California State Route 76

The roadway carrying the SR 76 designation begins at County Route S21 (CR S21) in Oceanside, although Caltrans does not consider the road west of I-5 to be part of the route,{{Caltrans bridgelog|district=11|date=April 2016|access-date=August 26, 2016}} and it is not in the legal definition. There is soon an interchange with I-5, after which SR 76 becomes a four-lane expressway known as the San Luis Rey Mission Expressway. From I-5 to Mission Avenue, the highway parallels the San Luis Rey River until it passes by the Oceanside Municipal Airport. During this stretch, SR 76 intersects Loretta Street, Canyon Drive, Benet Road, Airport Road, and Foussat Road. There are two overpasses: one over Mission Avenue, and one over El Camino Real, before the road intersects Douglas Drive, the main road to the San Luis Rey gate of Camp Pendleton. After an intersection with Rancho Del Oro Road, SR 76 passes over Mission Avenue again before intersecting with Old Grove Road, Frazee Road, a turnoff into the Towne Center North shopping center, and College Boulevard.

File:Californiahighway76a.jpg

As it enters rural Oceanside, SR 76 intersects with North Santa Fe Avenue (CR S14), Guajome Lake Road (near Guajome County Park), and Melrose Drive. SR 76 intersects the southern segment of CR S13, known as East Vista Way, and passes over the San Luis Rey River on roughly parallel bridges before an intersection at North River Road. The highway passes through Bonsall, intersecting Via Montellano, Olive Hill Road, and Throughbred Lane. SR 76 then meets the northern segment of CR S13, known as South Mission Road, while heading north into Fallbrook; SR 76 is the primary road connecting the two portions of CR S13. Here, SR 76 becomes known as Pala Road. It intersects Via Monserate and Gird Road south of Fallbrook before crossing the former routing of US 395 and the current routing of I-15 in the community of Pala Mesa Village.{{google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/?ll=33.277732,-117.221718&spn=0.157576,0.266762&t=m&z=12|access-date=November 12, 2013|title=SR 76}}

SR 76 then goes through Pala and the Pala Indian Reservation, providing access to the Pala Casino and intersecting CR S16, the turnoff to the Pala Mission and Temecula. Continuing to parallel the San Luis Rey River, SR 76 passes by the Wilderness Gardens County Park before entering the community of Pauma Valley and meeting the southern terminus of CR S7 (Nate Harrison Grade), a dirt road leading into Palomar Mountain State Park. SR 76 intersects the southern leg of CR S6 (Valley Center Road), leading to Valley Center and Escondido. East of the small Yuima Indian Reservation, it then encounters the northern leg of CR S6, the southern approach to the Palomar Observatory and Palomar Mountain State Park, as well as the community of La Jolla Amago. It then briefly passes through the Cleveland National Forest and meets the eastern terminus of CR S7, the eastern approach to Palomar Mountain. SR 76 then passes along the shores of Lake Henshaw before terminating at the intersection with SR 79 at Morettis Junction, southeast of Lake Henshaw.{{Cite map | author=Thomas Brothers|publisher=Rand McNally | title=San Diego County Street Atlas | year=2009 | pages=409|scale=1:316,800|location=Chicago|oclc=263420904}}
{{Cite map | author=Thomas Brothers|publisher=Rand McNally | title=San Diego County Street Atlas | year=2009 | pages=1029, 1047–1049, 1051, 1067–1068, 1086–1087|scale=1:22,800|location=Chicago|oclc=263420904}}

File:CA SR 76 at SR 79.jpg

From I-5 to I-15, SR 76 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System,{{CAFESystem}} and west of Bonsall is part of the National Highway System,{{FHWA NHS map|region=sandiego|access-date=August 26, 2016}} a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration.{{FHWA NHS}} SR 76 is legally eligible to be included in the State Scenic Highway System,{{CA scenic}} but it is not officially designated as a scenic highway by the California Department of Transportation.{{Caltrans scenic|access-date=August 26, 2016}} The part of the highway from the western terminus to Douglas Drive is also named for Tony Zeppetella, an Oceanside police officer killed while on duty performing a traffic stop in 2003.{{CA Named Freeways | pages=47, 370}} In 2018, SR 76 had an annual average daily traffic (AADT) of 1,950 between East Palomar Road and the eastern terminus at SR 79, and 55,000 between I-5 and Loretta Street in Oceanside, the latter of which was the highest AADT for the highway.{{Caltrans traffic|year=2018|access-date=June 13, 2020}}

The road through the San Luis Rey Valley was planned as early as 1889 and was constructed during the early 20th century. It was added to the state highway system in 1933, while the condition of the highway continued to improve. The San Luis Rey Mission Expressway was eventually constructed during the 1990s and 2000s, and efforts to extend the expressway east to I-15 were completed during the 2010s.

