California State Route 905#Future

SR 905 begins at the intersection of Tocayo Avenue and Oro Vista Road in Nestor. It begins as a freeway, intersecting with I-5 at a partial cloverleaf interchange. After interchanges with Beyer Boulevard and Picador Boulevard, the freeway then intersects I-805. Following this, SR 905 veers southeast to parallel Otay Mesa Road, with interchanges at Caliente Avenue (in Pacific Gateway Park), Britannia Boulevard, and La Media Road. Following those interchanges, SR 905 also interchanges with the SR 125 toll road{{Cite news |title=New roads between border, South Bay Highways, completed |last=Stewart |first=Joshua |date=November 30, 2016 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |publisher=Jeff Light |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-government-1201-story.html}} and the SR 11 freeway, which is planned to be a toll facility that will serve a new border crossing east of Otay Mesa.{{cite news|title=Hearing Set on Border Highway and Crossing|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2011/jan/10/hearing-set-sr-11-linking-new-border-crossing/|newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=January 11, 2011|last=Hawkins|first=Robert J.|page=B2|access-date=February 20, 2016}} Immediately after, SR 905 turns south to its final interchange at Siempre Viva Road before the route ends at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry,{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/32.5643282,-117.0791409/32.5501308,-116.9390158/@32.5562439,-117.0440984,13z/am=t/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e0|access-date=July 28, 2022|title=California State Route 905}} which traffic of large trucks must use to cross the border.{{cite news | title=Funds pursued to extend I-905 to border | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=August 5, 1997 | author=Arner, Mark | page=B2}}

SR 905 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System{{CAFESystem}} and part of the National Highway System,{{FHWA NHS map|region=sandiego}} a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration.{{FHWA NHS}} In 2013, SR 905 had an annual average daily traffic (AADT) of 58,000 between Beyer Boulevard and I-805, and 18,400 around the I-5 junction, the former of which was the highest AADT for the freeway.{{Caltrans traffic|year=2013|start=505|end=980}}

File:Westbound SR 905 at I-805.jpg

What was known as the "Otay Mesa Road" existed as a dirt road by 1927.{{cite news | title=Tijuana River Flood Passes Peak; No Danger to Track | work=The San Diego Union | date=February 17, 1927 | author=Staff | page=14}} A paved road connected San Ysidro to Brown Field and the easternmost ranches in the Otay Mesa area by 1935.{{cite map|title=San Diego County|publisher=Automobile Club of Southern California|year=1935|section=H5–H6}} Discussions were held between San Diego County and National City over the maintenance of the road in 1950, since it was used by trucks travelling to the landfill.{{cite news | title=Otay Mesa Road Offered to County | work=The San Diego Union | date=January 1, 1950 | author=Staff | page=A3}} The majority of SR 905, running in parallel with Otay Mesa Road from I-5 to SR 125, was added to the state highway system and the California Freeway and Expressway System in 1959 as Legislative Route 281,{{cite CAstat|year=1959|ch=1062|p=3115, 3121}} and became part of SR 75 in the 1964 renumbering.{{cite CAstat|year=1963|ch=385|p=1177}}

Planning was underway for the extension of SR 75 east to the then-proposed SR 125 by 1963.{{cite news | title=State Hearing Slated On South Bay Freeway | work=The San Diego Union | date=January 31, 1963 | author=Staff | page=G6}} The California Highway Commission endorsed the routing for SR 75 in 1965 along Otay Mesa Road, away from future residential developments.{{cite news | title=County Freeway Routes OK'd | work=The San Diego Union | date=April 30, 1965 | author=Staff | page=B14}} There were plans as early as 1970 to have a highway heading southwest to a new border crossing that would bypass the Tijuana area.{{cite news | title=City Council Airs New 805 Route | work=The San Diego Union | date=August 26, 1970 | author=Staff | page=B1}} The next year, James Moe, the state public works director, subsequently asked the California State Legislature to lengthen SR 75 to connect to this new crossing, rather than using I-5 to make the connection.{{cite news | title=Route 75 Extension Recommend As A Link To New Port Of Entry | work=The San Diego Union | date=August 15, 1971 | author=Staff | page=B14}}

