View source for California State Route 55

{{short description|Highway in California}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox road
|state=CA
|type=SR
|route=55
|section=355
|maint=[[Caltrans]]
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=260|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/California State Route 55}}}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=SR 55 highlighted in red
|length_mi=17.807
|length_ref=<ref name=trucklist>{{Caltrans trucklist}}</ref>
|length_round=3
|established=1964
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a=Via Lido in [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]]
|junction={{plainlist
|*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|1}} in [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|73}} in [[Costa Mesa, California|Costa Mesa]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|I|405}} in [[Costa Mesa, California|Costa Mesa]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|I|5}} in [[Tustin, California|Tustin]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|22}} in [[Orange, California|Orange]]
}}
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=CA|SR|91}} in [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]]
|counties=[[Orange County, California|Orange]]
|previous_type=SR
|previous_route=54
|next_type=SR
|next_route=56
}}

'''State Route 55''' ('''SR&nbsp;55''') is an 18-mile (30-km) long north&ndash;south [[state highway]] that passes through suburban [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] in the U.S. state of [[California]]. The portion of the route built to freeway standards is known as the '''Costa Mesa Freeway''' (formerly the '''Newport Freeway'''). SR&nbsp;55 runs between Via Lido<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cahighways.org/049-056.html#055|title=California Highways (www.cahighways.org): Routes 49 through 56|website=Cahighways.org|access-date=29 June 2018}}l</ref> south of [[California State Route 1|Pacific Coast Highway (SR 1)]] in [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]] and [[State Route 91 (California)|the Riverside Freeway (SR 91)]] in [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]] to the north, intersecting other major Orange County freeways such as [[California State Route 22|SR&nbsp;22]], [[California State Route 73|SR&nbsp;73]], and [[Interstate 405 (California)|Interstate 405]] (I-405).

SR&nbsp;55 was first added to the state highway system in 1931, known as part of Legislative Route 43, and was routed on surface streets. It was renumbered SR&nbsp;55 in 1959, and the construction of the freeway portion began in the 1960s and continued until 1992. Due to congestion, several alternatives are being discussed to expand the freeway portion past its current end in Newport Beach. SR&nbsp;55 received the first [[carpool lane]] in Orange County in 1985, and the first direct carpool ramp in 1995.

==Route description==
[[File:CA55 at 17th Street in Santa Ana.jpg|thumb|right|Route 55 interchange with 17th Street in Santa Ana and Tustin]]
[[File:CA55 at Dyer Road Aerial.jpg|thumb|right|Interchange with Dyer Road]]
Starting at Via Lido on Newport Boulevard in [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]], {{convert|0.3|mi|km}} south of [[California State Route 1|SR&nbsp;1]], SR&nbsp;55 (Newport Boulevard) is a four-lane expressway for approximately {{convert|0.75|mi|km}} to its intersection with 17th Street in [[Costa Mesa, California|Costa Mesa]]. It then follows a traditional street routing through a retail and commercial section of Costa Mesa until its intersection with 19th Street. The segment on Newport Boulevard includes a limited-access interchange at [[State Route 1 (California)|SR&nbsp;1]]. Following the 19th Street intersection, SR&nbsp;55 becomes an eight-lane [[grade separation|below-grade]] freeway that bisects the northbound and southbound lanes of Newport Boulevard until the Mesa Drive undercrossing.<ref name="gmaps" />

North of Fair Drive, SR&nbsp;55 is an at-grade or above-grade freeway, with the exception of a {{convert|1|mi|km}} stretch between the 1st Street/4th Street exit and the 17th Street exit in [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]], which is below-grade. SR&nbsp;55 intersects [[California State Route 73|SR&nbsp;73]] and [[I-405 (CA)|I-405]] next to [[John Wayne Airport]]. The freeway continues north into [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]] and [[Tustin, California|Tustin]], where there is an interchange with [[I-5 (CA)|I-5]]. Southbound SR 55 does not have a direct link to northbound I-5.<ref name="gmaps" />

SR&nbsp;55 continues north into [[Orange, California|Orange]], where it meets the eastern terminus of [[California State Route 22|SR&nbsp;22]]. Following this, the freeway continues almost due north until reaching its northern terminus at [[California State Route 91|SR&nbsp;91]] near the [[Santa Ana River]]. After the last exit, Lincoln Avenue and Nohl Ranch Road, there is an entrance to the 91 Express Lanes from the HOV lane.<ref name="gmaps">{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/?ll=33.748893,-117.740479&spn=0.254636,0.537643&t=m&z=11|title=SR&nbsp;55|access-date=10 February 2008}}</ref>