Plans by the City of Oceanside for a road east through the San Luis Rey Valley to Fallbrook date from June 1889, and included a bridge over the San Luis Rey River.{{cite news | title=From Oceanside | work=The San Diego Union and Daily Bee | date=June 2, 1889 | oclc=13155544}} Construction on the bridge over the river at Bonsall had commenced by October 1906, and the bridge was to be {{convert|250|ft|m}} long.{{cite news | title=Surveys New Road | work=The San Diego Union and Daily Bee | date=October 4, 1906 | page=7|oclc=13155544}} In November, the road to the bridge was under construction; originally, the bridge was to serve the road from Escondido to Temecula.{{cite news | title=Building Road to New Bridge | work=The San Diego Union and Daily Bee | date=November 23, 1906 | page=12|oclc=13155544}} A survey was commissioned in 1908 to replace the road along the south bank of the river with one along the north bank to Pala, as the former was sandy and difficult for travel.{{cite news | title=Will Survey For Road to Bonsall | work=The San Diego Union and Daily Bee | date=December 22, 1908 | page=12|oclc=13155544}} State funding issues for the Pala road by May 1912 that prevented completion, though the planned road had been surveyed from Bonsall, where it met with the Escondido road, to Oceanside.{{cite news | title=Money Needed to Complete Roads Says Board | work=The San Diego Union and Daily Bee | date=May 8, 1912 | page=10|oclc=13155544}}

Flooding in January 1916 resulted in the closing of the pre-existing road between Bonsall and Pala; part of it reopened in October.{{cite news | title=Bonsall-Pala Road Opened For Traffic | work=The San Diego Union and Daily Bee | date=October 24, 1916 | page=1|oclc=13155544}} Nevertheless, {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}} of the road between Pauma Valley and Pala did not reopen for two years.{{cite news | title=Reopen Scenic Road Along San Luis Rey | work=The San Diego Union | date=October 2, 1918 | page=11|oclc=13155544}} Meanwhile, a road from Pala to Warner Springs neared completion in March 1918, though a bridge would be necessary for the road to be usable during the winter months.{{cite news | title='Mountain Empire Show Road' to be Completed May 1 | work=The San Diego Union | date=March 17, 1918 | page=15|oclc=13155544}} By mid-1921, plans were underway to pave Mission Avenue through the Oceanside city limits.{{cite news | title=City Not to Wait Paving By County | work=The San Diego Union | date=June 19, 1921 | page=3|oclc=13155544}} The first {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} east from Oceanside were paved by November 1924.{{cite news | title=New Pavement Open to Travel | work=The San Diego Union | date=November 9, 1924 | page=Building|oclc=13155544}} The Bonsall Bridge over the San Luis Rey River was completed in 1925,{{cite news | title=Bonsall Planners Want To Keep 'Country' Image | work=The San Diego Union | date=May 16, 1983 | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} and opened in 1926 as the county's largest bridge at the time; it served as part of the road from San Diego to Elsinore.{{cite news | title=Bonsall Bridge Open to Traffic | work=The San Diego Union | date=February 13, 1926 | page=8|oclc=13155544}} The Pala road was constructed by 1930,{{cite map|title=Maps of California|year=1930|author=Associated Oil Company|publisher=Associated Oil Company|oclc=51159557}} although it was not paved east of Pala.{{cite map|title=California and Nevada|year=1932|author=Shell Oil Company|publisher=Shell Oil Company|oclc=22774592}}

The road that extended from US 101 in Oceanside all the way to SR 79 near Lake Henshaw was originally added to the state highway system in 1933,{{cite CAstat|year=1933|ch=767}} but was not designated as legislative Route 195 until 1935.{{cite CAstat|year=1935|ch=29}} By 1936, US 395 was signed along what would become SR 76 through Bonsall, as part of the route between Elsinore and San Diego.{{cite Caltrans map|year=1934|access-date=September 4, 2016}}{{cite Caltrans map|year=1936|access-date=September 4, 2016}} In 1943, work began on widening the approaches to the Bonsall bridge.{{cite news | title=Contractor Starts Road Construction | work=The San Diego Union | date=July 9, 1943 | page=7B|oclc=13155544}} US 395 had been shifted east away from Bonsall by 1949.{{cite Caltrans map|year=1948|access-date=September 4, 2016}}{{cite Caltrans map|year=1949|access-date=September 4, 2016}} SR 76 was signed by 1954.{{cite news | title=San Diego County Gets $16,139,000 For Road Projects | work=The San Diego Union | date=October 25, 1954 | page=A13|oclc=13155544}} During the 1964 state highway renumbering, Route 195 was legally redesignated as State Route 76; at that time, the legal definition was updated to reflect the new designation of I-5, replacing US 101.{{cite CAstat|year=1963|ch=385}}

