Editing Interstate 8 (section)

===San Diego area===
The freeway that would become I-8 was constructed in the mid-20th century through the San Diego area. The section west of I-5 was originally part of SR&nbsp;109, and was added to I-8 in 1972. In later years, the [[California Department of Transportation]] (Caltrans) made efforts to widen the freeway as congestion increased.

====Initial construction====
{{see also|U.S. Route 80 in California}}
Much of Alvarado Canyon Road from San Diego to La Mesa was originally built between 1947 and 1950, a bypass of the old US&nbsp;80 routing along El Cajon Boulevard and La Mesa Boulevard.<ref name="chpw">{{cite journal |title = Alvarado Canyon |author = Mack, Joseph |journal = California Highways and Public Works |date = May–June 1950 |volume = 29 |issue = 4 |pages = 42–43 |oclc = 7511628 }}</ref> Work began to convert the original US&nbsp;80 [[divided highway]] into a freeway in 1960,<ref>{{Cite news |title = State Asks Bids For Link in U.S. 80 Project Here |date = January 6, 1959 |work = The San Diego Union |page = A13 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> and the freeway was complete west of El Cajon by April 1962.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Freeway Link Opens Tomorrow on U.S.&nbsp;80 |date = April 23, 1962 |work = The San Diego Union |page = A18 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> Priority was given to planning US 80 in 1962 by the [[California Chamber of Commerce]].<ref>{{cite news |title = State C of C Urges New Roads in Area |work = The San Diego Union |date = August 23, 1962 |page = C17 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> In 1964, I-8 was officially designated by the California State Legislature, and the US 80 designation was removed.<ref name="renumbering"/><ref name="cite1963"/> By 1965, I-8 from Fairmount Avenue to El Cajon Boulevard was one of the first freeway stretches in the county to have a center barrier installed in the median.<ref>{{cite news |title = More Freeway Center Barriers Are Planned |work = The San Diego Union |date = January 7, 1965 |last = Brooks |first = Joe |page = A21 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref>

The Ocean Beach Freeway section west of I-5 was authorized as Route&nbsp;286 in 1959.<ref name="CA1959">{{cite CAstat |year=1959 |ch=1062 }}</ref> In 1962, four alternate routes were proposed for this part of the freeway, and for Rosecrans Street.<ref>{{cite news |title = Alternate Routes Studied For Midway Area Freeways |work = The San Diego Union |date = August 27, 1962 |page = A17 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> Route&nbsp;286 was renumbered to SR&nbsp;109 in the 1964 renumbering.<ref name="cite1963"/> Plans for the Old Town interchange between I-5 (formerly US&nbsp;101), I-8 (formerly US&nbsp;80), SR&nbsp;209 (Rosecrans Street), and SR&nbsp;109 date from 1962, although several concerns had to be taken into account, including the preservation of historical [[Old Town, San Diego|Old Town]] and keeping traffic through the area moving during construction. The goal was to begin the process in 1966, and complete the interchange in 1969.<ref>{{cite news |title = Light Industry Center Urged For Midway-Frontier Area |work = The San Diego Union |date = August 15, 1962 |page = A17 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title = $11&nbsp;Million Interchange Projected |date = March 16, 1965 |work = The San Diego Union |page = A15 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> There were concerns about a $3&nbsp;million shortfall in funding (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|3000000|1966|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} during May 1966, which caused the San Diego Chamber of Commerce Highway Committee to recommend the completion of SR&nbsp;109 as a project.<ref>{{cite news |title = Fund Loss Feared For State Highways Under Transit Plan |work = The San Diego Union |date = May 11, 1966 |page = A22 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> This was projected to be the final highway project before I-5 was completed in San Diego County.<ref>{{cite news |title = Interstate 5 Will Have 36 Interchanges For Easy Travel |work = The San Diego Union |date = August 1, 1966 |last = James |first = Paul |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref>

The building phase started on September 22, 1966, on the interchange that was to replace the intersection of Pacific Highway and Rosecrans Street. The cost of the interchange was projected to be $10.86&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite news |title = 'Stack' Like Plate Of Spaghetti |work = The San Diego Union |date = March 26, 1967 |last = Brown |first = Joe |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|10860000|1967|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars).{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} SR&nbsp;109 was planned to follow Camino del Rio up to the Frontier traffic circle, where the city of San Diego would resume construction; both SR&nbsp;109 and SR&nbsp;209 were to be built in the future.<ref>{{Cite news |title = $11&nbsp;Million Interchange To Link Freeways |date = December 4, 1966 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B4 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The eight-lane freeway was projected to relieve traffic in the Frontier Street area coming from the [[Pechanga Arena|San Diego Sports Arena]]. [[Construction bidding|Bidding]] for the SR&nbsp;109 contract was to begin in 1968, after the City Council endorsed the route in December 1967. Completion of both the interchange and SR&nbsp;109 was planned for early 1969.<ref name="feb">{{cite news |title = Interstate 5 and 8 Ramps to Close |work = The San Diego Union |date = February 27, 1968 |page = C1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> An interchange was planned at Midway Drive, and the western end of the freeway was to be at Sunset Cliffs and Nimitz boulevards.<ref>{{cite news |title = Council Approves 109 Freeway Route |work = The San Diego Union |date = December 29, 1967 |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The cost of the SR&nbsp;109 project was estimated to be $2.3&nbsp;million<ref name="obgb">{{cite news |title = Ground Broken For Beach Freeway |work = The San Diego Union |date = September 24, 1968 |page = C3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|2300000|1968|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars).{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}}

<!--[[File:Interstate8SD.jpg|thumb|right|Interstate 8 in San Diego near Mission Valley]]-->
The ramp from south I-5 to Camino del Rio opened in February 1968,<ref name="feb"/> and a second ramp from southbound I-5 to eastbound I-8 opened in August 1968, with the remainder of the project to be completed in summer 1969.<ref>{{cite news |title = Interstate 5–8 Revisions Due On Monday |work = The San Diego Union |date = August 3, 1968 |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The groundbreaking for the Ocean Beach Freeway took place on September 23, 1968, with the estimated completion to take place within 15 months.<ref name="obgb"/> However, rain in February 1969 delayed many construction projects across the county, including the SR&nbsp;109 extension.<ref>{{cite news |title = 2,000 To 3,000 Building Men Idled By Rain |work = The San Diego Union |date = February 25, 1969 |last = Clance |first = Homer |page = B8 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The entire project was completed in September, with the road scheduled to open in October.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Dedication of Ocean Beach Freeway Slated |last = Scarr |first = Lew |date = September 26, 1969 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> The routing of SR&nbsp;109 was officially added to I-8 in 1972.<ref>{{cite CAstat|year=1972|ch=1216}}</ref>

====Subsequent expansion====
Even before the freeway was complete in California, bidding began in 1964 on widening I-8 from six to eight lanes between near Fairmount Avenue and Spring Street, in San Diego and La Mesa.<ref>{{cite news |title = Bids on 4 Southland Road Projects Called |work = Los Angeles Times |date = March 24, 1964 |page = 22 |oclc = 3638237 }}</ref> Three years later, a contract was granted for the widening of the Fairmount Avenue to Ward Road stretch, adding two lanes to the freeway.<ref>{{cite news |title = Contract Let For Widening of Interstate 8 |work = The San Diego Union |date = March 31, 1967 |page = B11 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> In 1974, the San Diego City Council reached an agreement with state officials to improve I-8 from east of Pacific Highway to Texas Street, over the objections of Councilman Floyd Morrow, who objected to solving traffic issues by continuing to expand freeways. The cost was estimated to be $8&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite news |title = I-8 Freeway Improvement Pact OKd |work = The San Diego Union |date = February 20, 1974 |page = B4 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|8000000|1974|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars).{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}}

The La Mesa City Council asked the state to modify the interchange with SR&nbsp;125 in 1974; the original interchange did not allow for access to SR&nbsp;125 from I-8 east or to I-8 west from SR&nbsp;125.<ref>{{cite news |title = City Asks Interchange Construction |work = The San Diego Union |date = July 25, 1974 |author = Staff |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> Widening of the portion from SR&nbsp;125 to El Cajon Boulevard to five lanes in each direction was under way in October.<ref>{{cite news |title = Roadwork Begins In Area |work = The San Diego Union |date = October 31, 1974 |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> By 1981, the [[environmental impact report]] had been completed, and the $50&nbsp;million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|50000000|1981|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} project to add ramps and widen I-8 was awaiting clearance from the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Interchange Project Nears Green Light |work = The San Diego Union |date = May 20, 1981 |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> Additional ramps to SR&nbsp;67 were nearing completion in May&nbsp;1985,<ref>{{Cite news |title = El Cajon Freeway Ramps to Open Soon |last = Grimaldi, James |date = May 30, 1985 |work = Evening Tribune |page = B6 |oclc = 37687666 }}</ref> and were completed to I-15 north in October.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Ramps are Opened Between Northbound I-15 and I-8 |last = Jahn, Ed |date = October 25, 1985 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B2 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> In 1986, the project revamping the SR&nbsp;125 interchange was under way, at a cost of $80&nbsp;million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|80000000|1986|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars);{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} it would add two more lanes to I-8 from Jackson Drive to Fuerte Drive, and allow for SR&nbsp;125 to be extended north past I-8.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Detour-Sign Watchers Have Field Day at Interchange |last = Taylor, Kathie |date = December 5, 1986 |work = Evening Tribune |page = B22 |oclc = 37687666 }}</ref>

By 1977, traffic had reached 172,300&nbsp;vehicles a day, which had increased by nearly 10&nbsp;percent over the previous year. It was hoped that the construction of [[California State Route 52|SR&nbsp;52]] would help to reduce the congestion.<ref>{{cite news |title = Traffic Congestion Plagues Interstate 8 |work = The San Diego Union |date = May 1, 1977 |author = Hudson, Ken |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> A revised Mission Gorge Road eastbound exit opened in 1979, merging with traffic from I-15.<ref>{{cite news |title = New Mission Gorge Exit on I-8 to Open Today |work = Los Angeles Times |date = August 23, 1979 |page = SD A10 |oclc = 3638237 }}</ref> Traffic reached 212,000&nbsp;vehicles a day by February&nbsp;1981, and Caltrans declared I-8 east of I-805 the busiest highway in the region.<ref>{{Cite news |title = CalTrans Study Says Interstate 8 Stretch is Busiest Artery in Area |last = Fuentes, Henry |date = April 20, 1984 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> In 1987, Caltrans determined that I-8 west between College Avenue and Waring Road had the highest ratio of cars to number of lanes worldwide, at 2400&nbsp;cars per hour.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Interstate 8 from College Avenue to Waring is the Amazon of Freeways |last = Okerblom, Jim |date = September 20, 1987 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B6 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> Plans to add another lane to I-8 west from College Avenue to I-15 began in March&nbsp;1992.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Lane-Widening May Snarl Traffic on I-8 |last = Kucher, Karen |date = March 3, 1992 |work = San Diego Union-Tribune |page = B1 |oclc = 25257675 }}</ref>

Caltrans proposed the installation of a metered [[traffic signal]] on I-8 west in Lakeside during 1987, in order to improve traffic flow in the mornings by inserting a short delay before entering San Diego should the rate exceed 2,000&nbsp;vehicles per hour.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Stoplight on I-8 May Ease Traffic |last = Okerblom, Jim |date = October 28, 1987 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> However, the state put its plans on hold shortly thereafter, following several concerns from the public, and from state senator Jim Ellis.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Stoplight Turned Red by Protests |last = Carson, Daniel |date = October 29, 1987 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref>