California 60 West - Interstate 10 east to Interstate 215 south

California 60 - Moreno Valley Freeway west
California 60 begins as a divided highway after splitting off of Interstate 10 eastbound in Beaumont. This photo shows westbound California 60 after the Interstate 10 interchange at sunset. Photos taken 05/01/02.
From the left exit off of Interstate 10, westbound California 60 begins its trek toward Los Angeles, some 70 miles west of here. California 60 begins in the city of Beaumont. Sitting at an elevation of 2,612 feet, Beaumont sits at the confluence of Interstate 10, California 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway), and California 79 (Lamb Canyon Road). The population of Beaumont was 11,384 people as of the 2000 Census, but new housing developments have increased the population significantly in the ensuing eight years. Incorporated on November 18, 1912, Beaumont is located near the San Gorgonio Pass, which separates Mount San Gorgonio on the north from Mount San Jacinto on the south. California 60 will leave this gap and travel west into the Badlands, then descend into the Moreno Valley. Photo taken 02/26/06.
Initially, California 60 meets expressway standards despite changing into a freeway several miles west of Interstate 10. Note the limited shoulders and 65 mile per hour speed limit. Photo taken 02/26/06.
The first intersection along California 60 west is with Western Knolls Avenue. Photo taken 02/26/06.
Shortly after the Western Knolls Avenue intersection, a California 60 west reassurance shield is posted along the mainline. Photo taken 02/26/06.