Today, SR&nbsp;55 is a heavily travelled corridor linking southern [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] with SR&nbsp;91, the main corridor between the [[Inland Empire (California)|Inland Empire]] and the [[Los Angeles Metropolitan Area]], as well as [[Interstate 5|I-5]], the main north&ndash;south corridor for California. A [[HOV lane]] has been built along the entire freeway portion from I-405 to SR 91, with some direct access ramps, including one for I-5. However, congestion is still very prevalent throughout the day, as is the norm with many Orange County freeways; Route 55 experiences a peak daily traffic volume of 262,000 vehicles and 17,292 trucks.<ref name="2005 Average Annual Daily Truck Traffic on the California highway system">{{cite book|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/saferesr/trafdata/truck2005final.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129221316/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/saferesr/trafdata/truck2005final.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2007|title=2005 Average Annual Daily Truck Traffic on the California highway system|access-date=24 July 2012|page=94|publisher=[[California Department of Transportation]]|author=Staff}}</ref><ref name="55rep" />

SR&nbsp;55 is part of the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]],<ref name="cafes">{{CAFESystem}}</ref> and is part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name=fhwa-nhs>{{FHWA NHS map|region=losangeles|access-date=October 14, 2017}}</ref> a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref name=NHS-FHWA>{{FHWA NHS}}</ref> SR&nbsp;55 from SR&nbsp;91 to Costa Mesa is known as the Costa Mesa Freeway, as named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 177, Chapter 86 in 1976.<ref>{{CA Named Freeways | pages=41}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:CA 55.JPG|thumb|right|SR&nbsp;55 southbound at I-405 interchange in Costa Mesa]]
SR&nbsp;55 was built in 1931 and originally numbered Route&nbsp;43. It was built from the southern terminus of SR&nbsp;1 (the [[Pacific Coast Highway (California)|Pacific Coast Highway]], or "PCH") and continued northbound on roughly the same route it follows today,<ref name="SR-55 Background and History" /> following Newport Road (today Newport Boulevard) northeast to Tustin, and then Tustin Avenue north to near its current terminus at [[California State Route 91|SR 91]].<ref name="1931map">{{cite map|year=1936|url=http://www.cosmos-monitor.com/ca/map1936/insets/la-vicinity.html|publisher=California Division of Highways|title=Road Map of California}}</ref> From here, Route&nbsp;43 continued east on what is now SR&nbsp;91 towards [[Riverside, California|Riverside]]. In 1959, the highway was renumbered as Route&nbsp;55, and its route was shortened from Route&nbsp;1 to the also-renumbered Route&nbsp;91.<ref name="SR-55 Background and History">{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist12/sr55PAC/55background.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020214163730/http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist12/sr55PAC/55background.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 14, 2002|title=SR-55 Background and History|access-date=5 July 2012|author=Staff|publisher=[[California Department of Transportation]]}}</ref> The freeway portion from Chapman Avenue to SR&nbsp;91 opened on January 18, 1962, at a cost of [[USD|$]]4.6&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|4600000|1962|r=2}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP}}).<ref name=latimes>{{cite news|title=New Freeway Section Will Open Today|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=18 January 1962|page=D15}}</ref> The segment between SR&nbsp;73 and Chapman Avenue opened in 1966.<ref name="55rep" />

SR&nbsp;55 was the first freeway in Orange County to receive carpool lanes, opened in October 1985 between I-405 and SR&nbsp;91. The stretch of SR&nbsp;55 between Mesa Drive and 19th Street in Costa Mesa was opened in 1992;<ref name="55rep">{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist12/planning/pdf/route55.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009184338/http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist12/planning/pdf/route55.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 9, 2010|title=Route Concept Report: State Route 55|access-date=4 July 2012|author=Staff|publisher=California Department of Transportation}}</ref> plans to extend SR&nbsp;55 freeway south from 19th Street to [[State Route 1 (California)|State Route 1]] were never realized<ref name="LAT" /> due to community opposition, fueling an amendment to the city charter to prevent this extension.<ref name="npbindy">{{cite news|last=Rogers|first=Bob|title=Mayor Howard Rogers and the Freeway Fight|url=http://www.newportbeachindy.com/2011/09/23/mayor-howard-rogers-freeway-fight/|access-date=5 July 2012|newspaper=Newport Beach Independent|date=23 September 2011|location=Newport Beach, California}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 1995, the direct carpool lane ramps between I-5 and SR&nbsp;55 were completed; these were the first in Orange County.<ref name="55rep" /> The year also saw further widening of SR&nbsp;55 between SR&nbsp;22 and McFadden Avenue. Between 1996 and 2002, the fifth lane in both directions was constructed between I-5 and SR&nbsp;91, funded with a [[sales tax]] of half a cent approved by Measure M.<ref>[http://www.octa.net/default.aspx?id=21252 OCTA Completed Freeway Projects]</ref> In April 2007, the [[Orange County Transportation Authority]] approved funds to study the feasibility of extending the Costa Mesa Freeway south to 17th Street via tunnels or [[Overpass|flyover]] ramps.<ref name="LAT">{{cite news | url=http://www.thetransitcoalition.us/newspdf/lat20070422a.pdf | title=OC Set To Study New End to 55 Freeway | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | page=2 | access-date=22 April 2007 | archive-date=20 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720034726/http://www.thetransitcoalition.us/newspdf/lat20070422a.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> The segment of SR&nbsp;55 from Finley Street to the [[Newport Channel]] bridge was legally authorized to be turned over to the city of Newport Beach in 2009.<ref name="CAstat2009">{{cite web|url=http://legiscan.com/gaits/text/63238|title=Bill Text: CA Assembly Bill 344 - 2009-2010 Session|access-date=5 July 2012|author=Staff|publisher=LegiScan}} <!--{{cite CAstat|year=2009|ch=238}}--></ref>

