California State Route 252
State Route 252 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
SR 252 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by Caltrans | ||||
| Existed | 1964–1994 | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  I-5 in San Diego | |||
| East end |  I-805 in San Diego | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | California | |||
| Counties | San Diego | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
State Route 252 was to connect I-5 to I-805, and provide almost direct access from I-805 to I-5, near the southern terminus of SR 15 in San Diego. Only the ramps extending westward from I-805 to 43rd Street were constructed. In the early 1990s, the project was cancelled, and the route was removed from the highway system.
Route description
The route would have run parallel to, and approximately halfway between, the current alignment of SR 94 and SR 54; it would have connected I-5 and I-805 through the Chollas Creek channel. The only other interchange would have been at 43rd Street and Highland Avenue.[1][2] The only portion constructed is the ramps between I-805 and 43rd Street, in southern San Diego, approximately 0.5 miles (0.80 km) long. The ramps to and from northbound I-805 are built in a wide arch over the interchange, and extend into National City. The roadway intersects 43rd Street; opposite the terminus is the Southcrest Park Plaza shopping center.[3]
History
SR 252 was defined as Route 283 in 1959,[4] and was redesignated as Route 252 in the 1964 state highway renumbering.[5] The California Highway Commission reviewed a 1.8-mile (2.9 km) proposal for the route in 1965.[6] It was known as the El Toyon Freeway, and plans were to use it to balance the congestion between I-5 and I-805. By 1973, there was opposition based on concerns that it would split the community; according to an engineer from Caltrans, it was "a white man's freeway vs. a black community." If the freeway was not constructed, the federal government would stand to lose $10 million.[7] The Black Federation, an activist group, took part in this opposition by conducting economic surveys and bringing attention to the area.[8] The Comprehensive Planning Organization in 1974 proposed widening arterial streets nearby as an alternative, even though the construction would affect 240 buildings.[9] Meanwhile, relocation of 280 households and the start of demolition had taken place.[10]
In 1975, the San Diego City Council reaffirmed the decision to build the freeway in a 6 to 3 vote.[8] Two years later, a local vote took place to determine what to construct or if SR 252 should be constructed; however, $4.4 million had already been spent to construct the 43rd street interchange with I-805. Alternate plans included a city street and constructing a below-grade freeway.[11] In 1978, the San Diego City Council reversed its support of the project.[8] By 1980, the California Transportation Commission had canceled plans to construct SR 252, due to the residential opposition.[12]
The city of National City made attempts to have the plans reinstated in 1986 to reduce congestion within city limits.[13] The city of San Diego opposed the idea of constructing an additional freeway, while the county supported it.[14] The state told Caltrans to sell the land to the city of San Diego, though National City expressed interest in purchasing it, even though there would be San Diego city permits needed to construct a freeway on it.[15] National City then sued the state, but agreed to drop the suit in exchange for $10 million in traffic improvements on behalf of the city of San Diego.[16]
In 1993, the San Diego Association of Governments and Caltrans planned to have SR 252, along with SR 157 and SR 171, officially removed; the abandoned land was to be used for residential purposes.[12] The state legislature removed SR 252 from the state highway system in 1994.[17]
The existing ramps were completed in 1975.[13] The land for the freeway was used for Cesar Chavez Elementary School, as well as Southcrest Trails Neighborhood Park and a grocery store. The park, which was completed in 2018, contains a central installation known as "A Place to Call Home", referencing the history of the site.[8][18]
Junction list
The entire route was in San Diego, San Diego County.
| mi[3] | km | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 43rd Street | Western terminus | ||
| 0.5 | 0.80 | I-805 | Eastern terminus | ||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
- ^ "Highway 252: Will Extension Help Flow Of Traffic?". The San Diego Union. December 18, 1974. p. B11.
- ^ City of San Diego (May 14, 2002). "Chollas Creek Enhancement Program" (PDF). p. 61. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Google (September 23, 2013). "SR 252" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
- ^ California State Assembly. An act to amend Sections 306, 320, 332, 351, 362, 365, 369, 374, 382, 388, 397, 407, 408, 409, 410, 415, 422, 435, 440, 446, 453, 456, 460, 467, 470, 476, 487, 492, 493, 494, 506, 521, 528, and 529... 1959 Session of the Legislature. Statutes of California. State of California. Ch. 1062, p. 3121.
- ^ California State Assembly. An act to add Section 253 and Article 3 (commencing with Section 300) to Chapter 2 of Division 1 of, and to repeal Section 253 and Article 3 (commencing with Section 300) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of, the... 1963 Session of the Legislature. Statutes of California. State of California. Ch. 385, p. 1182.
- ^ "County Freeway Routes OK'd". The San Diego Union. April 20, 1965. p. B14.
- ^ Staff (December 5, 1973). "Engineer Says Coast Guard Delays Interstate 5 Project". The San Diego Union. p. B3.
- ^ a b c d Bowen, Andrew (May 16, 2023). "The Freeway Revolts" (Podcast). KPBS.
- ^ Harrison, Donald (December 29, 1974). "CPO Lists Alternatives To State 252". The San Diego Union. p. B1.
- ^ "New Uses Proposed For Site Of Freeway". The San Diego Union. December 29, 1974. p. B1.
- ^ Williamson, Jennifer (December 21, 1977). "Voting Starts On Freeway issue". The San Diego Union. p. B3.
- ^ a b Showley, Roger (October 3, 1993). "Forget the Switzer Canyon Freeway (proposed in 1926)". San Diego Union-Tribune. p. H8.
- ^ a b Preble, Laura (April 4, 1986). "San Diego, National City renew battle for Route 252". Evening Tribune. San Diego. p. B8.
- ^ Krikorian, Greg (April 10, 1986). "Keep Rte. 252 as an option, supervisors say". The San Diego Union. p. II-14.
- ^ Baranger, Walt (April 25, 1986). "Rte. 252 corridor sale given state's tentative approval". The San Diego Union. p. B1.
- ^ Abrams, Michael (February 11, 1987). "S.D., National City agree to settlement of State 252 feud". The San Diego Union. p. B1.
- ^ California State Assembly. An act to amend Section 2982.2 of, and to add Section 3068.2 to, the Civil Code, to amend Sections 40084.5, 40088, and 40089 of the Education Code, to amend Section 29601 of, to amend and renumber Section 14035.6 of, to... 1993–1994 Session of the Legislature. Statutes of California. State of California. Ch. 1220.
- ^ Bowen, Andrew (June 13, 2023). "Public art emerges from the ashes of abandoned San Diego freeway project". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
External links