File:CA 76 Mission Avenue.JPG

The original idea for constructing a replacement for Mission Avenue dates from 1950. By 1961, there were plans to make SR 76 a freeway from Oceanside to Fallbrook Road, and an expressway from there to US 395.{{cite news | title=$500 Million in County Road Projects Urged With $40 Million 'Immediately' | work=The San Diego Union | date=June 6, 1961 | author=Love, Henry | page=C15|oclc=13155544}} The following year, the new Highway 76 Association formed a committee to promote the upgrade of the road into Pauma Valley.{{cite news | title=Group Named to Push Road Route to Valley | work=The San Diego Union | date=November 6, 1962 | page=A16|oclc=13155544}} In 1963, more specific plans were proposed by the Highway Development Association initiative, including making the portions from Foussat Road and the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia and from Vista Way to Mission Road an expressway, and widening the part of the highway in Oceanside.{{cite news | title=Top Priority Urged On SD, Oceanside Freeway Sections | work=The San Diego Union | date=May 28, 1963 |page=A18|oclc=13155544}} In 1964, the state allocated funds for the widening of SR 76 to four lanes in Oceanside,{{cite news | title=$42 Million OKd for County Roads | work=The San Diego Union | date=October 30, 1964 | page=A2|oclc=13155544}} and in October 1965, the first portion of the widening from Carey Road to Frontier Drive entered the bidding phase.{{cite news | title=Bids to be Sought For Building Freeway in Laguna Mountains | work=The San Diego Union | date=September 14, 1965 | page=A15|oclc=13155544}} The next part of the widening entered the bidding phase in December 1968, and extended from Frontier Drive to near the Mission.{{cite news | title=State to Ask Bids on Route 76 Job | work=The San Diego Union | date=December 2, 1968 | page=B3|oclc=13155544}}

Caltrans engineer Jacob Dekema announced in April 1969 that construction on SR 76 and the nearby SR 78 between I-5 and US 395 would be delayed until work on I-5 and US 395 was underway, or at least until 1976.{{cite news | title=N. County Freeway Forecast | work=The San Diego Union | date=April 25, 1969 | author=Eiden, Peter | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} Nevertheless, a widening project was commissioned in 1970 between Pauma Reservation Road and Cole Grade Road, well east of US 395.{{cite news | title=Stingley Assigned To Pendleton | work=The San Diego Union | date=June 9, 1970 | page=B1|oclc=13155544}} The next year, construction began on a new interchange between the future routing of SR 76 and I-5, near Oceanside Harbor and Camp Del Mar in Camp Pendleton.{{cite news | title=Oceanside Freeway, Bridge Projects Gain | work=The San Diego Union | date=March 6, 1971 | page=B1|oclc=13155544}} The expansion of SR 76 appeared on the Comprehensive Planning Organization (CPO) regional government plan in late 1974.{{cite news | title=CPO Directors Approve 1995 Freeway Program | work=The San Diego Union | date=November 19, 1974 | page=B1|oclc=13155544}} At that time, there was an effort by the City of Oceanside to have SR 76 included as a scenic highway,{{cite news | title=State 76 Designated Scenic Route | work=The San Diego Union | date=December 13, 1974 | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} but SR 76 has not been included in the system. The Chamber of Commerce decided to continue efforts to have SR 76 expanded at the end of 1974.{{cite news | title=State 76 Plan Upheld By Chamber | work=The San Diego Union | date=December 19, 1974 | author=Staff | page=B3|oclc=13155544}}

In January 1975, Caltrans presented plans to realign SR 76 away from Mission Avenue and move it to the south side of the San Luis Rey River from I-5 to Frontier Drive.{{cite news | title=State Road Project Map On Display | work=The San Diego Union | date=January 22, 1975 | author=Staff | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} One member of the Tri-Cities Taxpayers' League suggested that the freeway be built on the northern side of the river, and follow the river all the way east to I-15.{{cite news | title=Continuance of Hospital Role Urged | work=The San Diego Union | date=January 27, 1975 | author=Staff | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} Following concerns that the project would be cancelled due to lack of state funding,{{cite news | title=Fund Lack Perils State Road Plans | work=The San Diego Union | date=April 28, 1975 | page=B1|oclc=13155544}} the California Highway Commission (CHC) stated that the proposal was still being considered. The City of Oceanside raised concerns about the congestion on Mission Avenue, as well as the realignment being a part of the city master plan.{{cite news | title=Rebuilding of State 76 Still Weighed | work=The San Diego Union | date=May 2, 1975 | author=Staff | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} After this, at the start of the next year, the CHC decided to keep the proposal, though there were concerns that construction would be delayed due to the state financial crisis.{{cite news | title=State 76 Freeway Plan OKd | work=The San Diego Union | date=January 24, 1976 | author=Staff | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} Caltrans stated a few months later that SR 76 would be delayed because of the funding issues and the relatively low levels of traffic that would not support building a freeway.{{cite news | title=State 76 Job Delay Expected | work=The San Diego Union | date=April 23, 1976 | author=Staff | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} Following this, State Senator John Stull alleged that Caltrans head Adriana Gianturco was purposefully delaying the project by delaying the release of the environmental impact report.{{cite news | title=CalTrans Chief is Stalling State 76 Project, Stull Says | work=The San Diego Union | date=July 20, 1977 | author=Gross, Greg | page=B2|oclc=13155544}} A petition drive began soon after, supported by many North County leaders, with the exception of Bonsall due to concerns about a full freeway running through the community.{{cite news | title=State 76 Upgrading Supported | work=The San Diego Union | date=August 12, 1977 | author=Gross, Greg | page=B3|oclc=13155544}}

From 1974 to 1977, Oceanside police kept track of over 1,000 accidents that occurred along SR 76.{{cite news | title=Spirit of (State) 76 Is Not Happy | work=The San Diego Union | date=October 2, 1977 | page=B6|oclc=13155544}} A citizen action group known as Concerned Citizens for Highway 76 formed soon after.{{cite news | title=Campaign Pledged For New Freeway | work=The San Diego Union | date=October 18, 1977 | author=Ruane, Richard | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} Caltrans began holding hearings again in 1979, proposing the building of an expressway as opposed to a freeway or to widening Mission Avenue.{{cite news | title=Mission Ave. Relief Coming – At Long Last | work=The San Diego Union | date=February 19, 1979 | author=Ball, Neil | pages=B-3, B-4|oclc=13155544}} At one hearing, local officials criticized the delay, while others criticized the routing, the decision to build an expressway instead of a freeway, and building a route through an environmentally sensitive area.{{cite news | title=Caltrans Assailed On Bypass | work=The San Diego Union | date=February 22, 1979 | author=Ball, Neil | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} In May 1980, the state Assembly Transportation Committee approved a resolution that requested an answer from the governor at the time, Jerry Brown, and Caltrans as to why certain projects, including SR 76, had not been started.{{cite news | title=State Action Demanded on Road Projects | work=The San Diego Union | date=May 7, 1980 | author=Kriesher, Otto | page=B3|oclc=13155544}}

In the meantime, the Oceanside Development Agency recommended that the new highway be extended west to Pacific Street to aid in redeveloping the downtown area.{{cite news | title=Downtown Development Needs Told | work=The San Diego Union | date=June 15, 1979 | author=Ball, Neil | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} The San Diego Regional Coastal Commission disagreed with constructing the highway, among other development proposals for downtown Oceanside, due to concerns about destroying habitat along the river and the marsh areas.{{cite news | title=Oceanside Planners Clash With Coastal Commission | work=The San Diego Union | date=August 2, 1980 | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} Soon after, in October 1980, the California Coastal Commission recommended removing the realignment of the freeway from plans entirely, on environmental grounds.{{cite news | title=Oceanside Coastal Plan is Held Up | work=The San Diego Union | date=October 15, 1980 | author=Showley, Roger | page=B3|oclc=13155544}}

File:Least Bell's Vireo USGS WERC.jpg]]

In 1983, the introduction of a federal gasoline tax of five cents per gallon (one cent per liter) added more funding to complete projects in San Diego County, among other places. From that revenue, $5 million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|5000000|1983|r=2}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} was allocated to rebuilding the Bonsall bridge and realigning the highway.{{cite news | title=Fuel Tax Boost Hastens Work | work=The San Diego Union | date=January 13, 1983 | author=Weber, Dick | page=B8|oclc=13155544}} Issues cited with the old bridge included the sharp turns at either end and its narrow width, though some members of the community hoped that the old bridge would remain standing as a historical landmark, and a pedestrian bridge.{{cite news | title=Bonsall May Lose its Bridge | work=The San Diego Union | date=March 16, 1983 | author=Colvin, Terry | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} County Supervisor Paul Eckert commissioned a campaign to leave the bridge standing a week later.{{cite news | title=Theft Of Their Red Pickup Truck Leaves Del Mar Lifeguards in Blue Funk | work=The San Diego Union | date=March 22, 1983 | author=Staff | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} Plans to replace the bridge were delayed by April, due to issues acquiring the land necessary for the new bridge.{{cite news | title=Plans to Build a New Bonsall Bridge Delayed | work=The San Diego Union | date=April 7, 1983 | author=Okerblom, Jim | page=B1|oclc=13155544}}