{{Infobox road small

|state=CA

|type=SR

|route=117

|location= San Diego

|formed=1972

|deleted=1986

}}

Following this, in 1972, the legislature added a new SR 117, which extended this part of SR 75 southwest to the Mexican border near Border Field State Park, to the state highway system, and a southerly extension of SR 125 to the border at Otay Mesa to the state highway and Freeway and Expressway systems.{{cite CAstat|year=1972|ch=1216|p=2345, 2351}} Two years later, planning began for the construction of the Otay Mesa crossing and the construction of SR 75 to connect it to I-5 and I-805.{{cite news | title=Road Studies For Border Entry Urged | work=The San Diego Union | date=February 16, 1974 | author=Staff | page=B2}} Later, the Comprehensive Planning Organization (CPO), the local association of municipal governments, recommended using $4 million of federal funding for the construction of SR 75.{{cite news | title=CPO Backs 11 Area Road Jobs | work=The San Diego Union | date=April 24, 1974 | author=Staff | page=B8}}{{cite news | title=New Name For CPO Supported | work=The San Diego Union | date=April 24, 1974 | author=Staff | page=B8}} The CPO later endorsed expediting construction of the freeway before completion of the border crossing, so that the freeway would primarily serve border traffic, thus preventing land speculation in Otay Mesa.{{cite news | title=CPO Asks Delay On Border Gate | work=The San Diego Union | date=October 6, 1974 | author=Staff | page=B1}} While Mexican authorities wanted the crossing constructed in 1975, the CPO indicated that the funding for SR 75 would not be available until at least 1980, or even 1985.{{cite news | title=Otay Mesa Gates Face Long Delay | work=The San Diego Union | date=July 3, 1975 | author=Murphy, Vi | page=B5}} Following this, Representative Lionel Van Deerlin attempted to accelerate the construction of the crossing, even though there was no funding for the highway.{{cite news | title=Van Deerlin Seeks To Push Second Border Crossing | work=The San Diego Union | date=July 20, 1975 | author=Staff | page=B3}}

Construction began on the southern portion of SR 75 in mid-1974. In January 1976, the part of SR 75 between I-805 and Otay Mesa Road was opened to traffic.{{cite news | title=Segment Of State 75 Completed | work=The San Diego Union | date=January 29, 1976 | author=Staff | page=B3}} On April 6, the next portion of the freeway opened. However, there were concerns about what to call the freeway, citing confusion with the northern portion of SR 75. The entire cost of the project was $6.3 million.{{cite news | title=Freeway Link Opens | work=The San Diego Union | date=April 7, 1976 | author=Staff | page=B1}} SR 117 was extended east to SR 125, replacing the southerly segment of SR 75, by the Legislature in 1976;{{cite CAstat|year=1976|ch=1354|p=6177}} this took effect at the beginning of 1977.{{cite news | title=State 75 Freeway Becomes 117 | work=The San Diego Union | date=January 9, 1977 | author=Staff | page=B6}} Estimates for completing the freeway ran from $13.8 million to $28.5 million.{{cite news | title=2nd Border Gate Project Pushed | work=The San Diego Union | date=January 9, 1977 | author=Staff | page=B2}}

In late 1977, the CPO made plans to push for adding SR 117 to the Interstate Highway System, to obtain additional federal funding.{{cite news | title=CPO Eyes State 117 Action | work=The San Diego Union | date=November 22, 1977 | author=Staff | page=B1}} By 1979, both San Diego city and county had allocated $6 million to construct a temporary way to access the border crossing along Otay Mesa and Harvest Roads.{{cite news | title=An Old Border Problem Seen In New Gates | work=The San Diego Union | date=September 10, 1979 | author=Staff | pages=B3}} Two years later, the City of San Diego indicated that the upgrade of Otay Mesa Road to a four-lane road would be the preferred option;{{cite news | title=County Reaffirms Commitment To 2nd Border Crossing | work=The San Diego Union | date=March 12, 1981 | author=Rangel, Jesus | page=B8}} the state agreed to allocate $2 million towards the $10 million project, with the city contributing $6.4 million and the county adding $2.3 million.{{cite news | title=State Vows $2 Million For Border Crossing Road | work=The San Diego Union | date=November 2, 1982 | author=Kozub, Linda | page=B1}} The Federal Highway Administration approved the continuous roadway via SR 117 and SR 125 from I-5 to the border at Otay Mesa as a non-chargeable (not eligible for federal Interstate Highway construction dollars) part of the Interstate Highway System in October 1984.California Department of Transportation, [http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hseb/products/state_highway_routes_selected_information_1995_revised.pdf State Highway Routes: Selected Information], 1994 with 1995 revisions The Otay Mesa border crossing opened on January 24, 1985.{{cite news | title=Otay Mesa gateway opens | work=Evening Tribune | date=January 25, 1985 | author=Romero, Fernando | location=San Diego | page=B1}} The route number was legislatively changed to 905 in 1986, and signs were updated in 1988. This change was to apply for other federal funding.{{cite news | title=Freeway gets new name in quest for more funds | work=Evening Tribune | date=December 30, 1988 | author=Hughes, Joe | location=San Diego | page=B2}} The original piece of SR 117, west of I-5, also became SR 905 with the rest of SR 117,{{cite CAstat|year=1986|ch=928|p=3216}} but the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has not constructed it.

Efforts were underway in 1997 to secure federal funding for the highway and other infrastructure near the Mexican border, largely supported by Senator Barbara Boxer and Representative Bob Filner,{{cite news | title=Bill is aimed at border 'choke points' | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=March 4, 1997 | author=Braun, Gerry | page=A3}} and Representative Bud Schuster, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, visited the region before giving informal approval to the proposal. In 1999, Governor Gray Davis approved allocating $27 million in federal funding to complete the freeway.{{cite news | title=Governor backs federal funds for construction of Route 905 | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=June 17, 1999 | author=Staff | page=B11}} Concerns were expressed by local residents and municipal officials regarding the apparent priority of SR 125 over SR 905 in terms of funding, especially since SR 125 was to be constructed as a toll road, and SR 905 would compete with the toll road enterprise.{{cite news | title=Route 125 appears winner in freeway war | work=The San Diego Union | date=March 15, 1998 | author=Arner, Mark | page=B1}} In May 1998, Congress approved $54 million in funding for the completion of SR 905.{{cite news | title=$100 million OK'd for area road projects | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=May 23, 1998 | author=Meinert, Dori and Otto Kreisher | page=B1}}

Otay Mesa Road was widened to six lanes in 2000 for $20.5 million. Before, it had 50 percent more traffic than it was designed to handle;{{cite news | title=Two road projects in Otay Mesa complete | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=March 23, 2000 | author=Arner, Mark | page=B8}} it was considered by the San Diego Union-Tribune as "California's busiest trade route with Mexico." Traffic had increased by ten times, with the number of people dying in traffic accidents approaching five times the state average. The widening of Otay Mesa Road was considered a temporary fix for the problem.{{cite news | title=Fear and loathing defines driving on old Otay Mesa Road | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=June 1, 1997 | author=Arner, Mark | page=B1}} The next year, the California Transportation Commission allocated $25 million of state funding towards completing the freeway.{{cite news | title=$25 million OK'd for South Bay freeway | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=June 8, 2001 | author=Staff | page=B2}} The interchange with Siempre Viva Road opened on December 8, 2004.{{cite news | title=1st segment of state Route 905 makes its debut - Roadway to help ease border traffic | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=December 9, 2004 | author=Branscomb, Leslie | page=B7}} Delays in the U.S. Congress approving federal funding in 2005 resulted in a delayed start to construction for the rest of SR 905.{{cite news | title=Federal highway aid tie-ups delay cures for congestion | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=May 23, 2005 | author=Wilkie, Dana | page=A1}}

