By the early 1990s, the El Toro Y had become one of the most congested freeway interchanges in the world, its severe overcrowding fed by a housing boom in southern Orange County.

[citation needed] The traffic delays at the interchange sparked the construction of several parallel bypass toll roads.

An extension is planned from Cow Camp Road to Avenida La Pata (Antonio Parkway) in San Clemente in the near future.

[citation needed] SR 241 was proposed to connect to I-5 in northern San Diego County, but local opposition regarding environmental issues near Trestles have put the project on hold.

[6] The El Toro Y was referenced the 2011 episode "Angry Dad: the Movie" of the animated sitcom The Simpsons, when Bart gives Homer a list of "Must-See Attractions" in Los Angeles.