In the mid 2000s, Caltrans began adding the city of [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]] as a control city on State Route 55 North. Signs that mention State Route 55 North would have the newer reflective posting pasted over the button sign or would be replaced with a new one that says "Anaheim/Riverside" to reflect this change.

SR&nbsp;55 was formerly called the Newport Freeway.<ref name="1965 map">{{cite map|year=1965|title=California|publisher=Shell Oil Company}}</ref> In 2010, the stretch between Chapman and Katella Avenues in the [[Orange, California|City of Orange]] was renamed the '''Paul Johnson Freeway''' for longtime local radio and television traffic reporter Paul Johnson, who died the same year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gauthier |first=Andrew |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/longtime-knbc-traffic-reporter-gets-his-own-freeway/ |title=Longtime KNBC Traffic Reporter Paul Johnson Gets His Own Freeway - TVSpy |publisher=Mediabistro.com |date=2011-02-23 |access-date=7 July 2012 |archive-date=2012-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514071107/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/longtime-knbc-traffic-reporter-gets-his-own-freeway_b6968 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 21, 2021, a [[road rage]] incident occurred in which the perpetrator fatally shot 6-year-old Aiden Leos, a passenger in his mother's car as it was traveling on the 55 Freeway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abc7.com/aiden-leos-boy-killed-orange-county-freeway-55-road-rage-shooting/10680968/|title=Family of boy killed on Orange County freeway grateful for outpouring of community support|access-date=3 June 2021|author=Amy Powell|date=23 May 2021 |publisher=ABC news}}</ref> On June 6, Marcus Anthony Eriz and Wynne Lee were arrested in connection with the death. Both suspects pleaded not guilty in court on June 18.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2021/06/11/aiden-leos-to-be-memorialized-in-plaque-at-oc-zoo|title=Aiden Leos to be memorialized with plaque at OC Zoo|author=Nathaniel Percy|publisher=Orange County Register|date=June 11, 2021}}</ref>

