California 94
Routing
California 94 is an east-west route between San Diego and Boulevard via Jamul and Campo, coming close to the international border with Mexico several times. Most of the state route is two lanes, with the section between Tecate Junction and San Diego part of the National Highway System. While traffic counts are lower in the eastern sections of the state route, traffic steadily increases as one travels west. The section of California 94 between Rancho San Diego and downtown San Diego is a freeway.
Despite its length and importance, California 94 does not leave San Diego County for its entire journey.
Naming
Starting as a freeway near downtown, California 94 is also known as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freeway between Interstate 5 and California 125. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Freeway has more signs bearing the name of the slain civil rights leader than any other in Southern California. This is due to a major sign replacement project that occurred in 1998-1999 and brought the first reflective overhead guide signs to San Diego. California 94 was one of the first freeways in San Diego to receive reflective signs, because the newer signs meet the new Caltrans signing standard for reflective signage. According to a San Diego Union-Tribune article from April 25, 1999, the freeway was designated as the Martin Luther King Junior Freeway in 1989, but the Senator Waddie Deddeh indicated at the time that private contributions (not tax funds) would cover the cost of any sign installations with the Martin Luther King Junior name. However, in September 1998, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) authorized the expenditure of $1.4 million by the city of San Diego from its share of a half-cent, countywide sales tax.
History
The following list provides the opening dates for the California 94 freeway, courtesy of C.J. Moon:
- Interstate 5 to 22nd Street – Circa 1963
- 22nd Street to 32nd Street – Circa 1959
- 32nd Street to California 15 – Circa 1959 (widened January 13, 1972)
- California 15 to Las Chollas Creek – Circa 1951 (widened Circa 1958)
- Las Chollas Creek to Interstate 805 – Circa 1957 (widened September 17, 1969)
- Interstate 805 to Euclid Avenue – Circa 1957 (widened January 29, 1974)
- Euclid Avenue to Federal Blvd On Ramp – Circa 1956 (widened June 4, 1980)
- Federal Blvd to College Grove Way – Circa 1956 (widened September 17, 1969)
- College Grove Way to College Avenue – Circa 1956 (widened September 23, 1971)
- College Avenue to Broadway On Ramp – Circa 1956 (widened September 17, 1969)
- Broadway On Ramp to Grove Street – Circa 1957 (widened September 17, 1969)
- Grove Street to California 125 – Circa 1957 (widened September 21, 1989)
- California 125 to Campo Road – September 21, 1976
- Campo Road to Bancroft – September 21, 1976 (widened December 21, 1988)
- Bancroft to Kenwood Drive – Circa 1963 (widened July 24, 1970)
- Kenwood Drive to Sweetwater Springs – July 24, 1970
- Sweetwater Springs to Avocado Boulevard – July 24, 1970 (widened October 31, 1984)
California 94 Highway Guides
- Index
- Eastbound
- Westbound
| Scenes Pertaining to California 94 |
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Traveling south on 16th Street, this trailblazer shield for California 94 is posted prior to the F Street intersection in the East Village neighborhood of downtown San Diego. Continue south on 16th Street to G Street to connect to California 94 east. Photos taken 01/26/09. |
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One block south, this shield is posted along southbound 16th Street prior to the G Street intersection in the East Village neighborhood of downtown San Diego. To the east, California 94 begins in just a few blocks from here. Photos taken 01/26/09. |
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Built in 1929, the Sweetwater River bridge used to carry California 94 east from Rancho San Diego toward Jamul, Campo, and points east. This through steel truss (Parker truss) bridge is the only of its kind in San Diego County. The bridge has three spans, is only 22.50 feet wide, was built by Pacific Iron and Steel Company of Los Angeles, and is 460 feet long. With such a narrow width, it eventually became obsolete, and the modern highway bridge replaced it. Currently, the bridge is maintained by San Diego County for pedestrians and bicyclists. All views look east. Photos taken 08/22/04. |
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Briefly looking west, this view shows the Sweetwater River bridge's original approach. Photo taken 08/22/04. |
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Reddish and pinkish hues dominate the sky as the sun sets on California 94 in the late-summer evening scene. These views look mostly to the east and south at a location between Cameron Corners and Boulevard in eastern San Diego County. Photos taken 08/22/04. |
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