Editing Interstate 8 (section)

====Finishing the freeway====
The final portion of I-8 in California, between Japatul Valley Road and west of Boulevard, was prioritized in the 1969–1970 state budget.<ref>{{cite news |title = 18 Highway Projects Get Top Priority |work = The San Diego Union |date = March 19, 1968 |last = Clance |first = Homer |page = C1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> Due to financial concerns, it was announced in September 1968 that the target date for completing the [[Interstate Highway System]] would be extended until 1974, from 1972. The missing portion of I-8 was expected to cost $45&nbsp;million and be constructed in three parts, with one part being started each year.<ref>{{cite news |title = Area's Freeways Losing Race With The Population |work = The San Diego Union |date = September 22, 1968 |page = B4 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The segments between Japatul Valley Road and west of Laguna Junction, and from La Posta Road to west of Boulevard, were delayed for an entire year at the end of 1969 due to a nationwide effort to fight inflation by reducing spending.<ref>{{Cite news |title = $26.8&nbsp;Million Freeway Jobs OKd in County |date = October 22, 1969 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> A {{convert|6.6|mi|km|adj=on}} segment from Buckman Springs to Crestwood received funding in May 1970, which would leave only an {{convert|8|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of the freeway uncompleted when built.<ref name="bidformore"/> The drive time from San Diego to El Centro had been reduced to two hours, according to the California Division of Highways.<ref name="fruition"/> By August 1970, the remainder of the freeway had been funded, with the part from Japatul Valley Road to Laguna Junction costing $22&nbsp;million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|22000000|1970|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars),{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} and the Laguna Junction to Crestwood portion costing $15&nbsp;million<ref>{{Cite news |title = Area Freeway Work Costs $107.5&nbsp;Million |last = Clance |first = Homer |date = August 9, 1970 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|15000000|1970|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars).{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}}

In May 1971, El Centro Mayor Alex Gay requested that passing lanes be added to the remaining two-lane part of I-8 in between El Centro and San Diego due to the frequent traffic jams in between Japatul Valley and Crestwood. At this time, this was the only missing link through the mountains.<ref>{{cite news |title = Improving of Highway Link Sought |work = The San Diego Union |date = May 10, 1971 |author = Staff |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> Bidding took place on the $16.5&nbsp;million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|16500000|1971|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} La Posta Road to Crestwood Road and the Japatul Valley Road to Sunrise Highway portions in November 1971.<ref>{{cite news |title = Interstate 8 Bids Called By State |work = The San Diego Union |date = November 26, 1971 |author = Staff |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> As part of this series of projects, the highest concrete bridge in the state at the time was to be built at {{convert|430|ft|m|abbr=on}} over Pine Valley Creek on the segment between Japatul Valley Road and Sunrise Highway. The contract came in at $22.6&nbsp;million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|22600000|1972|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars),{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} over $5&nbsp;million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|5000000|1972|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} beyond budget due to the difficulty of the bridge construction. All three of the projects to complete I-8 were projected to be complete by mid-1974.<ref>{{cite news |title = 430-Foot-High Bridge Planned For Route 8 |work = The San Diego Union |date = February 20, 1972 |last = Stewart |first = John |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> However, in March 1972, it was announced that the La Posta Road portion of the project would be delayed due to budget troubles.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Money Problems Delay $150&nbsp;Million in Freeway Work |last = Kistler |first = Robert |date = March 29, 1972 |work = Los Angeles Times |page = A1 |oclc = 3638237 }}</ref>

By the beginning of 1974, the new projected completion date for I-8 was mid-1975, with {{convert|22|mi|km|abbr=on}} of two-lane highway remaining.<ref>{{cite news |title = Public's Mood Shifts Away From Freeways |work = The San Diego Union |date = January 8, 1974 |page = X16 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The Pine Valley Creek bridge and the segment extending from Japatul Valley Road to Pine Valley was dedicated on November&nbsp;24, 1974, and was scheduled to open on November&nbsp;26; this left {{convert|8|mi|km|abbr=on}} of freeway to be constructed.<ref>{{cite news |title = Pine Valley Creek Bridge Dedicated |work = The San Diego Union |date = November 24, 1974 |pages = B1, B4 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The final stretch of I-8 in California, from Sunrise Highway to La Posta Road, was completed in May 1975.<ref name="finally"/>

The Buckman Springs rest area opened in January 1979 in eastern San Diego County.<ref>{{cite news |title = San Diego |work = Los Angeles Times |date = January 18, 1979 |page = SD2 |oclc = 3638237 }}</ref> In 1987, the first {{convert|65|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} speed limit sign was posted east of El Cajon, the first one in the state; the speed limit on all I-8 east of El Cajon, except for the Mountain Springs Grade portion, was raised similarly.<ref>{{Cite news |title = 1st 65&nbsp;mph Sign Put Up East of El Cajon |last = Padilla, Steve |date = May 30, 1987 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref>