California 133

Routing

California 133 is a short yet significant state route that resides entirely in Orange County. It starts its northerly journey as Laguna Canyon Road at California 1/Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. It is a well-traveled rural road between California 1 and Interstate 405 in Irvine, connecting to California 73 near Aliso Viejo. As it heads northbound, it transitions into a freeway between Interstates 405 and 5, and it becomes part of the Orange County Toll Road system north of Interstate 5. It is one of two state routes in Orange County that is partially free and partially toll (California 73 is the other). California 133 ends at California 241 (Foothill Corridor Toll Road) just north of Irvine in unincorporated Orange County.

Highway Guide

California 133/Broadway (Laguna Canyon Road) north
Looking from the boardwalk in Laguna Beach, this view looks north through the intersection with California 1/Pacific Coast Highway toward two-lane California 133/Broadway, which becomes Laguna Canyon Road upon leaving the core urban area. Photo taken 01/31/10.
After departing California 1/Pacific Coast Highway (southern terminus), California 133/Broadway (Laguna Canyon Road) passes through downtown Laguna Beach. The first traffic signal along California 133 north is with Beach Street. Photo taken 05/02/10.
California 133/Laguna Canyon Road north
After merging with Cliff Drive, northbound California 133/Laguna Canyon Road meets Forest Avenue at this traffic signal. The state highway now moves to leave the downtown area of Laguna Beach and proceed into Laguna Canyon, which is part of the city of Laguna Beach. Photo taken 05/02/10.
California 133 widens out to a four-lane divided highway standard as we leave the urbanized area. Note the divoted curbing along the median; this dates back to older state highway standards. Photo taken 05/02/10.
California 133 is designated as the Veterans Memorial Highway in addition to being called Laguna Canyon Road. Photo taken 05/02/10.
California 133/Laguna Canyon Road briefly narrows to a three-lane configuration prior to meeting El Toro Road and California 73. Photos taken 05/02/10.
Northbound California 133 next approaches a signalized intersection with Orange County Route S-18/El Toro Road east. To reach California 73 south, use Orange County Route S-18 east. Continue north on California 133 to reach California 73 north. Photo taken 05/02/10.
Use Orange County Route S-18/El Toro Road northeast to Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, and Mission Viejo. Orange County Route S-18 extends through these cities, then heads north along Santiago Canyon Road through Limestone Canyon Regional Park before turning west into the city of Orange. The county route is signed in places, but it is not well signed. No shields for the county route may be found currently along California 133. Photo taken 05/02/10.
Northbound California 133/Laguna Canyon Road meets Orange County Route S-18/El Toro Road northeast to California 73/San Joaquin Transportation Corridor south. To California 73, continue north on California 133. Photo taken 05/02/10.

Between El Toro Road and California 73, northbound California 133 widens to two lanes. Photo taken 05/02/10.
The next interchange along California 133/Laguna Canyon Road is with California 73. Since traffic to California 73 south used El Toro Road (Orange County Route S-18), there is only a ramp to northbound California 73 from California 133 north. Use the right lane to reach California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor northwest to Long Beach and Los Angeles. Photo taken 05/02/10.
The next traffic signal is the offramp from California 73 south to California 133. Stay right for the connection to California 73 north. Photo taken 05/02/10.
California 133 north prepares to pass under California 73. Photo taken 05/02/10.
The ramp from northbound California 133/Laguna Canyon Road to California 73 north is a loop ramp. Take a right onto the ramp, which loops 270 degrees onto northbound California 73. Photo taken 05/02/10.
Northbound California 133/Laguna Canyon Road meets the onramp to California 73 north. A California 133 north reassurance shield is posted on the traffic signal pole. Photo taken 05/02/10.
After leaving the California 73 interchange, California 133 proceeds north onto a relatively new expressway segment that extends from California 73 north to the Interstate 405 interchange. California 133 enters the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, which separates the urban areas of Laguna Beach from Irvine. Access to several hiking and open space areas is available from the expressway, which initially opened on August 13, 2004, and remained under construction through 2009. Photos taken 05/02/10.
This series of pictures shows northbound California 133/Laguna Canyon Road as it passes through the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park prior to completion of the expressway. After the expressway was completed on August 13, 2004, this highway was abandoned in favor of the new multi-lane, divided highway. Photos taken 05/30/04.
Northbound California 133/Laguna Canyon Road enters the city of Irvine as it continues northeast toward Interstate 405 and Interstate 5. Irvine, which incorporated on December 28, 1971, is a master planned city that is home to the University of California at Irvine and features a variety of developments and neighborhoods. Irvine a population of 143,072 as of the 2000 Census. Photo taken 05/02/10.
Northbound California 133/Laguna Canyon Road continues through the wilderness park in southern Irvine. The expressway configuration continues until the traffic signal with Laguna Canyon Road; at that point, California 133 will become the Laguna Freeway. Photos taken 05/02/10.
Northbound California 133/Laguna Canyon Road approaches the intersection with Laguna Canyon Road. At this intersection, California 133 will divert onto the Laguna Freeway, while Laguna Canyon Road will turn northwest to serve residential and commercial developments of Irvine. Photo taken 05/02/10.
The intersection between California 133 and Laguna Canyon Road is the only traffic signal between California 73 and Interstate 405. Photo taken 05/02/10.
Northbound California 133 separates from Laguna Canyon Road at this traffic signal. Photo taken 05/02/10.
California 133/Laguna Freeway north
The next interchange along California 133 north is Exits 8A-B, Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway. Photo taken 01/30/05.
Northbound California 133 reaches Exits 8A-B, Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway. The exit numbers are not present on this sign, but they are shown on the transition ramp (see next photobox). Despite the pull through sign mentioning California 133 is a toll road, no toll is required to access Interstate 5 north. Photo taken 05/02/10.
Use Exit 8A to follow Interstate 405 south to San Clemente and San Diego County; use Exit 8B to head north on Interstate 405 to Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica. There is no access to Interstate 5 south from California 133, so southbound traffic should use Exit 8A. Photo taken 05/30/04.
This gore point sign on the transition ramp from northbound California 133 to Interstate 405 is unusual in that the left lane becomes Exit 8B while the right lane becomes Exit 8A. Photo taken 05/30/04.
California 133 passes through the Interstate 405 interchange. Photo taken 05/02/10.
The next exit along California 133 north is Exit 9, Barranca Parkway. Photo taken 05/02/10.
Non-toll traffic to Riverside should use Interstate 5 rather than Toll California 133 north. Photo taken 05/02/10.
Northbound California 133/Laguna Freeway reaches Exit 9, Barranca Parkway. Photo taken 05/02/10.
The next exit along California 133/Laguna Freeway north is Exit 10, Junction Interstate 5/Santa Ana Freeway north to Santa Ana and Los Angeles. Photo taken 05/02/10.
Another set of signs along California 133/Laguna Freeway north advises of the toll road that begins after the Interstate 5 interchange. Photo taken 05/02/10.
The right two lanes of California 133/Laguna Freeway north connect to Exit 10, Junction Interstate 5/Santa Ana Freeway north to Santa Ana and Los Angeles. Photo taken 05/02/10.
Northbound California 133/Laguna Freeway reaches Exit 10, Junction Interstate 5/Santa Ana Freeway north to Santa Ana and Los Angeles. Continue north on California 133 to follow the Eastern Transportation Corridor north to California 91 en route to Riverside. At this point, California 133 shifts from the Laguna Freeway to the toll Eastern Transportation Corridor. Photo taken 05/02/10.
This view shows the divide between California 133/Eastern Transportation Corridor north and Interstate 5/Santa Ana Freeway north. Two lanes connect to either freeway. Photo taken 05/02/10.
This series of photos follows the transition ramp from California 133/Laguna Freeway north to Interstate 5/Santa Ana Freeway. The last picture shows the ramp passing under the main lanes of California 133/Eastern Transportation Corridor. Photos taken 05/02/10.
California 133/Eastern Transportation Corridor north
After the Interstate 5 interchanges, northbound California 133 reaches Exit 12, Irvine Boulevard. The final interchange along northbound is with California 241, the Foothill Corridor Toll Road. Photo taken 09/16/00.
Northbound California 133/Eastern Transportation Corridor meets Exit 14A, Junction California 241/Foothill Transportation Corridor south to Rancho Santa Margarita. This marks the northern terminus of California 133. Note the subway to the left in the interchange complex ahead; it provides the connection from northbound California 241 to southbound California 133. The left two lanes link to California 241 north via Exit 14B. A toll plaza is placed immediately after the transition from northbound California 133 onto northbound California 241. Photo taken 09/16/00.
California 133/Eastern Transportation Corridor south
California 133/Laguna Freeway south
This two pictures show the transition between Interstate 5 south and California 133/Laguna Freeway south. The sprawling interchange connects the toll road network with the Laguna Freeway. On the transition ramp, an offramp is available to Barranca Parkway. Photos taken 01/30/05.
Joining the mainline, the next two exits from California 133/Laguna Freeway south are Exit 9, Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway north to Long Beach and Exit 8, Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway south to San Diego. Photo taken 01/30/05.
California 133 is also designated as the Veterans Memorial Highway from Irvine southwest to Laguna Beach. Photo taken 01/30/05.
The right lane of California 133/Laguna Freeway south becomes exit only for Exit 9, Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway north to Long Beach. Use the left two lanes to continue south on California 133 or to connect to Exit 8, Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway south to San Diego. Photo taken 01/30/05.
Southbound California 133/Laguna Freeway reaches Exit 9, Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway north to Long Beach. The next exit along southbound is Exit 8, Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway south to San Diego. Photo taken 01/30/05.
The next exit along California 133/Laguna Freeway south is Exit 8A, Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway south to San Diego. Photo taken 01/30/05.
Southbound California 133/Laguna Freeway reaches Exit 8A, Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway south to San Diego. Photo taken 01/30/05.
Prior to completion of the expressway segment of California 133, the freeway used to narrow to two lanes (one in each direction). This changed with completion of widening in 2008. Photo taken 01/30/05.
After the interchange with Interstate 405, southbound California 133/Laguna Freeway narrows to two lanes and becomes a busy rural highway. At the time this photo was taken, construction was underway to expand California 133 to a four-lane expressway between Interstate 405 and California 73. This expressway segment first opened on August 13, 2004. Photo taken 01/30/05.
California 133/Laguna Canyon Road south
Prior to the completion of an expansion project in 2008, California 133 used to carry only two lanes as it passed through Laguna Canyon. Photo taken 03/30/03.
Southbound California 133 approaches Junction California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. Photo taken 03/30/03.
California 133 meets California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor (Toll) at this interchange. The first ramp links California 133 south to California 73 north. Use California 73 north to Long Beach as well as coastal cities, such as Newport Beach and Huntington Beach. However, it is not as scenic as California 1. Photo taken 03/30/03.
The next ramp connects California 133 south with California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor south. To the south, California 73 will travel several miles to meet with Interstate 5 in southern Orange County, and it provides a bypass around the junction of Interstate 5 and Interstate 405. Photo taken 03/30/03.
After the California 73 interchange, southbound California 133 approaches the intersection with El Toro Road (Orange County Route S-18). This is one of the few signed county routes in Orange County. Orange County Route S-18 follows a rather convoluted route from this intersection to the northeast toward Santiago Canyon. Photo taken 01/30/05.
California 133/Broadway (Laguna Canyon Road) south

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Page Updated October 3, 2010.

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