== Exit list ==
{{CAinttop|exit
|length_ref=<ref name=calnexus>{{cite web |date= April 18, 2008 |first= KS |last= Warring |publisher= [[California Department of Transportation]] |work= [[California Numbered Exit Uniform System]] |url= http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/55.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160820211654/http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/55.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 20, 2016 |title= Route 55 Freeway Interchanges |access-date= May 16, 2015}}</ref>
|exit_ref=<ref name=calnexus/>
|county=Orange
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Newport Beach
|lspan=4
|mile=0.00
|mspan=2
|exit=—
|espan=2
|road=Newport Boulevard south
|notes=Continuation beyond Finley Avenue
}}
{{CAint
|mile=none
|road=Finley Avenue
|notes=Original southern terminus of SR 55<ref name="South end" group=lower-alpha>Miles and exit numbers are measured from SR 55's original southern end at Finley Avenue, before the segment between Finley Avenue and Via Lido was deleted and relinquished to local control in 2014.</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|exit=—
|mile=0.10
|road=Via Lido
|notes=South end of state maintenance<ref name="South end" group=lower-alpha/>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=0.27
|exit=1
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|1|name1=[[Pacific Coast Highway (California)|Pacific Coast Highway]]|city1=Laguna Beach|city2=Huntington Beach|city3=Long Beach}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Costa Mesa
|lspan=10
|type=incomplete
|mile=1.87
|exit=2
|road=Newport Boulevard north, [[Harbor Boulevard]]
|notes=South end of freeway; northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=2.77
|exit=3
|road=Victoria Street, 22nd Street
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=4.02
|exit=4
|road=Del Mar Avenue, Fair Drive
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=4.74
|mspan=3
|exit=5A
|road={{jct|state=CA|SR|73|name1=[[Corona del Mar Freeway]]|dir1=south|location1=[[San Diego]] via toll road}}
|notes=SR 73 north exits 17A-B
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=none
|exit=5B
|road={{jct|state=CA|SR|73|name1=[[Corona del Mar Freeway]]|dir1=north|to2=to|I|405|dir2=north|name2=[[Interstate 405 (California)|San Diego Freeway]]|city1=Long Beach}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; SR 73 south exit 17A
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=5C
|road=Baker Street
|notes=Signed as exit 5B southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=5.99
|mspan=2
|exit=6A
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|405|name1=[[Interstate 405 (California)|San Diego Freeway]]|dir1=north|city1=Long Beach}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; northbound access is via exit 5B; I-405 south exit 9A
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=6B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|405|name1=[[Interstate 405 (California)|San Diego Freeway]]|dir1=south|city1=San Diego|city2=John Wayne Airport|extra=airport}}
|notes=Signed as exit 6 northbound; I-405 north exit 9A
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=hov
|mile=
|exit=♦
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|405|dir1=south}}
|notes=[[High-occupancy vehicle lane|HOV]] access only; southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=hov
|mile=
|exit=♦
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|405|dir1=north}}
|notes=[[High-occupancy vehicle lane|HOV]] access only; southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Irvine
|location2=Santa Ana
|mile=6.99
|exit=7
|road=MacArthur Boulevard, Main Street
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Santa Ana
|mile=7.85
|exit=8
|road=Dyer Road
|notes=Signed as exits 8A (east) and 8B (west) southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Santa Ana
|location2=Tustin
|lspan=2
|mile=9.44
|exit=9
|road=Edinger Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=9.96
|mspan=3
|exit=10A
|road=McFadden Avenue
|notes=Signed as exit 10 southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Tustin
|lspan=3
|type=hov
|mile=none
|exit=♦
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|5|dir1=north|city1=Santa Ana}}
|notes=HOV access only; northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=none
|exit=10B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|5|name1=[[Santa Ana Freeway]]|dir1=north|city1=Santa Ana}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; southbound access is via exit 11B; I-5 south exit 103
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=10.98
|mspan=2
|exit=11A 
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|5|name1=[[Santa Ana Freeway]]|dir1=south|city1=San Diego}}
|notes=I-5 north exits 103A-B
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Santa Ana
|location2=Tustin
|lspan=2
|mile=none
|exit=11B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|road|4th Street|I|5|dir2=north|to2=to|road|Irvine Boulevard}}
|notes=“To I-5” is not signed northbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=11.79
|exit=12
|road=17th Street
|notes=Signed as exits 12A (east) and 12B (west) southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Orange
|lspan=4
|mile=12.97
|exit=13
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|22|dir1=west|name1=[[Garden Grove Freeway]]|city1=Long Beach}}
|notes=SR 22 east exits 17B-C
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=13.70
|exit=14
|road=Chapman Avenue ([[County Route S25 (California)|CR S25]] east)
|notes=Signed as exits 14A (east) and 14B (west) northbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=15.24
|exit=15
|road=Katella Avenue ([[County Route S18 (California)|CR S18]] south) – [[Villa Park, California|Villa Park]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=16.98
|exit=17
|road=Lincoln Avenue, Nohl Ranch Road
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Anaheim
|lspan=3
|mile=17.83
|mspan=3
|exit=18A
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|91|name1=Riverside Freeway|dir1=west|city1=Los Angeles}}
|notes=Northern terminus of SR 55; SR 91 exit 34
|nspan=3
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=etc
|mile=none
|exit=—
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR-Express|91|dir1=east}}
|notes=none
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=18B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|91|name1=Riverside Freeway|dir1=east|city1=Anaheim|city2=Riverside}}
|notes=none
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=etc,hov,incomplete}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

== See also ==
* {{portal-inline|California Roads}}
* {{portal-inline|Greater Los Angeles}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title, inline}}
{{Commons category|California State Route 55}}
{{CASR external links|SR|55}}
*[http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-055.html California @ AARoads.com - State Route 55]
*[http://www.cahighways.org/049-056.html#055 California Highways: SR 55]

[[Category:State highways in California|055]]
[[Category:Southern California freeways|055]]
[[Category:Roads in Orange County, California|State Route 055]]
[[Category:Newport Beach, California]]
[[Category:Transportation in Anaheim, California]]
[[Category:Costa Mesa, California]]