California State Route 133
Encyclopedia
State Route 133 is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of California
. It connects SR 1
in Laguna Beach
through the San Joaquin Hills
with several freeways in Irvine
, ending at the SR 241
toll road
in the latter city. The portion north of SR 73
in Laguna Beach is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System
, and it is built as an expressway
from SR 73 to Laguna Canyon Road (just south of I-405
in Irvine). SR 133 is a freeway (the Laguna Freeway) to I-5, and a tollway (part of the Eastern Toll Road
) to SR 241 near the Santa Ana Mountains
.
SR 133 was constructed as a county road by the 1910s; the portion from I-405 to I-5 was upgraded to a freeway four decades later. Plans to extend the freeway south were canceled by the state, and the southern part of the road remains an undivided highway. In 1998, the majority of the Eastern Transportation Corridor opened, and the connector between I-5 and SR 241
was designated as a toll extension of SR 133.
) as Broadway in Laguna Beach
, a block from the Pacific Ocean. The name changes to Laguna Canyon Road as the highway leaves downtown Laguna Beach and enters Laguna Canyon
, soon narrowing to one lane in each direction. After entering the canyon, which lies between Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
(west side of SR 133) and Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park (east side of SR 133), the first major intersection is with El Toro Road (County Route S18). SR 133 widens to four lanes and becomes a highway after its interchange with the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road (SR 73
).
As it continues through the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, SR 133 follows a four-lane alignment on the west side of the canyon, moved from the old two-lane road in the center of the canyon in late 2006. Laguna Canyon Road splits to the northwest where the canyon ends in Irvine
. North of the park, the highway becomes the Laguna Freeway after crossing an at-grade intersection
with Laguna Canyon Road, followed by an interchange at exit 8, San Diego Freeway
(I-405
). SR 133 then continues as a freeway and serves Barranca Parkway and the Santa Ana Freeway
(I-5
). After crossing I-5, SR 133 becomes part of the Eastern Toll Road
along the northwest side of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
, crossing an interchange with Irvine Boulevard at exit 12 before ending at SR 241
. Toll booth
s are located on the south-facing ramps just north of Irvine Boulevard.
paved the county road through Laguna Canyon
, connecting State Highway Route 2 (the forerunner of U.S. Hwy. 101 and I-5) at Irvine
with Laguna Beach
, by 1917. The road was added to the state highway system in 1933 as Route 185, an unsigned designation. The entire route was added to the new California Freeway and Expressway System
in 1959; the planned upgrade had already been named the Laguna Freeway by the California Highway Commission
on November 26, 1957. The highway received a sign route number—State Route 133—in the 1964 renumbering.
Opening of the first—and only—piece of the Laguna Freeway was celebrated in Laguna Beach on October 1, 1952, connecting the north end of Laguna Canyon with a planned extension of the Santa Ana Freeway
at a trumpet interchange and bypassing the old route on Sand Canyon Avenue. There were initially no other interchange
s along the route. The state decided not to build the remainder of the freeway in late 1975, and in 1996 the portion south of SR 73
was removed from the Freeway and Expressway System. Widening of the part north of SR 73 to a four-lane expressway
was completed in late 2006, moving the road out of the canyon bottom and allowing better access to areas in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
.
A new State Route 231 was added to the state highway system in 1988, connecting I-5
northwest of Irvine with SR 91
, and in 1991 the south end was shifted southeast to the north end of SR 133, with the old route becoming SR 261
. To prevent the route from changing numbers as it crossed I-5, the southern portion was renumbered SR 133 in 1996, with the remainder becoming an extended SR 241
. The Eastern Transportation Corridor, which includes SR 133 north of I-5, was completed on October 15, 1998, opening a new shortcut from Orange County to the northeast.
The entire route is in Orange County
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Postmile
!Exit
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Laguna Beach
|0.00
|
|
|Former US 101 Alt.
|-
|3.42
|
|
|
|-
|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Interchange; no access from SR 133 north to SR 73 south
|-
|rowspan=8|Irvine
|
|
|Lake Forest Drive
|
|-
|7.71
|
|Laguna Canyon Road
|
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|South end of freeway
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|8.38
|8
|
|Signed as exits 8A (south) and 8B (north) southbound; no access from I-405 north to SR 133 north; former SR 7
|-
|8.93
|9
|Barranca Parkway
|
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|9.57
|10
|
|Signed as exits 10A (north) and 10B (south) southbound; no access from I-5 north to SR 133 south; former US 101
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|South end of toll road
|-
|11.90
|12
|Irvine Boulevard
|
|-
|
|13.64
|14
|, Santa Margarita
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance; signed as 14A (north) and 14B (south); Orange Grove Toll Plaza is located on the interchange with SR 241 northbound
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It connects SR 1
California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
in Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach is a seaside resort city and artist community located in southern Orange County, California, United States, approximately southwest of the county seat of Santa Ana...
through the San Joaquin Hills
San Joaquin Hills
The San Joaquin Hills are a set of low hills in coastal Orange County, California. They extend in a northwest-southeast direction, starting in the northwest in Newport Beach at the southern edge of the Los Angeles Basin, and extending southeast to San Juan Capistrano.-Geography and habitats:Named...
with several freeways in Irvine
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
, ending at the SR 241
California State Route 241
State Route 241 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. For its entire run, Route 241 is a toll road. Its northern half is part of the Eastern Toll Road while its southern half is part of the Foothill Toll Road....
toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
in the latter city. The portion north of SR 73
California State Route 73
State Route 73 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. The route runs from Interstate 405 to Interstate 5 through the San Joaquin Hills in Orange County. From its northern terminus, the first three miles of the highway are called the Corona del Mar Freeway; this section of highway...
in Laguna Beach is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System
California Freeway and Expressway System
The California Freeway and Expressway System is a system of existing or planned freeways and expressways in the U.S. state of California. It is defined by the Streets and Highways Code.-List of roads in the system:*State Route 1 *State Route 2...
, and it is built as an expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
from SR 73 to Laguna Canyon Road (just south of I-405
Interstate 405 (California)
Interstate 405 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass of Interstate 5, running along the western areas of the Greater Los Angeles Area from Irvine in the south to near San Fernando in the north...
in Irvine). SR 133 is a freeway (the Laguna Freeway) to I-5, and a tollway (part of the Eastern Toll Road
Eastern Toll Road (California)
Eastern Toll Road may refer to:* California State Route 261, connecting 241 and Interstate 5* California State Route 133, in southern California* California State Route 241, part of both the Eastern Toll Road and the Foothill Toll Road...
) to SR 241 near the Santa Ana Mountains
Santa Ana Mountains
The Santa Ana Mountains are a short peninsular mountain range along the coast of Southern California in the United States. They extend for approximately 36 mi southeast of the Los Angeles Basin largely along the border between Orange and Riverside counties.- Geography :The range starts in the...
.
SR 133 was constructed as a county road by the 1910s; the portion from I-405 to I-5 was upgraded to a freeway four decades later. Plans to extend the freeway south were canceled by the state, and the southern part of the road remains an undivided highway. In 1998, the majority of the Eastern Transportation Corridor opened, and the connector between I-5 and SR 241
California State Route 241
State Route 241 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. For its entire run, Route 241 is a toll road. Its northern half is part of the Eastern Toll Road while its southern half is part of the Foothill Toll Road....
was designated as a toll extension of SR 133.
Route description
State Route 133 begins at the Pacific Coast Highway (SR 1California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
) as Broadway in Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach is a seaside resort city and artist community located in southern Orange County, California, United States, approximately southwest of the county seat of Santa Ana...
, a block from the Pacific Ocean. The name changes to Laguna Canyon Road as the highway leaves downtown Laguna Beach and enters Laguna Canyon
Laguna Canyon
Laguna Canyon is a canyon, formerly a water gap, that cuts through the San Joaquin Hills in southern Orange County in the U.S. state of California, directly west of the city of Irvine...
, soon narrowing to one lane in each direction. After entering the canyon, which lies between Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is located in Laguna Beach, California. It is a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers. It gains over in elevation....
(west side of SR 133) and Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park (east side of SR 133), the first major intersection is with El Toro Road (County Route S18). SR 133 widens to four lanes and becomes a highway after its interchange with the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road (SR 73
California State Route 73
State Route 73 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. The route runs from Interstate 405 to Interstate 5 through the San Joaquin Hills in Orange County. From its northern terminus, the first three miles of the highway are called the Corona del Mar Freeway; this section of highway...
).
As it continues through the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, SR 133 follows a four-lane alignment on the west side of the canyon, moved from the old two-lane road in the center of the canyon in late 2006. Laguna Canyon Road splits to the northwest where the canyon ends in Irvine
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
. North of the park, the highway becomes the Laguna Freeway after crossing an at-grade intersection
At-grade intersection
An at-grade intersection is a junction at which two or more transport axes cross at the same level .-Traffic management:With areas of high or fast traffic, an at-grade intersection normally requires a traffic control device such as a stop sign, traffic light or railway signal to manage conflicting...
with Laguna Canyon Road, followed by an interchange at exit 8, San Diego Freeway
Interstate 405 (California)
Interstate 405 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass of Interstate 5, running along the western areas of the Greater Los Angeles Area from Irvine in the south to near San Fernando in the north...
(I-405
Interstate 405 (California)
Interstate 405 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass of Interstate 5, running along the western areas of the Greater Los Angeles Area from Irvine in the south to near San Fernando in the north...
). SR 133 then continues as a freeway and serves Barranca Parkway and the Santa Ana Freeway
Santa Ana Freeway
The Santa Ana Freeway is one of the principal freeways in Southern California, connecting Los Angeles and its southeastern suburbs including the freeway's namesake, the city of Santa Ana. The freeway begins at the Four Level Interchange in downtown Los Angeles, signed as U.S. Route 101...
(I-5
Interstate 5 in California
Interstate 5 is a major north–south route of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. state of California. It begins at the Mexico – United States border at the San Ysidro crossing, goes north across the length of California and crosses into Oregon south of the Medford-Ashland metropolitan...
). After crossing I-5, SR 133 becomes part of the Eastern Toll Road
Eastern Toll Road (California)
Eastern Toll Road may refer to:* California State Route 261, connecting 241 and Interstate 5* California State Route 133, in southern California* California State Route 241, part of both the Eastern Toll Road and the Foothill Toll Road...
along the northwest side of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located near Irvine, California.Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the home of Marine Corps aviation on the West Coast. Designated as a Master Jet Station, its four runways could handle the largest aircraft...
, crossing an interchange with Irvine Boulevard at exit 12 before ending at SR 241
California State Route 241
State Route 241 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. For its entire run, Route 241 is a toll road. Its northern half is part of the Eastern Toll Road while its southern half is part of the Foothill Toll Road....
. Toll booth
Toll house
A tollhouse or toll house is a building with accommodation for a toll collector, beside a tollgate on a toll road or canal. Many tollhouses were built by turnpike trusts in England, Wales and Scotland during the 18th and early 19th centuries...
s are located on the south-facing ramps just north of Irvine Boulevard.
History
As part of its construction of concrete roads, started by a 1913 bond issue, Orange CountyOrange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
paved the county road through Laguna Canyon
Laguna Canyon
Laguna Canyon is a canyon, formerly a water gap, that cuts through the San Joaquin Hills in southern Orange County in the U.S. state of California, directly west of the city of Irvine...
, connecting State Highway Route 2 (the forerunner of U.S. Hwy. 101 and I-5) at Irvine
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
with Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach is a seaside resort city and artist community located in southern Orange County, California, United States, approximately southwest of the county seat of Santa Ana...
, by 1917. The road was added to the state highway system in 1933 as Route 185, an unsigned designation. The entire route was added to the new California Freeway and Expressway System
California Freeway and Expressway System
The California Freeway and Expressway System is a system of existing or planned freeways and expressways in the U.S. state of California. It is defined by the Streets and Highways Code.-List of roads in the system:*State Route 1 *State Route 2...
in 1959; the planned upgrade had already been named the Laguna Freeway by the California Highway Commission
California Highway Commission
The California Highway Commission was established in 1895 and continued until 1978 as the primary state highway bureaucracy in California.Their first noticeable efforts centered on the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road over the Sierra Nevada mountains...
on November 26, 1957. The highway received a sign route number—State Route 133—in the 1964 renumbering.
Opening of the first—and only—piece of the Laguna Freeway was celebrated in Laguna Beach on October 1, 1952, connecting the north end of Laguna Canyon with a planned extension of the Santa Ana Freeway
Santa Ana Freeway
The Santa Ana Freeway is one of the principal freeways in Southern California, connecting Los Angeles and its southeastern suburbs including the freeway's namesake, the city of Santa Ana. The freeway begins at the Four Level Interchange in downtown Los Angeles, signed as U.S. Route 101...
at a trumpet interchange and bypassing the old route on Sand Canyon Avenue. There were initially no other interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
s along the route. The state decided not to build the remainder of the freeway in late 1975, and in 1996 the portion south of SR 73
California State Route 73
State Route 73 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. The route runs from Interstate 405 to Interstate 5 through the San Joaquin Hills in Orange County. From its northern terminus, the first three miles of the highway are called the Corona del Mar Freeway; this section of highway...
was removed from the Freeway and Expressway System. Widening of the part north of SR 73 to a four-lane expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
was completed in late 2006, moving the road out of the canyon bottom and allowing better access to areas in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is located in Laguna Beach, California. It is a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers. It gains over in elevation....
.
A new State Route 231 was added to the state highway system in 1988, connecting I-5
Interstate 5 in California
Interstate 5 is a major north–south route of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. state of California. It begins at the Mexico – United States border at the San Ysidro crossing, goes north across the length of California and crosses into Oregon south of the Medford-Ashland metropolitan...
northwest of Irvine with SR 91
California State Route 91
State Route 91 is a major east–west freeway located entirely within Southern California and serving several regions of the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area...
, and in 1991 the south end was shifted southeast to the north end of SR 133, with the old route becoming SR 261
California State Route 261
State Route 261 is a tollway in the U.S. state of California that is part of the Eastern Transportation Corridor system. It connects State Route 241 with Interstate 5...
. To prevent the route from changing numbers as it crossed I-5, the southern portion was renumbered SR 133 in 1996, with the remainder becoming an extended SR 241
California State Route 241
State Route 241 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. For its entire run, Route 241 is a toll road. Its northern half is part of the Eastern Toll Road while its southern half is part of the Foothill Toll Road....
. The Eastern Transportation Corridor, which includes SR 133 north of I-5, was completed on October 15, 1998, opening a new shortcut from Orange County to the northeast.
Major intersections
- Note: Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured in 1964, based on the alignment as it existed at that time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage.
The entire route is in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Postmile
!Exit
Exit number
An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore....
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach is a seaside resort city and artist community located in southern Orange County, California, United States, approximately southwest of the county seat of Santa Ana...
|0.00
|
|
|Former US 101 Alt.
|-
|3.42
|
|
|
|-
|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|
|bgcolor=#ffdddd|Interchange; no access from SR 133 north to SR 73 south
|-
|rowspan=8|Irvine
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
|
|
|Lake Forest Drive
|
|-
|7.71
|
|Laguna Canyon Road
|
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|South end of freeway
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|8.38
|8
|
|Signed as exits 8A (south) and 8B (north) southbound; no access from I-405 north to SR 133 north; former SR 7
|-
|8.93
|9
|Barranca Parkway
|
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|9.57
|10
|
|Signed as exits 10A (north) and 10B (south) southbound; no access from I-5 north to SR 133 south; former US 101
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|South end of toll road
|-
|11.90
|12
|Irvine Boulevard
|
|-
|
|13.64
|14
|, Santa Margarita
Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Rancho Santa Margarita is a city in Orange County, California. One of Orange County's youngest cities, Rancho Santa Margarita is a master planned community set upon rolling hills. Most neighborhoods in Rancho Santa Margarita are within various homeowners associations...
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance; signed as 14A (north) and 14B (south); Orange Grove Toll Plaza is located on the interchange with SR 241 northbound