California Highways: 
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Routing
Post 1964 Signage HistoryAs defined in 1963, Route 133 ran from "Route 1 near Laguna Beach to Route 5 near Irvine.".
In 1996, Chapter 1154 extended Route 133 to terminate at Route 241. This extension came from a transfer of a portion of former Route 231.
In 2020, Chapter 126 authorized the relinquishment to the City of Laguna Beach the portion of Route 133 that is located from Route 1 to El Toro Road by adding section 433.1:
Pre 1964 Signage HistoryThis route was unsigned before 1964, and was LRN 185 between Route 1 and I-5. The remainder of the current routing was not in the state highway system at that time.
Route 133 was not defined in the initial set of state signed routes in 1934.
Status
The portion of the route between Route 5 and Route 241
is a toll road. This route is the east leg of the Eastern Transportation
corridor. It connects the Foothill Transportation Corridor (Route 241)
with the Laguna (Route 133) Freeway just south of I-5.
El Toro Realignment
In October 2015, the CTC approved the following SHOPP funding: 12-Ora-133 3.1/3.6 Route 133 In
Laguna Beach, from 1700 feet south to 1300 feet north of El Toro Road.
Extend lanes in both directions. PAED: 02/01/17 R/W: 04/30/18 RTL:
05/31/18 CCA: 09/01/20 Costs: $1,230K (R/W); $3,870K (C). Completion
FY17/18. Support costs: PA & ED $1,215K; PS & E $1,820K; RW Sup
$550K; Con Sup $1,306K; Total $4,891K.
In October 2017, the CTC approved for future
consideration of funding a project, located in Orange County (12-Ora-133,
PM 3.1/3.6), that proposes to extend the north and southbound acceleration
lanes on Route 133 and re-align the El Toro Road westbound turn lane in
the city of Laguna Beach. The project is fully funded and programmed in
the 2016 SHOPP for $9,991,000. The project is estimated to begin
construction in Fiscal Year 202-21. The scope, as described for the
preferred alternative, is consistent with the project scope programmed by
the Commission in the 2016 SHOPP.
(Source: CTC October 2017 Agenda Item 2.2c.(1))
The following project was included in the final adopted 2018 SHOPP in March 2018: PPNO 12-Orange-133 3.1/3.6. On Route 133, In Laguna Beach, from 1,700 feet south to 1,300 feet north of El Toro Road. Extend lanes in both directions. Begin Con: 2/5/2021. Total Project Cost: $12,956K.
In December 2018, the CTC approved for future
consideration of funding a project located on Route 133 in Laguna Beach in
Orange County. The project proposes to improve safety at the Route 133/El
Toro intersection and improve drainage flow at the intersection. The
project proposes to widen existing shoulders and provide bike lanes. The
proposed project is estimated to cost approximately $41.1 million. This
project is funded through the State Highway Operations and Protection
Program (SHOPP) and the County of Orange and is currently programmed in
the 2018 SHOPP for approximately $21.4 million. Construction is estimated
to begin in 2021. The scope, as described for the preferred alternative,
is consistent with the project scope programmed by the Commission in the
2018 SHOPP.
(Source: December 2018 CTC Minutes, Agenda Item
2.2c(1))
In May 2019, the CTC approved the following SHOPP
Amendment 12-Ora-133 3.1/3.6 PPNO 4793 ProjID 1213000097. On Route 133 In
Laguna Beach, from 1,700 feet south to 1,300 feet north of El Toro Road.
Extend lanes in both directions. Increase R/W to $2,064; total to
$13,790K. Note: Due to refinements made during the design process, R/W
capital is increasing because of additional acquisition costs and permit
fees.
(Source: May 2019 Agenda Item 2.1c.(1) Amend Item
79)
In October 2020, the CTC approved the following SHOPP
Construction Phase allocation: $7,521,000 for Orange 12-Ora-133 PM
3.2/3.6. PPNO 12-4793 ProjID 1213000097 EA 0N060. Route 133 in Laguna
Beach, from 0.2 mile south to 0.2 mile north of El Toro Road. Outcome/Output:
Improve safety by extending the merge lanes in the northbound and
southbound directions. This project will reduce the number and
severity of collisions. Con Eng $2,109,000; Const $6,032,000. (CEQA - MND,
10/1/2018; Re-validation 6/5/2020) (NEPA - CE, 10/1/2018; Re-validation
6/5/2020) (Future consideration of funding approved under Resolution
E-17-66; October 2017.)
(Source: October 2020 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item
2.5b.(1) #27)
In February 2013, it was reported that during a highway-widening project
in California’s Laguna Canyon, scientists identified several new
species of early toothed baleen whales. Paleontologist Meredith Rivin of
the John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center in Fullerton,
California, presented the finds at the 2013 annual meeting of AAAS. The
Laguna Canyon outcrop, excavated between 2000 and 2005, turned out to be a
treasure trove containing hundreds of marine mammals that lived 17 million
to 19 million years ago. It included 30 cetacean skulls as well as an
abundance of other ocean dwellers such as sharks. Among those finds were
four newly identified species of toothed baleen whale—a type of
whale that scientists thought had gone extinct 5 million years earlier.
