Portal:California roads/Selected article/15

State Route 76 (SR 76) is a 52.63-mile-long (84.70 km) state highway in the U.S. state of California. It is a frequently used east–west route in the North County region of San Diego County that begins in Oceanside near Interstate 5 (I-5) and continues east. The highway serves as a major route through the region, continuing east into the community of Bonsall while providing access to Fallbrook. East of the junction with I-15, SR 76 goes through Pala and Pauma Valley before terminating at SR 79. A route along the corridor has existed since the early 20th century, as has the bridge over the San Luis Rey River near Bonsall. The route was added to the state highway system in 1933, and was officially designated as SR 76 in the 1964 state highway renumbering, though the route was known as SR 76 before then. The section of the highway through Oceanside and Bonsall is mostly a four-lane expressway; east of Bonsall, SR 76 is mostly a two-lane highway. Originally, the entire highway was two lanes wide; west of Bonsall, the route was widened in stages, after decades of funding shortages, planning, and litigation. Caltrans plans to expand the entire length of the highway west of I-15 to an expressway.