toll road as an alternate route south to San Juan Capistrano and Interstate 5 to San Diego. Photo taken 07/12/04. Southbound California 73 reaches Exit 17B, Bear Street. The next exit is Exit 17A, Junction California 55 south (there is no access to California 55 north). Photo taken 07/12/04. Another trailblazer after the Bear Street interchange points the way south on California 73 toll road as an alternate route south to San Juan Capistrano and Interstate 5 to San Diego. Photo taken 07/12/04. The next exit along California 73/Corona Del Mar Freeway south is Exit 17A, Junction California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway south to Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. The toll road does not begin for another 3.25 miles. The right two lanes exit onto California 55. Photo taken 07/12/04. Southbound California 73 reaches Exit 17A, Junction California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway south. Photo taken 07/12/04. The next exit along California 73/Corona Del Mar Freeway south is Exit 16, Irvine Avenue and Campus Drive. The next exit is for Jamboree Road (Exit 15). Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/Corona Del Mar Freeway south is Exit 15, Jamboree Road. This is the same Jamboree Road that transitions into the California 261 toll road in Irvine. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/Corona Del Mar Freeway south is Exit 14B, University Drive. University Drive eastbound leads to the University of California at Irvine. The university sits snugly between University Avenue and the toll road. Photo taken 07/27/02. Southbound California 73 approaches Exit 14B, University Drive, next right. Photo taken 07/27/02. Southbound California 73 reaches Exit 14B, University Drive. The next exits along southbound are MacArthur Drive and Bison Avenue, the last exits before the toll road begins. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/Corona Del Mar Freeway south is Exit 14A, MacArthur Drive, one-half mile. Prior to the completion of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor in 1996, this was the last southbound freeway exits for nearly 20 years. California 73 used to depart the freeway here and travel south on MacArthur Boulevard to meet California 1/Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. Once the toll road was completed, California 73 was removed from MacArthur Boulevard, and the former state highway reverted to a city street. Photo taken 07/27/02. Southbound California 73 reaches Exit 14A, MacArthur Drive. This is the last exit before the toll road begins, although motorists have one more chance to exit (at Exit 13, Bison Avenue) before being charged a toll. Photo taken 07/27/02. California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor south Southbound California 73 meets Exit 13, Bison Avenue, the last exit before toll along southbound. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor south is Exit 12, Bonita Canyon Road. All through traffic will pay a toll for continuing south on California 73. Photo taken 07/27/02. Southbound California 73 reaches Exit 12, Bonita Canyon Road. Photo taken 07/27/02. Southbound California 73 reaches Exit 11, Newport Coast Road. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor south is Exit 7, California 133 (El Toro Road/Laguna Canyon Road), one mile. Photo taken 07/27/02. Southbound California 73 approaches Exit 7, California 133 (El Toro Road/Laguna Canyon Road), which connects to Laguna Beach and Laguna Woods. Photo taken 07/27/02. California 133/Laguna Canyon Road travels southwest to the city of Laguna Beach or northeast to Interstate 5, Interstate 5, and California 241. The last segment between Interstate 5 and California 241 is a toll road. This interchange also connects to Orange County Route S-18/El Toro Road. The highway was upgraded to expressway standards in 2008. Photo taken 07/27/02. Southbound California 73 meets Exit 7, Junction California 133/Laguna Canyon Road to Orange County Route S-18/El Toro Road. Photo taken 07/27/02. This view shows the signage posted for California 133 along the collector/distributor lanes along southbound. Photo taken 07/27/02. This sign for California 133 along the collector/distributor lanes along southbound is incorrect, as California 133 is not a freeway this far south. California 133 becomes an expressway and ultimately freeway as it heads north toward Interstate 405, and ultimately it is a toll road before ending at Junction California 241. Although plans have called for California 133 to be a freeway from Interstate 405 south to California 1, those plans have never come to fruition. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor south is Exit 4, Aliso Creek Road, two miles. Photo taken 07/27/02. Southbound California 73 approaches Exit 4, Aliso Creek Road, one mile. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor south is Exit 3, La Paz Road/Moulton Parkway, one-half mile. The mileage sign lists Moulton Parkway and Greenfield Drive as subsequent exits, but Moulton Parkway is really accessed via Exit 3. Note the non-reflective overlay used on the mileage for Moulton Parkway. Photo taken 07/27/02. Southbound California 73 approaches Exit 3, La Paz Road/Moulton Parkway, next right. Photo taken 07/27/02. Southbound California 73 reaches Exit 3, La Paz Road/Moulton Parkway. Photo taken 07/27/02. View of the actual exit signage for La Paz Road and Moulton Parkway on the collector-distributor lanes as seen from the main lanes along southbound California 73. Photo taken 07/27/02. The next exit along California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor south is Exit 2, Greenfield Drive, one-half mile. The next and final exit is for Interstate 5. Photo taken 07/27/02. Southbound California 73 reaches Exit 2, Greenfield Drive. Greenfield Drive connects to Crown Valley Parkway, which is a good route toward the newer communities of eastern Orange County. After this interchange, southbound California 73 prepares to merge onto Interstate 5/San Diego Freeway south. Photo taken 07/27/02. Page Updated September 22, 2004.