Caltrans tentatively approved the westernmost {{convert|2.5|mi|km}} of the SR 76 widening project in May, while noting that there were several more steps in the legal process necessary before construction began.{{cite news | title=Caltrans Gives Tentative OK to Freeway Plan | work=The San Diego Union | date=May 5, 1983 | author=Staff | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} Two years later, concerns were expressed by environmental groups over the potential destruction of the habitat of the least Bell's vireo songbird by the construction of SR 76 and other projects in the region.{{cite news | title=Tiny Bird May Be a Mighty Roadblock | work=Evening Tribune | date=November 23, 1985 | author=Carrier, Lynne | location=San Diego | page=C1|oclc=37687666}} In 1986, the bird was added to the federal endangered species register.{{cite news | title=Federal Protection for Songbird May 'Endanger' County Projects | work=Evening Tribune | date=May 2, 1986 | author=McLaren, John | location=San Diego | page=B3|oclc=37687666}} The next year, the Oceanside Jaycees group collected 12,000 signatures supporting the construction of the freeway immediately. At that time, the fatality rate on SR 76 was 222 percent above that of any other state highway in California.{{cite news | title=Oceanside Jaycees Pursue Freeway Link | work=Evening Tribune | date=January 8, 1987 | author=Arner, Mark | page=B8|oclc=37687666|location=San Diego}} The petitions were given to the office of then-Governor George Deukmejian.{{cite news | title=Group Submits Petitions for Route 76 Freeway | work=Evening Tribune | date=January 23, 1987 | author=Roach, Ron | location=San Diego | page=B7|oclc=37687666}} In November 1987, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved the project, on condition that Caltrans purchase more land to set up habitat for environmental mitigation.{{cite news | title=Proposed Freeway Bypass Wins Approval | work=Evening Tribune | date=November 10, 1987 | author=Arner, Mark | location=San Diego | page=B4|oclc=37687666}}

Funds for the new Bonsall bridge were approved by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) in October 1988, and construction was scheduled to begin in early 1989.{{cite news | title=Tongue-in-Cheek Shirts Got Their Message Across | work=Evening Tribune | date=January 6, 1989 | author=Steckbauer, Dana | location=San Diego | page=B10|oclc=37687666}} In November 1989, the California Coastal Commission gave the go-ahead for the realignment of SR 76 in western Oceanside, from I-5 to Frontier Drive.{{cite news | title=Commission Clears Way for 76 Bypass Through River Valley | work=The San Diego Union | date=November 17, 1989 | author=Staff | page=B3|oclc=13155544}} However, in February 1990, the Sierra Club, National Audubon Society, and League for Coastal Protection filed a lawsuit to have the approval overturned, citing concerns over the destruction of habitat.{{cite news | title=Suit Perils Bypass for Route 76 | work=Evening Tribune | date=February 1, 1990 | author=Rodgers, Terry | location=San Diego | page=B1|oclc=37687666}} The Bonsall bridge was completed in early 1990, while the old bridge became a National Historic Place.{{cite news | title=New Bridge Open Today for Strolls Only | work=The San Diego Union | date=March 10, 1990 | author=Ball, Neil | page=II2|oclc=13155544}} In 1992, the City of Oceanside offered to purchase land as additional habitat for the songbird, even though it was not a party to the lawsuit.{{cite news | title=Oceanside Offers to Buy Land | work=Evening Tribune | date=January 6, 1992 | author=Thornton, Kelly | page=B5|oclc=37687666|location=San Diego}} The following year, the city council voted to use the Lawrence Canyon land for commercial use instead of for the environmental mitigation, thus stalling the project.{{cite news | title=Oceanside Says Route 76 Isn't Best Use of Site | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=July 8, 1993 | author=Sherman, Lola | page=B6|oclc=25257675}} Following this, the CTC rejected the proposal to build the highway, requiring Caltrans to find another parcel to use for constructing habitat.{{cite news | title=State Commission Rejects Caltrans' Plans for Route 76 Bypass | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=July 10, 1993 | author=Sherman, Lola | page=B1|oclc=25257675}} The CTC did approve the proposal a month later, provided that this land was found before construction began.{{cite news | title=Route 76 Bypass Plan Stymied Again | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=August 13, 1993 | author=Sherman, Lola | page=B2|oclc=25257675}} In October, the city council decided to use the Lawrence Canyon land for mitigation after all.{{cite news | title=Oceanside Votes to Take Land for Route 76 Project | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 7, 1993 | author=Sherman, Lola | page=B3|oclc=25257675}} Nevertheless, a city councilman raised concerns that the expressway would not be adequate to handle 2010 traffic levels.{{cite news | title=City Official Sees Traffic Jams Down the Road | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=January 11, 1994 | author=Sherman, Lola | page=B3|oclc=25257675}}