(Source: ScienceNow, 2/17/13)
In January 2011, the CTC relinquished right of way in the city of Irvine along Route 133 at Laguna Canyon Road, consisting of collateral facilities.
In June 2001, the CTC considered a proposal to adopt a routing for Route 133 from ORA 4.1 at Route 73 to ORA 8.1 0.3mi S of I-405. This was part of an eventual project to widen the 2-lane highway to 4-lanes. As part of this project, Route 133 was rerouted in July/August 2004. Caltrans launched the project in January 2003, focusing on a four-mile section between the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road (Route 73) and the San Diego Freeway (I-405). The road, built in the early 1900s, carries 29,000 cars a day. When construction was completed in 2006, the roadway was less curvy, have a new drainage system and have two lanes in each direction. The lanes opened fully in October 2006. The $32 million project on the northern half of the road involved rerouted around two lakes, which will eliminate flooding during the rainy season. It also has wider shoulders and a center median. Crews built four trail and wildlife crossings that will promote wildlife access between open-space areas east and west of the road. Utility lines are now underground, and there is a new bike lane. There are 29,000 cars that use the road each day in 2006; in 2020, that number will swell to 32,000 to 56,000 cars a day. The road was originally a stagecoach route.
405-to-5 Auxillary Lane (12-Orange-133 PM 8.5/M9.3)
The following project was included in the final adopted 2018 SHOPP in March 2018: PPNO 4846. 12-Orange-133 8.5/M9.3. Route 133 In Irvine, from southbound I-5/SB Route 133 Connector to southbound Route 133/NB I-405 Connector. Construct a new auxiliary lane to improve traffic flow. Begin Con: 3/1/2022. Total Project Cost: $25,102K.
The 2020 SHOPP, approved in May 2020, included the
following Mobility item of interest (carried over from the 2018 SHOPP):
12-Orange-133 PM 8.5/M9.3 PPNO 4846 Proj ID 1214000130 EA 0N890. Route 133
in Irvine, from SB I-5/SB Route 133 Connector to southbound Route 133/NB
I-405 Connector. Construct a new auxiliary lane to improve traffic flow.
Programmed in FY21-22, with construction scheduled to start at the end of
March 2022. Total project cost is $26,808K, with $16,885K being capital
(const and right of way) and $9,923K being support (engineering,
environmental, etc.).
(Source: 2020 Approved SHOPP a/o May 2020)
In May 2020, the CTC approved for future consideration
of funding for the Route 133 Operation Improvements Project
(12-Ora-133, PM 8.3/9.3), which will construct a new auxiliary lane on
southbound Route 133 in Orange County. (PPNO 4846). The project is located
in the City of Irvine in Orange County and proposes to construct a new
auxiliary lane on Route 133 from the North Bound (NB) I-405 connector to
the South Bound (SB) I-5 connector. This new auxiliary lane will become
the second lane on the NB Interstate 405 connector. This project is
currently programmed in the SHOPP for $25,102,000, which includes
Construction (capital and support) and Right of Way (capital and support).
The total estimated project cost is $182,298,000. Construction is
estimated to begin 2021-2022. The scope, as described for the preferred
alternative, is consistent with the project scope programmed by the
Commission in the 2018 SHOPP.
(Source: May 2020 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.2c.(1))
In May 2020, the CTC approved the following allocation:
12-Ora-133 8.5/M9.3. PPNO 4846 ProjID 1214000130 EA 0N890. Route 133
In Irvine, from southbound I-5/SB Route 133 Connector to southbound Route 133/NB I-405 Connector. Construct a new auxiliary lane to improve traffic
flow. Allocation: PS&E $3,224,000; R/W Support $652,000.
(Source: May 2020 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.5b.(2)
#32)
Exit Information
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NamingThe toll-free portions of this route (i.e., from Route 5 to Laguna Beach) is named the "Laguna Freeway". It was named by the State Highway Commission. The first segment of the Laguna Freeway opened in 1970.
The toll portion of this route is called the East Leg of the Eastern Transportation Corridor.
(Image source: ACEC of California)
The Laguna Canyon Road portion has been renamed the Veterans Memorial Highway. When this
was done is unknown, but there is at least one sign to this effect. It was
dedicated to the military veterans of Orange County, who numbered 252,000
at the time of the dedication in 1998.
(Image source: AARoads)
Freeway[SHC 253.1] From Route 73 to Route 241. Originally, the entire route was to be freeway (Route 1 to Route 5) was to be freeway (added to the Freeway and Expressway system in 1933); this was corrected by Assembly Bill 1650, Chapter 724, on 10/10/1999.
StatisticsOverall statistics for Route 133 (as of 1995, before the tollway was constructed or defined for the route):
Pre-1964 Legislative RouteIn 1933, Chapter 767 defined the route from "Visalia to Woodlake" as a state route; in 1935, it was added to the code as LRN 133 with this definition. This is present-day Route 216, and runs between Route 63 and Route 245 (former Route 65).
© 1996-2020 Daniel P. Faigin.
Maintained by: Daniel P. Faigin
<webmaster@cahighways.org>.
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Route 132
Route 134