Construction began on the part of SR 905 between Britannia Boulevard and Siempre Viva Road in April 2008, and from Brittania Boulevard to I-805 in July 2009. Efforts were made to keep construction going despite a shortfall in funding from state bonds in 2009.{{cite news | title=Freeway work to go on despite crunch | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=February 11, 2009 | author=Schmidt, Steve | page=B3}} The part between Britannia Boulevard and Siempre Viva Road opened in December 2010. The interchange with I-805 began to be upgraded in April 2011,{{cite news | title=Overhaul Launched For 805-905 Interchange | work=The San Diego Union | date=April 6, 2011 | author=Staff | page=B2}} and the construction, which used $20 million in federal funding,{{cite news | title=$20 Million Marked for 805-905 Junction | work=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=October 5, 2010 | author=Staff | page=B2}} finished in February 2012.{{cite web|url=http://sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_9_1562.pdf |title=SR 905 Fact Sheet |publisher=San Diego Association of Governments |work=Fact Sheets |date=July 2012 |access-date=August 23, 2013 |author=Staff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326182707/http://www.sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_9_1562.pdf |archive-date=March 26, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }} The final freeway segment of SR 905 between I-805 and Britannia Boulevard opened on July 30, 2012. The entire cost of the project connecting I-805 to the border crossing was $441 million.{{cite news |title=New Border Freeway Set To Open To The Public |author=Jose Luis Jiménez |url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/jul/27/new-border-freeway-set-open-monday/ |newspaper=KPBS|date=July 27, 2012 |access-date=August 2, 2012}}

Before being upgraded to a freeway between Britannia Boulevard and Siempre Viva Road, SR 905 directly connected with SR 125 via two at-grade intersections on Otay Mesa Road.{{cite map|title=San Diego County Road Atlas|publisher=Rand McNally|author=Thomas Brothers|year=2009|pages=1231, 1251, 1271, 1291, 1311, 1331, 1351|scale=1:22,800|location=Chicago}} When Caltrans opened that segment of the SR 905 freeway in 2010, they omitted the interchange with SR 125, forcing traffic on SR 905 and SR 125 to exit their respective freeways and use Otay Mesa Road (which SR 905 followed at that time) to make the connection. To help fix this problem, a direct freeway-to-freeway interchange was planned, which also included the new SR 11 freeway once it was to be constructed,{{cite news|title=New Freeway Segment at Border Celebrated|newspaper=U-T San Diego|date=July 19, 2012|author=Kuhney, Jen|page=B2}} with construction beginning in late 2015.{{cite news | url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/oct/26/construction-begins-otay-mesa-border-freeway-conne/ | title=Construction Begins On Otay Mesa Border Freeway Connection | work=KPBS | date=October 26, 2015 | access-date=January 16, 2016 | author=City News Service | location=San Diego}} SR 11 is planned to be a toll facility that will serve a new border crossing east of Otay Mesa. Ramps from SR 905 eastbound to SR 125 northbound, SR 905 westbound to SR 125 northbound, and SR 11 westbound to SR 125 northbound were completed on November 30, 2016, at the cost of over $21 million. Prior to December 16, 2021, traffic on southbound SR 125 was forced to exit onto Otay Mesa Road at that toll road's then southern terminus in order to connect to SR 11 and SR 905. Construction on the ramps for these connections began in 2018,{{cite web|title=SR 905/SR 125/SR 11 Northbound Connectors Project Fact Sheet|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/d11/projects/905-125-11NBConnectors.pdf|website=Caltrans website|publisher=California Department of Transportation|access-date=May 30, 2017|date=October 2016}} with the ramps from SR 125 southbound to SR 11 eastbound and SR 125 southbound to SR 905 eastbound being completed on December 16, 2021, at the cost of $74 million.{{cite news |last1=Mendoza |first1=Alexandra |title=New freeway connectors set stage for Otay Mesa East border project |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/latino-life/story/2021-12-17/new-freeway-connectors-set-stage-for-otay-mesa-east-border-project |access-date=May 11, 2022 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |publisher=Jeff Light |date=December 17, 2021}} The ramp from SR 125 southbound to SR 905 westbound, which was still under construction at the time, was initially scheduled to open to traffic in 2023,{{cite news |last1=Meyer |first1=Matt |last2=Sarkissian |first2=Jacqueline |title=New freeway ramps make it easier to reach border, future port of entry |url=https://fox5sandiego.com/traffic/new-freeway-ramps-make-it-easier-to-reach-border-future-port-of-entry/ |access-date=May 11, 2022 |agency=KSWB-TV |publisher=Nexstar Media Group |date=December 16, 2021}} but was instead opened to traffic on July 26, 2022, finally completing the interchange.{{cite news |last1=Jennewein |first1=Chris |title=Key Freeway Connection Opens in Otay Mesa, Improving Cross-Border Travel |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2022/07/26/key-freeway-connection-opens-in-otay-mesa-improving-cross-border-travel/ |access-date=July 27, 2022 |agency=Times of San Diego |date=July 26, 2022}} There are no plans to construct the remaining connections from SR 905 westbound to SR 11 eastbound and SR 11 westbound to SR 905 eastbound.