This mileage sign provides the distance to Moreno Valley (16 miles), Riverside (22 miles), and downtown Los Angeles (73 miles). Photo taken 02/26/06.
Through the Badlands, trucks and cars towing trailers must use the right lane. Due to limited sight distances, no passing is permitted by trucks or cars towing trailers through this section of California 60. Photo taken 02/26/06.
After the next reassurance shield for California 60 is a sign for the Moreno Valley Freeway. California 60 will carry this designation from Interstate 10 west to the Interstate 215 and California 91 interchange near downtown Riverside. Photo taken 02/26/06.
While scenic through the Badlands, California 60 carries a great deal of traffic that can tie up on the winding road down to the valley floor. Photo taken 02/26/06.
Although there are wide shoulders here, the expressway narrows a bit to descend into the Moreno Valley. Photo taken 02/26/06.
The next exit along westbound California 60 is Exit 68, Gilman Springs Road. Gilman Springs Road travels southeast to meet up with California 79 north of Hemet. The next exit is Exit 67, Theodore Street. This is the first exit along westbound to serve the city of Moreno Valley. Photo taken 02/26/06.
Westbound California 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway) reaches Exit 68, Gilman Springs Road southeast to California 79 near Hemet. Photo taken 02/26/06.
The next eight exits all serve the city of Moreno Valley (population 142,381 as of the 2000 Census). The eastern half of the city is known as Rancho Belago (which generally spans from east of Gilman Springs Road to Lasselle Street). Sitting at an elevation of 1,650 feet, Moreno Valley incorporated on December 3, 1984, as a general law city. Moreno Valley is dominated by Box Springs Mountain (with an "M" for "Moreno" on the mountain), and the mountain is located north of the Interstate 215 and California 60 merge. March Air Reserve Base (ARB) is located in this city as well (south via Interstate 215 (Escondido Freeway)); a museum is located on the base, and some cargo flight operations are conducted at this location. Photo taken 02/26/06.
Westbound California 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway) reaches Exit 67, Theodore Street. Photo taken 02/26/06.
California 60 enters the city of Moreno Valley upon crossing under Theodore Street. Photo taken 02/26/06.
The next exit along California 60 west is Exit 66, Redlands Boulevard. Photo taken 02/26/06.
An exit number tab was affixed to this roadside guide sign for Exit 66, Redlands Boulevard. Photo taken 02/26/06.
Westbound California 60 reaches Exit 66, Redlands Boulevard. Photo taken 02/26/06.
The next exit along California 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway) west is Exit 65, Auto Mall Parkway and Moreno Beach Drive. Photo taken 02/26/06.
Westbound California 60 reaches Exit 65, Auto Mall Parkway and Moreno Beach Drive. A Super Target and Wal-Mart are located near the Auto Mall at this interchange. Photo taken 02/26/06.
The next exit along California 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway) west is Exit 64, Nason Street. Use Nason Street to the Riverside County Medical Center. Photo taken 02/26/06.
Westbound California 60 reaches Exit 64, Nason Street. Photo taken 02/26/06.
The next exit along California 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway) west is Exit 62, California 60 Business/Sunnymead Boulevard west and Perris Boulevard north and south (junction two miles). Photo taken 02/26/06.
Around this point, California 60 leaves the community of Rancho Belago but remains in the city of Moreno Valley. California 60 Business follows old California 60 along Sunnymead Boulevard from Perris Boulevard west to Pigeon Pass Road (return to freeway at Exit 60). Photo taken 02/26/06.
Westbound California 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway) reaches Exit 62, Perris Boulevard north/south and California 60 Business/Sunnymead Boulevard west. Photo taken 02/26/06.
The next exit along California 60 west is Exit 61, Heacock Street (one mile). Photo taken 02/26/06.
Heacock Street is another north-south arterial street in the city of Moreno Valley. Photo taken 02/26/06.
Westbound California 60 reaches Exit 61, Heacock Street. Photo taken 02/26/06.
The next exit along California 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway) west is Exit 60, Pigeon Pass Road and Frederick Street. The business route returns to California 60 at this interchange. Photo taken 02/26/06.
An exit tab for Exit 60 was posted on top of the roadside sign for Exit 60, Pigeon Pass Road and Frederick Street. Photo taken 02/26/06.
Westbound California 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway) reaches Exit 60, Pigeon Pass Road and Frederick Street. Photo taken 02/26/06.
The next exit along California 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway) west is Exit 59, Day Street. Photo taken 05/05/12.
To March Air Reserve Base, use Day Street south. Photo taken 05/05/12.
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 59, Day Street. Photo taken 05/05/12.
California 60 leaves Moreno Valley and enters the city of Riverside ("City of Arts and Innovation"). The city had a population 303,871 as of the 2010 Census and 255,166 as of the 2000 Census, an increase of 19.1% over ten years. Founded in 1870 by John North, Riverside was incorporated on October 11, 1883, consists of 81.4 square miles (and growing through planned annexations that have occurred or are planned to occur), and sits at an elevation of 860 feet. The city grew around the burgeoning citrus industry, although the number of active citrus groves in Riverside are not as common as they once were. Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and other citrus became the economic engine for Riverside; a grove is preserved as part of California Citrus State Historic Park (use California 91 west to the citrus park). Citrus was first planted in 1871, and nearly half of the 500,000 citrus trees in existence in California in 1882 were located in Riverside. While orange groves have gradually yielded to development through the years, several citrus groves remain actively cultivated in Riverside today. The historic Mission Inn is a major tourist attraction in downtown Riverside; it started with the core Glenwood Cottage in 1876, and eventually it expanded to encompass an entire city block. Today, the inn remains in business (despite being closed and restored between 1985 and 1992) complete with overnight accommodations, restaurants, and related attractions. Photo taken 05/05/12.
After the Day Street interchange, the next interchange along California 60 (Moreno Valley Freeway) west is Exit 58, Interstate 215 (Escondido Freeway). Use Interstate 215 south to Perris, Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula, Escondido, and San Diego. California 60 west merges with Interstate 215 north into the city of Riverside. Photo taken 05/05/12.
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 58, Interstate 215 south to San Diego. Photo taken 05/05/12.
Westbound California 60 reaches Exit 58, Interstate 215 southbound. From here, Interstate 215 northbound merges onto California 60 as they head northwest into Riverside. This section of freeway is frequently quite busy. Photo taken 05/05/12.
A pull-through overhead sign points the way to the continuation of California 60 west and Interstate 215 north through downtown Riverside. Photo taken 05/05/12.
Note the California 60 shield covers up an old U.S. 60 shield, and the Interstate 215 shield replaced a U.S. 395 shield. The outline of the old U.S. 395 shield is still visible. Photo taken 05/05/12.
Before passing under the transition ramp from California 60 east to Interstate 215 south, we find this advance guide sign for Exit 30A, Fair Isle Drive and Box Springs. Since Interstate 215 will merge onto the freeway from the left, California 60 will use Interstate 215's exit numbers for the next several miles, until the two routes divide at the California 91 interchange. Photo taken 05/05/12.
Westbound California 60 meets Interstate 215's Exit 30A, Fair Isle Drive (California 60 will have its own Exit 30, Reservoir Street, about 28 miles west of here). This exit uses the Interstate 215 mileage, even though drivers on Interstate 215 north cannot access this off-ramp. The reason is because Caltrans treats each route segment as beginning at the center point of the interchange. Since we are past the center point of the 60-215 interchange, we are now officially on Interstate 215. Look ahead on the left for Interstate 215 to merge onto California 60 west. If not for this rule, this off-ramp could have been Exit 58A. Photo taken 05/05/12.
Traffic from Interstate 215 north joins California 60 west by merging from the left. The two routes will share pavement for the next several miles, until they separate at the massive 60-91-215 interchange. Photo taken 05/05/12.
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Page Updated October 5, 2012.

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