The four-lane expressway bypass of Oceanside was constructed beginning in 1994.{{cite news | title=Route 76 Hits Fork in the Road | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=August 9, 2010 | author=Hawkins, Robert | page=B1|oclc=25257675}} The first {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} from I-5 to Foussat Road opened to traffic in late 1995.{{cite news | title=Work Starts on Part of I-5, I-15 Freeway Link | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=June 13, 1996 | author=Roletti, Agnes | page=B3|oclc=25257675}} The cost of this portion was $10 million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|10000000|1995|r=2}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}}; at that time, completion of the rest of the route was expected for 2008.{{cite news | title=New Expressway Opens, Sort Of | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=November 2, 1995 | author=Sherman, Lola | page=B1|oclc=25257675}} The rerouting of SR 76 away from Mission Avenue resulted in a decrease in business for establishments located along the old routing.{{cite news | title=Work Starts on Strategy to Revitalize Mission Ave. | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=August 15, 1997 | page=B12|oclc=25257675}} On June 12, 1996, the groundbreaking ceremony for the second phase of the project took place, by which time the completion date for the entire roadway had slipped to 2010. This phase between Foussat Road and Jefferies Ranch Road was finished in late 1999.{{cite web | url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist11/facts/76west.htm | title=76 West Project | publisher=California Department of Transportation | work=District 11 Fact Sheets | author=California Department of Transportation | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517165544/http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist11/facts/76west.htm | archive-date=May 17, 2008}} Because the expressway was constructed on top of Mission Avenue east of Old Grove Road, the former was rerouted onto a new alignment that connected to Frazee Road. Mission Avenue was thus fragmented, and does not exist between Frazee Road and Jefferies Ranch Road, where the designation resumes.{{cite map|title=San Diego County Road Atlas|year=1998|author=Thomas Brothers|publisher=Thomas Brothers|page=1087|location=Irvine, California|scale=1:28,800|oclc=38909538}}

File:CA 76 Bonsall.jpg

By 2002, Caltrans had two proposals for the part of the widening project between East Vista Way and Mission Road: building the new highway on top of the old one, or constructing a new roadway to the south of the San Luis Rey River.{{cite news | title=Traffic Woes Addressed | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=February 9, 2002 | author=Burge, Michael | page=NC1|oclc=25257675}} Concerns arose that the TransNet local sales tax would not be extended by voters, leading to the cancellation of that project.{{cite news | title=Route 76 Work Must be Funded, Horn Says | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=December 7, 2002 | author=Ristine, Jeff | page=NC1|oclc=25257675}} The San Diego Association of Governments included the widening east to Bonsall in the regional plan in 2003, but indicated that the portion from Bonsall to I-15 would be dependent on the availability of funding.{{cite news | title=Regional Planners Sharpen Long-Range Transportation Vision | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=January 25, 2003 | author=Ristine, Jeff | page=B3|oclc=25257675}} Residents of Fallbrook and Bonsall criticized the fact that SR 76 was one of the few TransNet projects that was not to be completed by the expiration of the tax in 2008.{{cite news | title=Fallbrook Wants Route 76 Improved | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=November 14, 2003 | author=Sherman, Lola | page=NC1|oclc=25257675}} The city of Oceanside proposed plans for grade-separated interchanges with College Boulevard and Melrose Drive in 2004, as part of a proposal to convert the expressway through Oceanside to a freeway.{{cite news | url=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/03/27/news/coastal/oceanside/3_26_0422_35_41.txt | title=Oceanside Unveils Plans for Highway 76 Interchanges at College, Melrose | work=North County Times | date=March 27, 2004 | author=O'Dell, Rob | location=Escondido, California| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040423195201/http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/03/27/news/coastal/oceanside/3_26_0422_35_41.txt | archive-date=April 23, 2004|oclc=232119229}} After complaints from residents, these proposals were tabled.{{cite news | title=Proposal to Study Interchanges for Route 76 Shelved | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=June 3, 2004 | author=Sherman, Lola | page=NC2|oclc=25257675}}

After TransNet was renewed in November 2004, planning continued for widening the remaining portion of SR 76 west of I-15, due to the frequent accidents that occurred on the eastern portion, although some claimed that the habits of drivers were at fault.{{cite news | title=Hazardous Highway | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=February 27, 2005 | author=Burge, Michael | page=N1|oclc=25257675}} The 2007 environmental impact report recommended constructing the new roadway along the route of the old one, rather than moving the entire highway south.{{cite news | title=Four-Lane Future Now a Step Closer | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 13, 2007 | author=Burge, Michael | page=NC1|oclc=25257675}}

