CA RxR 4.02: I-8 and US 80 Between El Cajon and the Arizona Border

[cahwyguy]

The next episode of the CA Route by Route podcast is up. Here's the description: This is Episode 4.02, which continues our exploration of Route 8, better known as Interstate 8. In this episode, we focus on the portion of I-8 from La Mesa (just outside of San Diego) to the Arizona border. We look at not only current I-8, but the routing of the predecessor route, US 80. We discuss the communities of La Mesa and El Cajon, Alpine and Descanso, Boulevard, the Mountain Springs Grade, Jacumba, Ocatillo (with a digression on the Imperial Highway), El Centro, Holtville and the Algondenes Dunes (with a digression on the Plank Road), Winterhaven and Yuma. We also briefly talk about the interesting routing of US 80 within Arizona, and how it differs from I-8. We talk about historical routings, projects along the route, and some significant names. In the next episode, we'll turn our attention to Route 9, which currently runs from Santa Cruz to Los Gatos, but which once ran all the way to Castro Valley.

CARouteByRoute link: https://caroutebyroute.org/2025/11/07/ca-rxr-4-02-i-8-and-us-80-between-el-cajon-and-the-arizona-border/
Spotify link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/caroutebyroute/episodes/CA-RxR-4-02-I-8-and-US-80-Between-El-Cajon-and-the-Arizona-Border-e3alh3q/a-ac8njnc

Ready, set, discuss.

[ClassicHasClass]

Always loved the Plank Road. Plus, you can go plinking on plonk while you plunk on planks.

[Quillz]

That segment of I-8 has the widest interstate median in the country, IIRC. The lanes are over a mile apart at some point.

[pderocco]

Just south of there, the two sides of Mexico route 2D are about three miles apart. One of these days, I should drive that, since it would be an easy day trip for me.