California State Route 1
Template:Routeboxca2 Highway 1, legislatively deemed California State Route 1, runs along the Pacific coast for most of the length of the US state of California. In Southern California it is known as the Pacific Coast Highway or P.C.H., and in parts of central California, it is known as the Cabrillo Highway.
Route Description (north to south)
The highway is famous for some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, which contributed to its designation as an All-American Road. From the north, the highway passes through the cities of Ferndale, Fort Bragg and Bodega Bay before joining with U.S. Highway 101 and entering San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. The highway continues south on the west coast of the San Francisco Peninsula, passing through Devil's Slide, on through Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz and Monterey. Several miles south of Carmel, State Route 1 crosses the Rocky Creek Bridge and then the scenic Bixby Creek Arch Bridge, a reinforced concrete arch with a 320-foot span that passes over the Bixby Creek gorge. The highway then continues south through the cliffs of Big Sur, then past Hearst Castle, and on to the coastal cities of San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach and Lompoc. Route 1 joins US 101 south of Buellton and passes through Santa Barbara.
About 3 miles south of the Santa Barbara County line, California State Route 1 separates from US 101 to travel along the beach from the Mobil Pier Undercrossing to Emma Wood State Beach where it rejoins US 101 and travels through Ventura.
California State Route 1 then separates from US 101 as it enters Oxnard and connects to such Southern California beach cities as Malibu, Pacific Palasades, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance.
South of the Los Angeles area, "PCH" winds through cities which include Long Beach (where it intersects with Lakewood Boulevard CA-19 and Los Coyotes Diagonal at the "infamous" Long Beach Traffic Circle), Signal Hill, Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach, South Laguna, Monarch Beach and Dana Point.
In the "downtown" section of Dana Point, State Route 1 splits into two one-way avenues for approximately one mile (1.6 kM). The northbound traffic continues along the original PCH alignment whilst southbound commuters are diverted onto Del Prado Street at the intersection of Street of the Blue Lantern. Del Prado Street and Pacific Coast Highway parallel each other until they are rejoined at the intersection of Street of the Copper Lantern. There are a number of businesses and services (including the Dana Point Post Office) that are located in between the north- and southbound lanes. Caution needs to be observed when exiting their parking lots – remember to always turn left !
For most of its length, from roughly San Luis Obispo northward, State Route 1 is a winding, two lane road with occasional passing lanes, except between Watsonville and Santa Cruz, where it is a multi-lane freeway, between Colma and Daly City, where it is co-signed with Interstate 280 and again a multi-lane freeway, and in San Francisco, where it is six-lane wide 19th Avenue and Park Presidio Boulevard, a major approach to the Golden Gate Bridge. State parks and small coastal towns can be found amongst hundreds of miles of wilderness. Along the southern length, PCH is a wide, multi-laned boulevard and is even part of a freeway as it is co-signed with U.S. Highway 101 in Ventura.
State Law
Legal Definiton of Route 1
301. Route 1 is from: (a) Route 5 south of San Juan Capistrano to Route 101 near El Rio. (b) Route 101 at Emma Wood State Beach, 1.3 miles north of Route 33, to Route 101, 2.8 miles south of the Ventura-Santa Barbara county line at Mobil Pier Undercrossing. (c) Route 101 near Las Cruces to Route 101 in Pismo Beach via the vicinity of Lompoc, Vandenberg Air Force Base, and Guadalupe. (d) Route 101 in San Luis Obispo to Route 280 south of San Francisco along the coast via Cambria, San Simeon, and Santa Cruz. (e) Route 280 near the south boundary of the City and County of San Francisco to Route 101 near the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. (f) Route 101 near the southerly end of Marin Peninsula to Route 101 near Leggett via the coast route through Jenner and Westport. (g) (1) The commission may relinquish to the City of Dana Point, the portion of Route 1 that is located within the city limits of that city and is between the western edge of the San Juan Creek channel overcrossing and the city limits of the City of Laguna Beach, upon terms and conditions the commission finds to be in the best interests of the state, if the commission and the city enter into an agreement providing for that relinquishment. (2) A relinquishment under this subdivision shall become effective immediately following the County Recorder's recordation of the relinquishment resolution containing the commission's approval of the terms and conditions of the relinquishment. (3) On and after the effective date of the relinquishment, that portion of Route 1 so relinquished shall cease to be a state highway. (4) For portions of Route 1 that are relinquished under this subdivision, the City of Dana Point shall maintain within its jurisdiction signs directing motorists to the continuation of Route 1. 301.5. The commission may relinquish to the City of Newport Beach the portion of Route 1 that is located between Jamboree Road and the southern city limits of the City of Newport Beach, upon terms and conditions the commission finds to be in the best interests of the state. (a) A relinquishment under this section shall become effective immediately following the county recorder's recordation of the relinquishment resolution containing the commission's approval of the terms and conditions of the relinquishment. (b) On and after the effective date of the relinquishment, both of the following shall occur: (1) The portion of Route 1 relinquished under this section shall cease to be a state highway. (2) The portion of Route 1 relinquished under this section shall be ineligible for future adoption under Section 81. (c) The City of Newport Beach shall ensure the continuity of traffic flow on the relinquished portions of Route 1, including, but not limited to, any traffic signal progression. (d) For those portions of Route 1 that are relinquished, the City of Newport Beach shall maintain within its jurisdiction signs directing motorists to the continuation of Route 1.
