Editing Interstate 8 (section)

====Subsequent expansion====
Even before the freeway was complete in California, bidding began in 1964 on widening I-8 from six to eight lanes between near Fairmount Avenue and Spring Street, in San Diego and La Mesa.<ref>{{cite news |title = Bids on 4 Southland Road Projects Called |work = Los Angeles Times |date = March 24, 1964 |page = 22 |oclc = 3638237 }}</ref> Three years later, a contract was granted for the widening of the Fairmount Avenue to Ward Road stretch, adding two lanes to the freeway.<ref>{{cite news |title = Contract Let For Widening of Interstate 8 |work = The San Diego Union |date = March 31, 1967 |page = B11 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> In 1974, the San Diego City Council reached an agreement with state officials to improve I-8 from east of Pacific Highway to Texas Street, over the objections of Councilman Floyd Morrow, who objected to solving traffic issues by continuing to expand freeways. The cost was estimated to be $8&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite news |title = I-8 Freeway Improvement Pact OKd |work = The San Diego Union |date = February 20, 1974 |page = B4 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|8000000|1974|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars).{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}}

The La Mesa City Council asked the state to modify the interchange with SR&nbsp;125 in 1974; the original interchange did not allow for access to SR&nbsp;125 from I-8 east or to I-8 west from SR&nbsp;125.<ref>{{cite news |title = City Asks Interchange Construction |work = The San Diego Union |date = July 25, 1974 |author = Staff |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> Widening of the portion from SR&nbsp;125 to El Cajon Boulevard to five lanes in each direction was under way in October.<ref>{{cite news |title = Roadwork Begins In Area |work = The San Diego Union |date = October 31, 1974 |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> By 1981, the [[environmental impact report]] had been completed, and the $50&nbsp;million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|50000000|1981|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} project to add ramps and widen I-8 was awaiting clearance from the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Interchange Project Nears Green Light |work = The San Diego Union |date = May 20, 1981 |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> Additional ramps to SR&nbsp;67 were nearing completion in May&nbsp;1985,<ref>{{Cite news |title = El Cajon Freeway Ramps to Open Soon |last = Grimaldi, James |date = May 30, 1985 |work = Evening Tribune |page = B6 |oclc = 37687666 }}</ref> and were completed to I-15 north in October.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Ramps are Opened Between Northbound I-15 and I-8 |last = Jahn, Ed |date = October 25, 1985 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B2 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> In 1986, the project revamping the SR&nbsp;125 interchange was under way, at a cost of $80&nbsp;million (about ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|80000000|1986|r=-6}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars);{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} it would add two more lanes to I-8 from Jackson Drive to Fuerte Drive, and allow for SR&nbsp;125 to be extended north past I-8.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Detour-Sign Watchers Have Field Day at Interchange |last = Taylor, Kathie |date = December 5, 1986 |work = Evening Tribune |page = B22 |oclc = 37687666 }}</ref>

By 1977, traffic had reached 172,300&nbsp;vehicles a day, which had increased by nearly 10&nbsp;percent over the previous year. It was hoped that the construction of [[California State Route 52|SR&nbsp;52]] would help to reduce the congestion.<ref>{{cite news |title = Traffic Congestion Plagues Interstate 8 |work = The San Diego Union |date = May 1, 1977 |author = Hudson, Ken |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> A revised Mission Gorge Road eastbound exit opened in 1979, merging with traffic from I-15.<ref>{{cite news |title = New Mission Gorge Exit on I-8 to Open Today |work = Los Angeles Times |date = August 23, 1979 |page = SD A10 |oclc = 3638237 }}</ref> Traffic reached 212,000&nbsp;vehicles a day by February&nbsp;1981, and Caltrans declared I-8 east of I-805 the busiest highway in the region.<ref>{{Cite news |title = CalTrans Study Says Interstate 8 Stretch is Busiest Artery in Area |last = Fuentes, Henry |date = April 20, 1984 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B3 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> In 1987, Caltrans determined that I-8 west between College Avenue and Waring Road had the highest ratio of cars to number of lanes worldwide, at 2400&nbsp;cars per hour.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Interstate 8 from College Avenue to Waring is the Amazon of Freeways |last = Okerblom, Jim |date = September 20, 1987 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B6 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> Plans to add another lane to I-8 west from College Avenue to I-15 began in March&nbsp;1992.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Lane-Widening May Snarl Traffic on I-8 |last = Kucher, Karen |date = March 3, 1992 |work = San Diego Union-Tribune |page = B1 |oclc = 25257675 }}</ref>

Caltrans proposed the installation of a metered [[traffic signal]] on I-8 west in Lakeside during 1987, in order to improve traffic flow in the mornings by inserting a short delay before entering San Diego should the rate exceed 2,000&nbsp;vehicles per hour.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Stoplight on I-8 May Ease Traffic |last = Okerblom, Jim |date = October 28, 1987 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref> However, the state put its plans on hold shortly thereafter, following several concerns from the public, and from state senator Jim Ellis.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Stoplight Turned Red by Protests |last = Carson, Daniel |date = October 29, 1987 |work = The San Diego Union |page = B1 |oclc = 13155544 }}</ref>