Click here for a key to the symbols used. An explanation of acronyms may be found at the bottom of the page.
No current routing.
In 1963, Route 171 was defined as "Route 5 near San Diego to Route 805 via Switzer Canyon."
In 1994, the previous routing for Route 171, from Route 5 near San Diego to Route 805 via Switzer Canyon, was deleted per AB 3132, Chapter 1220. This was part of a road system first proposed in 1926. It would have started at I-5 near downtown San Diego, run northeast to connect with I-805 near the I-8 junction, crossing several canyons, residential areas, and the Balboa Park Municipal Golf Course. A remnant of what was to be a freeway-to-freeway connection exists at the I-5 and Pershing Drive/B Street interchange (Exit 15B).
According to Tom Fearer, Switzer Canyon was the subject of numerous
proposals by the San Diego City Council to be added to the City Park
System beginning in the late 1970s. This culminated in 1987 when the
City of San Diego purchased Switzer Canyon which effectively blocked the
planned route of Route 171.
(Source: Tom Fearer, Gribblenation Blog "Paper Highways of San Diego; unbuilt California State Route 157, 171, and 252")
The 1964-1994 routing of Route 171 was LRN 284, defined in 1959. It was never signed.
Route 171 was not defined as part of the initial state signage of routes in 1934. It is unclear what (if any) route was signed as Route 171 between 1934 and 1964.
Originally to have been freeway; later deleted from SHC 253.1.
In 1933, Chapter 767 defined the route from "[LRN 60] near Huntington Beach to Whittier" as part of the state highway system. In 1935, this was added to the highway code as LRN 171, with the routing:
In 1951, Chapter 1562 changed the terminus: "… to [LRN 2]
near Whittier [LRN 62] at or near Buena Park"
This route ran from Route 1 near Huntington Beach to Route 39 near Buena Park. Between Route 1 and the US 101 junction, this was Route 39. Between Lincoln Ave and US 101, this was US 91; it ran along Huntington Beach Blvd; Stanton Ave; and Grand Ave.
© 1996-2020 Daniel P. Faigin.
Maintained by: Daniel P. Faigin
<webmaster@cahighways.org>.