Source: California Streets and Highways Code, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 301
Freeway and Expressway System
253.2. The California freeway and expressway system shall also include: Route 1 from: (a) Los Angeles-Ventura county line to Route 101 near El Rio. (b) Route 101 near Las Cruces to Route 227 south of Oceano. (c) Route 101 near San Luis Obispo to San Simeon. (d) The north limits of Carmel to the west city limits of Santa Cruz. (e) The Higgins-Purisima Road to Route 280 south of San Francisco. (f) Route 280 to the San Francisco county line. (g) Route 101 near the southerly end of Marin Peninsula to the vicinity of Valley Ford. (h) Route 128 near the mouth of the Navarro River to Route 101 near Leggett.
Source: California Streets and Highways Code, Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 253.2
Scenic Route
263.2. The state scenic highway system shall also include: Route 1 from: (a) Route 5 south of San Juan Capistrano to Route 19 near Long Beach. (b) Route 187 near Santa Monica to Route 101 near El Rio. (c) Route 101 at Las Cruces to Route 246 near Lompoc. (d) Route 227 south of Oceano to Route 101 near Pismo Beach. (e) Route 101 near San Luis Obispo to Route 35 near Daly City. (f) Route 35 in San Francisco to Route 101 near the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. (g) Route 101 near Marin City to Route 101 near Leggett.
Source: California Streets and Highways Code, Chapter 2, Article 2.5, Section 263.2
Designation
635. (a) State Highway Route 1 from Las Cruces to San Francisco shall be known and designated as the "Cabrillo Highway." (b) State highway routes embracing portions of Routes 280, 82, 238, 101, 5, 72, 12, 37, 121, 87, 162, 185, 92, and 123 and connecting city streets and county roads thereto, and extending in a continuous route from Sonoma southerly to the international border and near the route historically known as El Camino Real shall be known and designated as "El Camino Real." (c) State Highway Route 1 from south of San Juan Capistrano to near El Rio shall be known and designated as the "Pacific Coast Highway."
Source: California Streets and Highways Code, Chapter 2, Article 2.5, Section 635
Other Names
- Blue Star Memorial Highway: From Junction with I-5 at Dana Point in Orange County to State Hwy Route 101 at Leggett in Mendocino County. Sponsored by the National council of State Garden Clubs, Inc. as a tribute to the men and women of the Nation's Armed Forces.
- CHP Officer John Pedro Memorial Highway: From Harkins Slough Road to Pajaro River Bridge. Officer Jon Pedro was killed in the line of duty in a traffic collision.
- Los Angeles County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway: Portion in L.A. County.
- Louis J. Papan Highway: From Interchange at Skyline Boulevard to Southern City Limits of Pacifica. "Assemblyman, chair numerous committees, aided poor."
- Orange County Korean War Veterans: From San Juan Capistrano to Golden West Street in Huntington Beach.
- San Simeon Highway: From San Luis Obispo to Monterey. Named by historical and long local usage in the County of San Luis Obispo.
- U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII Memorial Highway: From Golden West St in Huntington Beach to Orange County Boundary.
- Ventura County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway: Portion in Ventura County.
Source: 2004 Named Freeways, Highways, Structures and Other Appurtenances In California