Meanwhile, congestion east of I-15 increased with the opening of four new casinos near Pala.{{cite news | title=Swath of Route 76 has More Casinos, More Traffic, More Accidents | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=July 18, 2004 | author=Simpson, Moshay | page=B3|oclc=25257675}} The Pala Indian band was required to pay for the costs to improve the road to mitigate the increased traffic levels from their proposed expansion.{{cite news | title=Report Details Impact of Pala's Expansion | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=November 28, 2006 | author=Barfield, Chet | page=B3|oclc=25257675}} Construction began on widening the highway in April 2008,{{cite news | title=Blasting Begins on Route 76 Widening | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=April 10, 2008 | author=Jones, J. | page=NC1|oclc=25257675}} and in March 2009, two lanes of a realigned {{convert|1.3|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} segment of SR 76 opened east of I-15. Initially, only two lanes were open, with the other two lanes of this new four-lane divided highway planned to open in September 2009. This improvement was intended to reduce accidents on a stretch of road that carried over 12,000 motorists per day, many headed for either the Pala Indian casino or a new gravel quarry that had recently opened. The casino and quarry owners each paid for half of the $26 million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|26000000|2009|r=2}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} cost of the new road.{{cite news | url=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/03/26/news/inland/fallbrook/zdb7467b3843fcd178825757b00595d6a.txt | title=Fallbrook: First Two Lanes of New Highway 76 Route Open | work=North County Times | date=March 26, 2009 | author=Pfingsten, Tom | location=Escondido, California | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424071159/http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/03/26/news/inland/fallbrook/zdb7467b3843fcd178825757b00595d6a.txt | archive-date=April 24, 2009|oclc=232119229}} Even after this, in 2009, the corner of SR 76 and Palomar Mountain Road was determined to be the place in the county with the most motorcycle accidents.{{cite news | title=Worst Road For Motorcycles | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=July 27, 2011 | author=Hawkins, Robert | page=B1|oclc=25257675}}

Construction started on widening SR 76 between Melrose Drive and South Mission Road in January 2010 to four lanes, funded by the federal and state governments and by TransNet revenue.{{cite news | title=Route 76 Expansion Under Way | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=January 7, 2010 | author=Schmidt, Steve | page=NC1|oclc=25257675}} The project included building a second bridge over the San Luis Rey River.{{cite news | title=Highway 76 Work Is On Schedule Despite Rains | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=May 5, 2011 | author=Burgin, Aaron | page=NIT3|oclc=25257675}} Discussion on whether the route of the highway should go south or north of the river east of Mission Road began later that year, with residents expressing concerns about being able to make left turns. In June 2011, Caltrans decided to use the existing roadway as the path, but agreed to build traffic signals at Via Monserate, South Mission Road, Gird Road, and Old Highway 395.{{cite news | title=Disputed Highway Expansion OK'd | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=June 3, 2011 | author=Hawkins, Robert | page=B1|oclc=25257675}} For environmental mitigation, Caltrans purchased the parcel known as Rancho Lilac, which was {{convert|902|acre|ha}}.{{cite news | title=Caltrans Buys Land, Will Preserve It | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 28, 2011 | author=Jones, J. | page=B1|oclc=25257675}} The second Bonsall bridge was finished by April 2012.{{cite news | title=Traffic Problems Seen at SR 76/E. Vista Way | work=U-T San Diego | date=April 6, 2012 | author=Jones, J. | page=B2|oclc=25257675}} The westbound lanes between Melrose Drive and Mission Road opened to traffic in October,{{cite news | title=As New Highway 76 Begins Phased Opening, A Nod to Safer Commuting | work=U-T San Diego | date=October 18, 2012 | author=Pfingsten, Tom | page=NZ-6|oclc=25257675}} with the entire roadway projected to be complete by the end of the year. The total cost of the entire widening project east of Melrose Drive is projected to be $371 million.{{cite news | title=Final Phase of State Route 76 Widening Project Scheduled | work=U-T San Diego | date=October 16, 2012 | author=Jones, J. | page=NR-7|oclc=25257675}}

