Interstate 710 California

Interstate 710 California

Overview

I-710 at I-405 - Long Beach, CA

Interstate 710 leading south from I-405 adjacent to the Los Angeles River in Long Beach. 06/15/13

Interstate 710 connects Terminal Island and the city of Long Beach with East Los Angeles along the Long Beach Freeway. Carrying a substantial freight traffic, I-710 initially heads east from the Port of Long Beach across the Gerald Desmond Bridge toward Downtown Long Beach. Paralleling the Los Angeles River, the freeway travels north to Compton, Paramount, Lynnwood, South Gate and Downey.

Diverging with the culverted river, the Long Beach Freeway extends north through Commerce to I-5 (Golden State Freeway), and unincorporated East Los Angeles ahead of SR 60 (Pomona Freeway) and I-10 (San Bernardino Freeway). Interstate 710 spurs north to Valley Boulevard between the Los Angeles and Alhambra city line. The continuation of I-710 north remains unbuilt.

A short section of freeway spurs south from the exchange joining I-210 (Foothill Freeway) with SR 134 (Ventura Freeway) in the city of Pasadena. Designed as SR 710, but not signed in the field, the 1.75 mile long route represents the planned northernmost extent of the Long Beach Freeway. Postmiles for SR 710 (30.953 to 32.709) originate at Columbia Street and conclude at I-210.

Long Beach

Heading south from California State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) in Long Beach, Interstate 710 splits into three separate spurs. These spurs are identified in the California Streets and Highways Code as follows:

Section 622. Route 710 is from Route 1 to Route 210 in Pasadena.

Section 622.1. (a) Route 710 shall also include that portion of the freeway between Route 1 and the northern end of Harbor Scenic Drive, that portion of Harbor Scenic Drive to Ocean Boulevard, that portion of Ocean Boulevard west of its intersection with Harbor Scenic Drive to its junction with Seaside Boulevard, and that portion of Seaside Boulevard from the junction with Ocean Boulevard to Route 47.

Based on this legislation, the first connection of Route 710 leads southeast from Exit 1 C into Downtown Long Beach via Shoreline Boulevard. The second spur extends south from Exit 1 A along the west bank of the Los Angeles River to the Queen Mary, a major attraction in Long Beach. The third spur is the I-710 mainline across the Gerald Desmond Bridge onto Terminal Island.

Route Information

  • North End – Alhambra, CA

  • South End – Long Beach, CA

  • Mileage – 19.66

  • Cities – Long Beach, Compton, Paramount, Lynnwood, Downey, South Gate, Commerce, Los Angeles, Monterey Park
  • Junctions – I-405 I-105 I-5 I-10

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-710 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: 2017 Traffic Volumes – Caltrans Traffic Census Program

South Pasadena, CA - 1973

The I-710 gap between Valley Boulevard and I-210 in 1973.

California 7 sign for I-710 - Los Angeles, CA

A remaining reference for SR 7 at the I-710 northbound entrance ramp from Floral Boulevard in Los Angeles.

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Postmiles for Route 710 start at the ramps joining the Seaside Freeway (SR 47), Terminal Island Freeway (SR 47/103) and the Gerald Desmond Bridge (I-710). The legs south to Harbor Island and east to Downtown Long Beach are not included in the Postmile system. Route 710 north to Valley Boulevard is 24.021 miles per Caltrans Postmiles. The FHWA Route Long and Finder List however attributes only 19.66 miles for Interstate 710, between SR 1 in Long Beach and I-10 at East Los Angeles.

Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement

Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project

Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project. 07/09/18

The original through arch bridge spanning the Back Channel on Terminal Island was constructed in the 1960s. The Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement project constructed a cabled stayed bridge spanning the waterway with a 205 foot vertical clearance. Supported by two 515 foot high towers, the bridge accommodates six lanes of traffic, the Mark Bixby Memorial Bicycle and Pedestrian Path, and three scenic overlooks. The span opened to traffic on October 5, 2020.

High Priority Corridor

I-710 from the Port of Long Beach north to California State Route 60 is part of High Priority Corridor 46: Interstate 710.

History

The Long Beach Freeway was added to the Interstate Highway System in 1984 to replace SR 7. SR 7 previously replaced SR 15 along the same freeway. I-710 was added after Interstate 110 replaced SR 11 along the parallel Harbor Freeway to the west in 1981. The freeway was planned to link Long Beach with Interstate 210 in Pasadena, but high costs and vehement community opposition prevented the ultimate build out.

Canceled I-710 Extension – Pasadena

The long proposed extension of Interstate 710 north from the half diamond interchange with Valley Boulevard to the stub end of unsigned SR 710 in Pasadena was formally dropped by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTC) on May 25, 2017.1 Prepared in 2015, the final environmental report examined four alternatives, including building single or twin bore tunnels.2

The 4.5 mile long section of the Long Beach Freeway through South Pasadena and Pasadena was first considered in the 1940s/1950s. The freeway opened south from Valley Boulevard in 1965. With the first lawsuits filed in 1973 after new federal environmental legislation was enacted, the ensuing section north through South Pasadena was mired in controversy.2

Despite continued opposition, lawsuits and the requirement of additional environmental studies, the planned alignment of I-710 north to Pasadena persevered for several decades. The project received a record of decision from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in April 1998. It was met with opposition from the city of South Pasadena, environmental groups such as the Friends of the Earth, local community leaders, and residents potentially impacted by the project.

Long Beach Frwy - Pasadena, CA
Long Beach Frwy - Pasadena, CA
Long Beach Frwy - Pasadena, CA
Long Beach Frwy - Pasadena, CA
Long Beach Frwy - Pasadena, CA
Long Beach Frwy - Pasadena, CA

The partially built freeway spur for the Long Beach Freeway (State Route 710) in Pasadena. 07/08/18

The FHWA required that Caltrans produce another Environmental Impact Statement in December 2003. The succeeding study would evaluate additional impacts of the freeway that were not previously been addressed. Subsequently, the environmental clearance for the route was rescinded by Caltrans in April 2004.

The original plan called Interstate 710 to be built as a below grade freeway, similar to the SR 210 extension in eastern Los Angeles and western San Bernardino Counties. Options also considered adding cut and cover tunnels, or constructing a longer tolled tunnel. Scenarios still involved the removal of several homes, some of which were already owned by Caltrans and are rented out. Despite the high costs of constructing a tunnel system along the proposed route, some believed that it would still not mitigate the impact to the communities.

For more on the Interstate 710 extension, please refer to the following webpages:

Photo Guides

North End I-10/ Valley Boulevard – Alhambra, California

I-710 North at I-10 / Valley Blvd

I-710 north at I-10 - Monterey Park, CA

Interstate 710 (Long Beach Freeway) navigates through an S-curve leading into the cloverstack interchange with I-10 (San Bernandino Freeway). 07/08/18

I-710 north at I-10 - Monterey Park, CA

07/08/18

I-710 north at I-10 - Monterey Park, CA

06/20/15

Two lanes separate from Interstate 710 northbound for I-10 west into Los Angeles and I-10 east across Monterey Park, Rosemead and El Monte.

I-710 north at Valley Blvd
I-710 north at Valley Blvd

Interstate 710 straddles the Alhambra and Los Angeles city line a half mile north to Valley Boulevard. 07/08/18

I-710 north at Valley Blvd

Roadways stubs were built for the cancelled extension of the Long Beach Freeway north to South Pasadena. 07/08/18

I-710 north at Valley Blvd

A partially built diamond interchange joins the Long Beach Freeway with Valley Boulevard west to El Sereno in Los Angeles and east into Alhambra. 07/08/18

I-710 South at I-10

Valley Boulevard at I-710 - Alhambra, CA

Valley Boulevard at the freeway entrance for Interstate 710 south to Monterey Park and East Los Angeles. 07/08/18

I-710 south at I-10 - Los Angeles, CA
I-710 south at I-10 - Los Angeles, CA

The Long Beach Freeway stems a half mile south from the roadway stubs at Valley Boulevard to the ramps for Interstate 10 (San Bernardino Freeway). 07/08/18

I-710 south at I-10 - Los Angeles, CA

Traveling alongside the campus of Cal State LA, Interstate 710 reaches the westbound ramp for I-10 to Downtown Los Angeles and the El Monte Busway. 07/08/18

I-710 south at I-10 - Los Angeles, CA

Advancing south through the cloverstack interchange (Exit 22) with Interstate 10, I-710 enters the city of Monterey Park. 07/08/18

I-10 East at I-710

I-10 east at I-710
I-10 east at I-710
I-10 east at I-710

A collector distributor roadway (Exit 21) joins Interstate 10 (San Bernardino Freeway) eastbound with both directions of I-710 and parallel Ramona Boulevard. 07/12/18

I-10 West at I-710

I-10 west at I-710 - Alhambra, CA
I-10 west at I-710 - Alhambra, CA

Interstate 10 angles southwest from Ross Avenue in Alhamba to Fremont Avenue and Exit 21 with I-710 (Long Beach Freeway). 07/09/18

I-10 west at I-710 - Alhambra, CA
I-10 west at I-710 - Alhambra, CA

Interstate 10 partitions with the El Monte Busway just ahead of the ramps for I-710 north to Valley Boulevard and south to Long Beach. 07/09/08

Canceled North End California 710 – Pasadena, California

SR 710 North at

Pasadena Av north at SR 710 - Pasadena, CA

A pair of ramps join South Pasadena Avenue with the Long Beach Freeway spur northbound to I-210 and SR 134 respectively. 07/08/18

SR 710 north at I-210 - Pasadena, CA

The SR 710 entrance ramp from South Pasadena Avenue passes below a set of blank sign boards at the Del Mar Boulevard over crossing. 11/14/04

SR 710 north at I-210 - Pasadena, CA

The first entrance ramp to SR 710 from Pasadena Avenue links with the freeway mainline to Interstate 210. 11/14/04

SR 710 north at I-210 - Pasadena, CA

The succeeding ramp from Del Mar Boulevard connects with the flyover for SR 134 (Ventura Freeway) westbound. 07/08/18

SR 710 north at I-210 - Pasadena, CA

The northbound roadway along SR 710 overtakes I-210 along the Foothill Freeway west toward San Fernando. A two lane ramp leads east toward Arcadia, Monrovia and Duarte. 11/14/04

East at California 710

I-210 east at SR 710 - Pasadena, CA

Interstate 210 (Foothill Freeway) turns south ahead of Exit 24 with Mountain Street and the exchange with SR 134 (Ventura Freeway) west and SR 710 (Long Beach Freeway) south. 05/15/11

I-210 east at SR 710 - Pasadena, CA

I-210 makes a TOTSO (turn off to stay on) movement along a two lane ramp at the systems exchange with the Long Beach Freeway spur into Pasadena. 05/15/11

I-210 east at SR 710 - Pasadena, CA

The Foothill Freeway mainline defaults onto unsigned SR 710 south. I-210 navigates through a tunnel east from SR 134. 05/15/11

West at California 710

I-210 west at SR 134/710 - Pasadena, CA

Guide signs for the SR 710 freeway spur reference the connection with SR 110 (Arroyo Seco Parkway) via St. John Avenue and Pasadena Avenue south. 07/08/18

I-210 west at SR 134/710 - Pasadena, CA

Interstate 210 branches northward at the systems interchange with the Long Beach Freeway spur as the Ventura Freeway (SR 134) commences westward to Glendale. 07/08/18

I-210 west at SR 134/710 - Pasadena, CA

SR 134 travels 13.33 miles west along the Ventura Freeway to U.S. 101 at SR 170 (Hollywood Freeway). 07/08/18

I-210 west at SR 134/710 - Pasadena, CA

Exit 13 B departs SR 134 (Ventura Freeway) westbound for the SR 710 freeway spur. 07/08/18

SR 710 South

SR 710 south at I-210 - Pasadena, CA

A single lane continues south from the Colorado Boulevard (old U.S. 66) entrance ramp on the roadway leading south from I-210 east to SR 710 (Long Beach Freeway). 11/14/04

SR 710 south at I-210 - Pasadena, CA

The on-ramp from I-210 westbound combines with SR 710 south ahead of the Union Street overpass. 07/08/18

SR 710 south at Del Mar Blvd - Pasadena, CA

Interchange sequence sign posted a half mile ahead of the freeway end at California Avenue. 07/08/18

SR 710 south at Del Mar Blvd - Pasadena, CA

A half diamond interchange connects the Long Beach Freeway stub in Pasadena with Del Mar Boulevard. 07/08/18

SR 710 south at California Blvd - Pasadena, CA

Traffic defaults onto the ramp for California Boulevard beyond the Del Mar Boulevard over crossing. 07/08/18

South End SR 47 SR 103 – Long Beach, California

I-710 South at SR 47 SR 103

I-710 south - Gerald Desmond Br

Interstate 710 turned west at Ocean Boulevard and Downtown Long Beach to cross the Gerald Desmond Bridge onto Terminal Island. The through arch bridge spanned Back Channel, a waterway connecting Long Beach Middle Harbor with the Inner Harbor. 05/02/10

I-710 south - Gerald Desmond Br

The Seaside Freeway extends west from the Gerald Desmond Bridge to ramps with SR 47/103 (Terminal Island Freeway) and Port of Long Beach facilities. 05/02/10

I-710 south - Gerald Desmond Br

Lowering from the Gerald Desmond Bridge, the Vincent Thomas Bridge carrying SR 47 across the Main Channel from Terminal Island appeared. The suspension bridge was tolled until 2000. 05/02/10

I-710 south at SR 47 - Terminal Island, CA

A split diamond interchange joins the south end of Interstate 710 with the Terminal Island Freeway (SR 47/103) and Pier S Avenue. 05/02/10

I-710 south at SR 47 - Terminal Island, CA

I-710 concludes as the Seaside Freeway transitions west onto SR 47 toward the Vincent Thomas Bridge and I-110 (Harbor Freeway) in San Pedro, Los Angeles. 05/02/10

I-710 south at SR 47 - Terminal Island, CA

The Terminal Island Freeway spurs north across Cerritos Channel to Wilmington in Los Angeles. 05/02/10

I-710 south at SR 47 - Terminal Island, CA

The Terminal Island Freeway spurs north across Cerritos Channel to Wilmington in Los Angeles. 05/02/10

SR 47 North at I-710 SR 103

SR 47 north at I-710 - Terminal Island, CA

Interstate 710 takes over the Seaside Freeway from the departing SR 47. SR 47 combines with SR 103 north along the Terminal Island Freeway. 07/09/18

SR 47 north at I-710 - Terminal Island, CA

Towers of the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement project appeared beyond the off-ramp taking SR 47 to Pier S Avenue and SR 103 (Terminal Island Freeway). 07/09/18

SR 47 north at I-710 - Terminal Island, CA

SR 47/103 overlap northward across the Schuyler F. Heim Bridge into industrial areas of Wilmington in Los Angeles. I-710 continues the Seaside Freeway east to the Gerald Desmond Bridge and Downtown Long Beach. 07/09/18

SR 47 SR 103 South at I-710

SR 47/103 (Terminal Island Fwy) south at I-710

The grade separation at SR 47/103 (Terminal Island Freeway) and I-710 (Seaside Freeway) was completed in 2007. 07/09/18

SR 47 north at I-710 - Terminal Island, CA

The northbound entrance ramp for Interstate 710 (Gerald Desmond Bridge) from the south end of the Terminal Island Freeway. 05/02/10

Sources

  1. “10 months after Metro killed 710 tunnel, a nervous South Pasadena hires outside attorney to bring the fight to Caltrans.” Pasadena Star-News (CA), March 7, 2018.
  2. “The epic and ugly battle over what to do about the 710 Freeway.” Los Angeles Times (CA), May 24, 2017.

Page updated July 3, 2022.