{{Infobox road small

|header_type=UC

|state=CA

|type=I

|route=905

|length_mi=8.964

|location=San Diego

}}

Plans are for SR 905 to become I-905;{{cite news|title=Freeway gets new name in quest for more funds|newspaper=Evening Tribune|author=Hughes, Joe|location=San Diego|page=B2}}{{Date missing}} however, it could not be constructed with the same federal government funds that were used for constructing the rest of the Interstate Highway System. This is because I-905 was not constructed as of 1978, when the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1978 provided that all Interstate construction authorized under previous amendments to the system would be funded by the federal government but additional highway mileage added under {{uscsub|23|103|c|4|A}} would not be funded from the same highway fund.Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1978, {{USPL|99|599}}{{failed verification|date=December 2023}}{{cite web |first= Tony |last= DeSimone |date= June 4, 2012 |url= https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/?redirect |work= Route Log and Finder List |title= Expansion of Mileage |publisher=Federal Highway Administration |access-date= July 22, 2012}}

{{Clear}}

{{CAinttop|exit|county=San Diego|location=San Diego

|length_ref=
{{Caltrans trucklist}}{{Caltrans bridgelog}}

|exit_ref=
{{cite web |date=September 13, 2018 |publisher=California Department of Transportation |work= California Numbered Exit Uniform System |url=https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/exit/f0017919-905-a11y.pdf|title=State Route 905 Freeway Interchanges |access-date=July 11, 2021}}

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=0.00

|road=Oro Vista Road / Tocayo Avenue

|notes=At-grade intersection

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=0.37

|exit=1A–B

|road={{jct|state=CA|I|5|name1=San Diego Freeway}}

|notes=Signed as exits 1A (north) and 1B (south) westbound, reversed eastbound; I-5 exit 3

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=0.97

|exit=1C

|road=Beyer Boulevard

|notes=Signed as exit 1 eastbound; former US 101

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=1.56

|exit=2A

|road=Picador Boulevard / Smythe Avenue

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=2.32

|exit=2B

|road={{jct|state=CA|I|805|name1=Jacob Dekema Freeway}}

|notes=Signed as exits 2B (south) and 2C (north) westbound; I-805 north exit 1B, south exit 1C

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=3.88

|exit=4

|road=Caliente Avenue

|notes=

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=4.91

|exit=5

|type=unbuilt

|road=Heritage Road

|notes=Proposed interchange{{cite web |url=https://www.sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_9_1562.pdf |title=SR 905 Fact Sheet |publisher=Sandag |date=July 2012 |access-date=January 9, 2020}}

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=5.94

|exit=6

|road={{jct|extra=airport}} Britannia Boulevard – Tijuana International Airport, Brown Field Municipal Airport

|notes=Access to Tijuana International Airport via the Cross Border Xpress

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=6.93

|exit=7

|road=La Media Road

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=7.68

|mile2=7.77

|mspan=2

|exit=8

|type=incomplete

|espan=2

|road={{jct|state=CA|SR|11|dir1=east}}

|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; western terminus of SR 11

}}

{{CAint

|mile=none

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=CA|SR-Toll|125|dir1=north|name1=South Bay Expressway}}

|notes=Southern terminus of SR 125

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=8.53

|exit=9

|road=Siempre Viva Road

|notes=Last U.S. exit eastbound

}}

{{CAint|exit

|mile=8.89

|exit=

|road=Mexico–United States border (Otay Mesa Port of Entry)

|notes=Continues beyond the international border as Boulevard Garita de Otay

}}

{{jctbtm|keys=incomplete,toll,unbuilt}}

• {{portal-inline|California Roads}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|California State Route 905}}

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

{{CASR external links|SR|905}}

• [http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-905.html California @ AARoads.com - State Route 905]
• [http://www.cahighways.org/880-980.html#905 CAhighways.org - State Route 905]

{{3di|5}}

905

905

State Route 905

Category:Transportation in San Diego

9 California