A request by the city of Oceanside to restore access to Jefferies Ranch Road from SR 76 was declined by Caltrans in late 2012, due to concerns about future expressway expansion to six lanes.{{cite news | title=Jeffries Ranch Road Plan Stopped | work=U-T San Diego | date=October 27, 2012 | author=Huard, Ray | page=NC1|oclc=25257675}} In May 2013, construction at the I-15 and SR 76 interchange uncovered a Bison latifrons fossil.{{cite news | title=Prehistoric Bison Fossil Found | work=U-T San Diego | date=May 14, 2013 | author=Nichols, Chris | page=NC1|oclc=25257675}} Revisions to the interchange were finished in August 2013.{{cite news |url=http://www.thevillagenews.com/story/76499/ |title=Clearing brush for SR76 East Project Bidding Purposes |work=Village News |date=February 27, 2014 |access-date=March 9, 2014 |author=Naiman, Joe |location=Fallbrook, California |archive-date=August 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821114325/http://www.thevillagenews.com/story/76499/ |url-status=dead |df=mdy }} The final portion east to I-15 was contracted out in August, and construction was to begin soon afterward and extend until 2017,{{cite news | title=Work to Begin on Last Phase of State Route 76 widening | work=U-T San Diego | date=September 1, 2014 | author=Jones, J. | page=B1 | oclc=25257675}} at a cost of $201 million. In August 2016, traffic was to switch from the existing roadway to the newly constructed one west of I-15, from Gird Road to Old Highway 395. This would allow the older roadway to be reconfigured to carry westbound traffic, while the new roadway would handle eastbound traffic. The new roadway was described as having fewer turns than the older road, which would increase safety.{{cite news | title=SR-76 Project Hits New Milestone | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=August 24, 2016 | author=Jones, J. | page=B1 | oclc=25257675}} The expansion of the road to four lanes was completed in May 2017; this meant that from about {{convert|1.5|mi}} east of the interchange with I-15 west to CR S21 the roadway was four lanes wide, including the widening that had been paid for by the owners of a rock quarry.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/sd-no-highway-construction-20170515-story.html |title=Route 76 Now Four Lanes Between Interstates 5 & 15 |last=Wheaton |first=Daniel |date=May 15, 2017| work=San Diego Union-Tribune| oclc=25257675}}

{{CAinttop|county=San Diego|length_ref={{Cite Caltrans postmile}}

}}

{{CAint

|location=Oceanside

|lspan=3

|mile=0.000

|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|S21|county1=San Diego|name1=North Coast Highway}}

|notes=Continuation beyond I-5; former US 101

}}

{{CAint

|mile=0.000

|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|5|name1=San Diego Freeway|city1=Los Angeles|city2=Santa Ana|city3=San Diego}}

|notes=Interchange; I-5 exit 54A; western end of SR 76

}}

{{CAint

|mile=6.721

|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|S14|county1=San Diego|name1=North Santa Fe Avenue|city1=Vista}}

|notes=

}}

{{CAint

|location=Bonsall

|lspan=2

|type=concur

|mile=9.490

|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|S13|dir1=south|county1=San Diego|name1=East Vista Way|city1=Vista|road|Old River Road}}

|notes=Western end of CR S13 overlap

}}

{{CAint

|type=concur

|mile=12.472

|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|S13|dir1=north|county1=San Diego|name1=Mission Road|city1=Fallbrook}}

|notes=Eastern end of CR S13 overlap

}}

{{CAint

|location=none

|mile=17.012

|road=Old Highway 395

|notes=Former US 395

}}

{{CAint

|location=none

|mile=17.343

|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|15|name1=Escondido Freeway|city1=Riverside|city2=San Bernardino|city3=San Diego}}

|notes=Interchange; I-15 exit 46

}}

{{CAint

|location=Pala

|lspan=2

|mile=23.012

|road={{jct|state=CA|CR|S16|county1=San Diego|name1=Pala Mission Road|city1=Pala|city2=Temecula}}

}}

{{CAint

|mile=24.127

|road={{jct|state=CA|CR|S16|county1=San Diego|name1=Pala Mission Road|city1=Pala|city2=Temecula}}

}}

{{CAint

|location=Rincon

|type=concur

|mile=32.870

|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|S6|dir1=south|county1=San Diego|name1=Valley Center Road|city1=Valley Center|city2=Escondido}}

|notes=Western end of CR S6 overlap

}}

{{CAint

|location=none

|type=concur

|mile=38.146

|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|S6|dir1=north|county1=San Diego|name1=South Grade Road|city1=Palomar Mountain}}

|notes=Eastern end of CR S6 overlap

}}

{{CAint

|location=none

|mile=47.790

|road={{Jct|state=CA|CR|S7|county1=San Diego|name1=East Grade Road|city1=Palomar Mountain}}

|notes=

}}

{{CAint

|location=Morettis Junction

|mile=52.319

|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|79|city1=Warner Springs|city2=Santa Ysabel|city3=Julian}}

|notes=Eastern end of SR 76

}}

{{Jctbtm|keys=concur}}

• {{portal-inline|California Roads}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}

{{Commons category|California State Route 76}}

{{CASR external links|SR|76}}

• [https://www.aaroads.com/guides/ca-076/ California @ AARoads.com – State Route 76]
• [http://www.cahighways.org/073-080.html#076 California Highways: SR 76]

076

State Route 076

Category:U.S. Route 395