Highway 52 in San Diego opens 1987

July 28, 1987 John Culea was there on opening day when the very first cars used the brand new freeway.
More 52:
Tierrasanta to Santee opens 1993: • Highway 52 Opens Tierr...
Under construction 1986: • California State Route...

[@SeattleBoatdog]

I was one of the “grade checkers” for that entire project … from the original land clearing up until the finishing of the shoulders, I walked up and down everything from 15 down to 805 probably 100 times working with the earth moving, finish-grading, and paving equipment.

[@Daddyme92]

🧢

[@ElRayDelRio]

✋🧢

[@johnnypalooka]

Did anyone at the time realize that it would be constantly sinking over the years?

[@hurilux41]

Did it really stopped at Tierra Santa?? I thought it stopped in Lakeside

[@johnnypalooka]

The Tierra Santa to Lakeside stretch was added years later.

[@ElRayDelRio]

I appreciate these throwbacks. Keep them coming 🤝🏼

[@jacobmulligan5962]

I commute the 52 everyday and the traffic is horrid.

[@hurilux41]

Is it? When I past by there, it wasn't bad at all outside of rush hours.

[@jacobmulligan5962]

@@hurilux41 Super congested during rush. Turns a 15 minute drive into a 45 minute drive.

[@monique2324]

As a non SD native but lived right where this freeway is in 2022, this is super cool to see!

[@cartergomez5390]

Wow! That was cool to go back in time!

[@OGHiddenpaw]

Now it’s just a road with a lot of weird dips and bumpy roads And a large amount of congestion

[@reneer.2362]

Good Ole Day’s 🥰

[@rob770]

I thought the 52 was here when Columbus discovered America

[@ElRayDelRio]

No that was the 805

[@ElRayDelRio]

Then Cabrillo built the 5 and the 8

[@Speeeeed]

That's how Columbus got to America.

[@KW145.]

No that was the 56 through Carmel Valley

[@OrchidHospice]

Is there any footage around of Highway 8 opening? or driving footage of it partially completed?

[@goldbrick2563]

BRING BACK THOSE CARS

[@DiogenesOfCa]

We should have built light rail instead of freeways that are always congested.

[@Michael-lu2tz]

san diego needs light rail and freeways

[@johnlucier5654]

Light rail is great if everywhere you have to go is near the light rail. For most people it isnt. Cars could get smaller, that might help. And keep incompetent and texting drivers off the road.

[@DiogenesOfCa]

@@johnlucier5654 If we would stop building suburban sprawl more people could use light rail.
Car dependency is not sustainable, drive in LA anytime of the day for reference.

[@johnlucier5654]

@@DiogenesOfCa not sustainable? Millions of drivers say otherwise. Automated braking systems are in the near future, will dramatically increase fwy capacity.

[@DiogenesOfCa]

@@johnlucier5654 Millions of drivers are stuck in traffic.
Millions of Americans are fat and unhappy as well.
Meanwhile millions of other people in the world have FREEDOM of choice.
They can drive bike of take a train.
They are healthier and happier.

[@povertyspec9651]

CalTrash has the worst signage in the US

[@Themanisred]

And now it it's sinking. Again

[@samuelg3586]

Amazing how much society has deteriorated since then

[@BandofBrothersSpike]

We need to keep expanding we need wholesome growth