Interstate 105 East


Interstate 105 east
Upon passing the California Street traffic signal, the left two lanes transition directly onto Interstate 105. The right two lanes will connect to Imperial Highway east. Use Imperial Highway connects to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and California 1/Sepulveda Boulevard (Pacific Coast Highway). Interstate 105/Imperial Highway splits between the city of Los Angeles to the north and El Segundo (population 16,033 as of 2000 Census, incorporated January 18, 1917) to the south. While Interstate 105 will leave El Segundo at the Aviation Boulevard overpass prior to the Interstate 405 interchange, it will leave and then reenter Los Angeles near the Interstate 110 interchange. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Eastbound Interstate 105 and Imperial Highway split at Exit 1. The left two lanes transition onto the Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway, while the right two lanes link to Imperial Highway and California 1/Sepulveda Boulevard to LAX. These signs provide a choice for motorists along eastbound. Note the freeway entrance signs posted at the bottom of the overhead sign support; these mark the western terminus of Interstate 105. From here, Interstate 105 proceeds east toward Norwalk. Photo taken 07/19/09.
A second freeway entrance shield assembly along with a begin freeway sign marks the beginning of Interstate 105, which opened to traffic in 1993. At the time of completion, Interstate 105 was anticipated to be the last Interstate freeway to be completed in the Los Angeles area. Interstate 210 will take over that title once California 210 is upgraded to Interstate status in eastern Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Now on the elevated viaduct section, the first Interstate 105 east reassurance shield is posted between the Imperial Highway off-ramp and Interstate 405. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Office buildings line the south side of the freeway, while Los Angeles International Airport dominates the view to the north. The freeway will remain on an elevated viaduct until passing over California 1 and meeting Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway). Photo taken 07/19/09.
Another Interstate 105 east reassurance shield is posted after traffic from California 1/Sepulveda Boulevard and Imperial Highway joins the freeway. Photo taken 07/19/09.
A third Interstate 105 east reassurance shield is posted after traffic from Atwood Way and Nash Street joins Interstate 105. The next exit along eastbound is Exit 2, Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway). Photo taken 07/19/09.
The right two lanes will connect to Exit 2, Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway). Interstate 405 is a major north-south freeway corridor that links Irvine, Long Beach, Los Angeles International Airport, West Los Angeles (near Santa Monica), and Sylmar. The portion of Interstate 405 from Long Beach to Sylmar roughly parallels Sepulveda Boulevard, which is/was part of California 1 and former California 7. Photo taken 07/19/09.
A dynamic message sign, along with an indicator for when the ramp meters are active for the transition ramp to Interstate 405. The Interstate 105-405 interchange is named for Sadao S. Munemori, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. Briefly, Interstate 105 skirts the north edge of Del Aire, an unincorporated community at the southwestern quadrant of the Interstate 105-405 interchange (Interstate 105 leaves the city of El Segundo at the Aviation Boulevard underpass). Photo taken 07/19/09.
Eastbound Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway meets Exit 2, Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway). Interstate 105 continues east toward Inglewood, South Gate, Downey, and Norwalk, while Interstate 405 leads south to Long Beach and north to the San Fernando Valley. The section of Interstate 405 north of here, between Interstate 105 and Interstate 10 (Santa Monica Freeway), is among the busiest freeways in the country. Photo taken 07/19/09.
A high occupancy vehicle (HOV or carpool) lane begins on the left side of the eastbound carriageway. The carpool lane will continue all the way to Norwalk. Unlike other Los Angeles Basin freeways, the carpool lanes are an original design feature, as is the Green Line, a light rail service that follows the median of the freeway. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Sure enough, the Green Line emerges into its position in the center of the freeway as we pass over Interstate 405. Although criticized for not connecting directly to LAX, plans call for the Green Line to extend to the airport in the future. An aggressive campaign to expand Los Angeles's growing light rail transit network in the coming years includes tie-ins to the Expo Line and links between downtown and the airport. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Transition (flyover) ramps between Interstate 405 south and Interstate 105 west and between Interstate 405 south to Interstate 105 east pass over the main lanes of Interstate 105. We remain on an elevated viaduct, but the freeway will soon lower itself to grade and eventually run below grade. Upon crossing through the Interstate 105-405 interchange, Interstate 105 leaves Los Angeles and Del Aire and now straddles the limits between unincorporated Lennox to the north and the city of Hawthorne (population 84,112 as of 2000 Census, incorporated July 12, 1922) to the south. Photo taken 07/19/09.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along Interstate 105 east: Exit 3, Prairie Avenue; Exit 5, Crenshaw Boulevard; and Exit 7A, Vermont Avenue. Photo taken 07/19/09.
The next exit along Interstate 105 east is Exit 3, Prairie Avenue (one-half mile). Use Prairie Avenue north to Hollywood Park and Inglewood. At this point, traffic from Interstate 405 merges onto Interstate 105 east at two separate on-ramps (first transition ramp is from Interstate 405 north, and the second on-ramp is from Interstate 405 south). Photo taken 07/19/09.

A Glenn Anderson Freeway sign, which appears to have been badly tagged by graffiti artists through the years, is posted shortly thereafter. Originally planned as the Century Freeway, Interstate 105 later gained the name Glenn Anderson Freeway in honor of the former Congressman, who was instrumental in achieving the freeway's completion and died in 1994. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Eastbound Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway reaches Exit 3, Prairie Avenue. There is no direct connection from Interstate 105 to Hawthorne Boulevard; this link must be achieved via Prairie Avenue. Hawthorne Boulevard is former California 107, which was decommissioned in 1965 north of Interstate 405 when freeway plans along the route were cancelled. The next off-ramp connects to Exit 5, Crenshaw Boulevard, followed by Exit 7A, Vermont Avenue and Exit 7B, Interstate 110 (Harbor Freeway) north to downtown Los Angeles and south to Long Beach. Photo taken 07/19/09.
The carpool lane begins here as the freeway becomes below grade. The Green Line will follow the freeway east from here to Norwalk. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Interstate 105 remains mostly in Hawthorne, but to the north the freeway skirts the city of Inglewood (population 112,580 as of 2000 Census, incorporated February 14, 1908). Photo taken 07/19/09.
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 5, Crenshaw Boulevard. This major north-south arterial extends north through Inglewood into the Los Angeles communities of Hyde Park, Leimert Park, Crenshaw, Jefferson Park, Lafayette Square, Country CLub Park, and Windsor Square. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Eastbound Interstate 105 reaches Exit 5, Crenshaw Boulevard. To the south, Crenshaw Boulevard leads through Hawthorne, Gardena, and Torrance en route to its southern terminus in Rancho Palos Verdes. Photo taken 07/19/09.
A dynamic message sign is posted on the Van Ness Avenue overpass. Photo taken 07/19/09.
This mileage sign along Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 7A, Vermont Avenue; Exit 7B, Interstate 110 (Harbor Freeway) north to downtown Los Angeles and south to Long Beach; and Exit 9, Central Avenue. Interstate 105 remains in the city of Hawthorne, dips briefly into unincorporated Athens, then reenters Los Angeles near the Interstate 110 interchange. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Interstate 110 is a major north-south freeway corridor that extends from San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles in the south north to downtown Los Angeles. This section of freeway is called the Harbor Freeway and was formerly designated as U.S. 6 and California 11 until 1964 and solely as California 11 until 1981. At Interstate 10, the Harbor Freeway changes from Interstate 110 to California 110. The state route continues through downtown and then northeast along Arroyo Seco Parkway (Pasadena Freeway) to Pasadena. The segment of Arroyo Seco Parkway from downtown to Pasadena was formerly designated as U.S. 66 and California 11 until 1964; from 1964 until 1981, it was solely designated as California 11. Parallel Figueroa Street predates the Harbor Freeway and Arroyo Seco Parkway. Figueroa Street carried the various route designations (U.S. 6, U.S. 66, and California 11) prior to the freeway construction. Photo taken 07/19/09.
At the next carpool (HOV) entrance/exit is the special direct connector between Interstate 105 and Interstate 110 for carpools only. This sign on the left advises carpool traffic that direct access to both Interstate 105 and Interstate 110 can be achieved in the restricted diamond HOV lane. A set of towering Los Angeles Department of Water and Power lines swoop over the freeway and briefly parallel Interstate 105 from here east to Interstate 110. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Another mileage sign along Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 7A, Vermont Avenue; Exit 7B, Interstate 110 (Harbor Freeway) north to downtown Los Angeles and south to Long Beach; and Exit 9, Central Avenue. Photo taken 07/19/09.
The right two lanes of Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east will connect to Exit 7B, Interstate 110 (Harbor Freeway). Photo taken 07/19/09.
The next exit along Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east is Exit 7A, Vermont Avenue and West 116th Place, followed by Exit 7B, Interstate 110 (Harbor Freeway). The interchange between Interstate 105 and Vermont Avenue is a standard diamond, but it partially overlays the massive Interstate 105-110 interchange. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Eastbound Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway reaches Exit 7A, Vermont Avenue. At this point, Interstate 105 leaves unincorporated Athens and re-enters the city of Los Angeles. The next exit is Exit 7B, Interstate 110 (Harbor Freeway), one-half mile. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Immediately thereafter, eastbound Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway reaches Exit 7B, Interstate 110 (Harbor Freeway). Note the carpool (high occupancy vehicle) lanes have their own exits to the left. Interstate 110 heads north toward downtown Los Angeles and south toward Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles. Photo taken 07/19/09.
This view looks at the transition ramp for Interstate 110 north/south as seen from the main lanes of Interstate 105 east. Photo taken 07/19/09.
The true enormity of the Interstate 105 and Interstate 110 interchange cannot be fully grasped from the main lanes of Interstate 105. Traffic on Interstate 110, which forms the lowest level in this five-level stack, can see and appreciate the height of this monumental construction. Levels of the stack include the regular, flyover connections between each direction plus the direct connections between carpool lanes on Interstate 105 and carpool lanes on Interstate 110 (Transitway). Photo taken 07/19/09.
Leaving the Interstate 110 mega-interchange, this mileage sign along Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 9, Central Avenue; Exit 10, Wilmington Avenue; and Exit 12, Long Beach Boulevard. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Another mileage sign along Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 9, Central Avenue; Exit 10, Wilmington Avenue; and Exit 12, Long Beach Boulevard. Photo taken 07/19/09.
With the 3+1 configuration (three general purpose lanes and one HOV/carpool lane) continuing east after the Interstate 110 interchange, the right lane of Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east becomes exit only for Exit 9, Central Avenue. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Eastbound Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway meets Exit 9, Central Avenue. The next exit is Exit 10, Wilmington Avenue. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Another carpool lane entrance/exit is located after the off-ramp to Central Avenue but prior to the on-ramp from Central Avenue to Interstate 105 east. The next exit is Wilmington Avenue. Leaving the city of Los Angeles again at the Central Avenue interchange, Interstate 105 skirts the northern edge of unincorporated Willowbrook. Photo taken 07/19/09.
After the merging area is complete, a second HOV/carpool lane sign is posted overhead. The on-ramp from Central Avenue is ahead. Photo taken 07/19/09.
The right lane of Interstate 105 east becomes exit only for Exit 10, Wilmington Avenue. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Eastbound Interstate 105 reaches Exit 10, Wilmington Avenue. Use Wilmington Avenue south to Willowbrook and the city of Compton and north to Watts, a community of the city of Los Angeles. The Metro Blue Line (north-south) and Green Line (in Interstate 105 median) meet at this interchange; a station is located near Wilmington Avenue. Photo taken 07/19/09.
This mileage sign along Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 12, Long Beach Boulevard; Exit 13, Interstate 710 (Long Beach Freeway) (former California 7 and former California 15) north to Alhambra and south to Long Beach; and Exit 14, Garfield Avenue. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Eastbound Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson Freeway reaches Exit 12, Long Beach Boulevard. This interchange serves the city of Lynwood (population 69,845 as of 2000 Census and incorporated on July 21, 1921), through which Interstate 105 will pass between the Alameda Street underpass and Interstate 710 interchange. The next exit is Exit 13, Interstate 710 (Long Beach Freeway). Photo taken 07/19/09.
This mileage sign along Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 13, Interstate 710 (Long Beach Freeway); Exit 14, Garfield Avenue; and Exit 16, California 19 (Lakewood Boulevard) (note the California 19 shield has been removed from this overhead sign). Photo taken 07/19/09.
Use Interstate 710 (Long Beach Freeway) south to reach Compton, Paramount, Carson, and Long Beach, as well as Terminal Island and San Pedro (via California 47). Use the right two lanes to reach Interstate 710 north/south (Exit 13). Interstate 710 was originally built as California 15 in the late 1950s and was renumbered as California 7 in 1964 (since California 15 would conflict with then-new Interstate 15). California 7 was renumbered as Interstate 710 in 1984; today, California 7 is designated for a short expressway between Interstate 8 and the International Border near Calexico. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Eastbound Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway reaches the transition ramp for Exit 13, Interstate 710 (Long Beach Freeway). Use Interstate 710 north to reach Monterey Park, Alhambra, and East Los Angeles. Due to the lack of a freeway connection across South Pasadena, Interstate 710 does not connect to the city of Pasadena. Atlantic Boulevard or Fair Oaks Boulevard are alternate routes that can be used north of Interstate 10 to reach Pasadena. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Now on the transition ramp from eastbound Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson Freeway to Interstate 710, the symmetrical stack interchange offers a connection to both northbound and southbound Interstate 710 (Long Beach Freeway). Photos taken 07/19/09 and 05/30/04.
The next exit along Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east is Exit 14, Garfield Avenue. In the distance ahead is the Interstate 710 interchange complex. Photo taken 07/19/09.
The right lane of Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east becomes exit only for Exit 14, Garfield Avenue. This off-ramp will serve the city of Paramount (population 55,266 as of the 2000 Census and incorporated on January 30, 1957). After passing through the Interstate 710 interchange, Interstate 105 will leave Lynwood, cross the Los Angeles River, and enter Paramount. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson Freeway passes through the symmetrical stack interchange with Interstate 710 and cross over the Los Angeles River. Photos taken 07/19/09.
Shortly after passing through the Interstate 710 interchange, eastbound Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway meets the off-ramp to Exit 14, Garfield Avenue. Use Garfield Avenue south to Paramount or north to the city of South Gate (population 96,375 as of the 2000 Census and incorporated on January 20, 1923). Photo taken 07/19/09.
An off-ramp offers access to Garfield Avenue from the ramp linking Interstate 710 north to Interstate 105 east. The overhead sign for this connection is visible from the eastbound lanes of Interstate 105. Photo taken 07/19/09.
The next exit along Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east is Exit 16, California 19 (Lakewood Boulevard) (1.50 miles). With the transfer of maintenance of Lakewood Boulevard from state to local cities, California 19 has been gradually decommissioned. However, signage for the route remains along much of Lakewood Boulevard to provide route continuity, since the route is being decommissioned in stages. Photo taken 07/19/09.
A series of bridges cross over Interstate 105 as the freeway proceeds east through the northern edge of Paramount and corner of South Gate. At the Gardendale Street overpass (no exit), Interstate 105 will leave Paramount and enter the city of Downey. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Another carpool lane entrance/exit is located between Garfield Avenue and Lakewood Boulevard. Photo taken 07/19/09.
This mileage sign along Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east provides the distance to the next four exits: Exit 16, California 19 (Lakewood Boulevard); Exit 17, Bellflower Boulevard; Exit 18A, Interstate 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) south to Long Beach and Seal Beach; and Exit 18B, Interstate 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) north to Duarte. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Eastbound Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway reaches Exit 16, California 19 (Lakewood Boulevard). Shortly before this interchange, Interstate 105 leaves Paramount and enters the city of Downey (population 107,323 as of 2000 Census and incorporated on December 17, 1956). The next exit along eastbound is Exit 17, Bellflower Boulevard. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Passing under Lakewood Boulevard, this mileage sign along Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 17, Bellflower Boulevard; Exit 18A, Interstate 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) south to Long Beach and Seal Beach; and Exit 18B, Interstate 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) north to Duarte. This overhead sign also advises of the eastern terminus of Interstate 105, which occurs at Interstate 605 (for mainline traffic) and Studebaker Road (for carpool/HOV traffic). This type of advance end signage is uncommon in California. Photo taken 07/19/09.
The right lane of Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east becomes exit only for Exit 17, Bellflower Boulevard. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Eastbound Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway reaches Exit 17, Bellflower Boulevard. The final interchange along Interstate 105 east connects to Exit 18A, Interstate 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) south to Long Beach and Seal Beach; Exit 18B, Interstate 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) north to Duarte; and Exit 18C, Studebaker Road (HOV/carpool access only, left exit). Photo taken 07/19/09.
HOV/carpool lane traffic on Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway east must merge into the main lanes for the connection to Exit 18A, Interstate 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) south to Long Beach and Seal Beach and Exit 18B, Interstate 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) north to Duarte. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Conversely, HOV/carpool traffic may merge left into the HOV lane for the connection to Exit 18C, Studebaker Road. Signage for the final HOV exit to Studebaker Road is not particularly evident. An Interstate 605 advance sign is posted for Exits 18A-B. Photo taken 07/19/09.
As Interstate 105/Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway crescendos to an end, the right lanes will connect to Interstate 605 south, the middle lanes will connect to Interstate 605 north, and the left HOV lane will connect to Studebaker Road in Norwalk. Photo taken 07/19/09.
A second set of signs advises of the connections from Interstate 105 to Interstate 605 and Studebaker Road (this is the first overhead to show Studebaker Road). The Metro Green Line also terminates at this interchange and does not continue any further east than Interstate 105. At this point, traffic for Exit 18C, Studebaker Road, peels off to the left. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Interstate 105 ends as the freeway splits, with left lanes connecting to Interstate 605 north and right lanes connecting to Interstate 605 south. During planning phases, Interstate 605 designated as California 240 between California 22 and Interstate 405, Interstate 605 (replacing former California 35/Norwalk Boulevard) from Interstate 405 to Interstate 10 (built in phases starting in 1964), and California 243 from Interstate 10 to Interstate 210 (built by 1971). At this point, we leave Downey and enter the city of Norwalk (population 103,298 as of the 2000 Census and incorporated on August 26, 1957). While plans originally called for a connection to Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) through Norwalk, that routing will not be built due to a variety of reasons: community opposition, cost, and technical difficulties to connect to Interstate 5 due to the older infrastructure on the Santa Ana Freeway. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Now on the transition from Interstate 105 east to Interstate 605 south, an off-ramp leads to Rosecrans Avenue. Ahead, traffic from Interstate 105 will merge onto Interstate 605 south. Photo taken 07/19/09.
Looking at the freeway between Interstate 605 and Exit 18C, Studebaker Road, this section of Interstate 105 between Studebaker Road and Interstate 605 is open only to high occupancy vehicles (i.e., carpools, buses, and other vehicles with two or more vehicles). The HOV lanes end at a traffic signal with Studebaker Road in Norwalk. Photo taken 06/19/10.


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Page Updated September 11, 2010.

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