Interstate 5 - California Travel Information

I-5 Northbound - Los Angeles County (Norwalk to Downtown)

Interstate 5 Northbound
	Northbound Interstate 5 (which is part of the Santa Ana Freeway from Interstate 405 to Interstate 10/U.S. 101; the Santa Ana Freeway continues northbound along U.S. 101 to end at the Four Level Interchange) at Exit 119, Carmenita Road, which is the first exit in the suburb of Norwalk, the first city in Los Angeles County along northbound. Norwalk is a place of great freeway controversy, first because they were instrumental in ensuring that Interstate 105, the Century Freeway, would not continue very far east of Interstate 605 (San Gabriel River freeway). As such, the usefulness of Interstate 105 as a route to Los Angeles International Airport from Interstate 5 as an alternative to Interstate 405 is compromised, unless traffic uses California 91 and Interstate 605 or passes through Norwalk, perhaps via former California 42 (Firestone Boulevard). In addition to its role in Interstate 105, Norwalk also had concerns with the original plans for the expansion of Interstate 5, saying it did not want its businesses and homes to be affected by the increased need for right of way. A compromise has since been reached, and Caltrans is already designing the replacement Interstate 5 freeway. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 120A, Rosecrans Avenue. The next exit is for Former California 42, Firestone Boulevard. The California 42 shield is still in place on this sign, but it is likely to be removed once this segment of Interstate 5 is reconstructed. Photo taken 10/21/00.
	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 120B, Junction Former California 42, Firestone Boulevard. California 42 was decommissioned after the Interstate 105 freeway was complete, but several shields remain, including most of the freeway interchanges (Interstate 5, Interstate 405, and Interstate 110 each have at least one California 42 shield on their signs approaching the exit leading to Former California 42). Former California 42 starts its eastbound journey at California 1 via Manchester Avenue in Los Angeles. The route passes through Inglewood, South Gate, and Downey. In Downey, Former California 42 transitions onto southeastbound Firestone Boulevard, culminating at Interstate 5 in Norwalk. Photo taken 10/21/00.
	Northbound Interstate 5 triangular shield as it approaches Exit 122, Imperial Highway. This kind of shield has been appearing on California's interstates with increasing frequency, much to the chagrin of sign specification purists. But this design, which is more angular, retains the state name, unlike the legions of neutered shields elsewhere. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Imperial Highway, Exit 122. This picture was taken during a traffic jam that lasted from here north into downtown. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 white bridge information sign. This kind of sign provides the name of the road, river, or railroad that is being traversed; the route number; the bridge number; and the county postmile marker number. This sign is becoming increasingly scarce on California's roads; it is nearly impossible to find any such signs along Interstate 5 in San Diego County. This sign is located at Exit 122, Imperial Highway. Photo taken 12/23/01.

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	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 123, Florence Avenue, one mile, and Exit 124, Interstate 605, one and one-quarter miles. Interstate 605 is a major north-south route that skirts downtown Los Angeles and provides a continuous freeway alternative to Interstate 5 via Interstate 210. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 124, Interstate 605/San Gabriel River Freeway. There are no control cities used on Interstate 605 except for "THRU TRAFFIC." Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 125, California 19, Lakewood Boulevard (southbound) and Rosemead Boulevard (northbound). California 19 roughly parallels Interstate 605 from Long Beach north to Pasadena. It is almost entirely a four-lane surface street, and it is not freeway. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 126A, Paramount Boulevard. Paramount Boulevard roughly parallels California 19 on the east and an often-dry tributary to the Los Angeles River on the west as it passes through the communities of Paramount, Downey, and Pico Rivera along its north-south journey. It ends at Carson Street in Lakewood. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 128B, Washington Boulevard. As seen in the background, large power transmission lines service this area. Washington Boulevard, which meets Interstate 5 in the City of Commerce, heads northwest from this interchange into downtown Los Angeles. The segment of Interstate 5 that passes through the City of Commerce lives up to its name, with industrial and commercial facilities located throughout. In addition, a large amount of railroad infrastructure is present in the City of Commerce. The following exit is Exit 129, Atlantic Boulevard north. Atlantic Boulevard roughly parallels Interstate 710, which is the next exit after Atlantic. It leads north from the City of Commerce into the community of East Los Angeles, then north into the cities of Monterey Park and Alhambra. Heading southbound, Atlantic Avenue crosses Interstate 710, then heads south toward Maywood, Cudahy, Lynwood, and Compton. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 130A, Interstate 710 Southbound and Atlantic Boulevard Southbound. Headed southbound, Interstate 710 follows the Los Angeles River on its way to Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles. Interstate 710 was formerly California 7 until the mid-1980s, when the state route was upgraded to an Interstate designation. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 130A, Interstate 710 Southbound and Atlantic Boulevard Southbound. This ramp provides access to both roadways. Photo taken 10/22/00.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 130C, Interstate 710 Northbound. Currently, Interstate 710 leads north to connect with Interstate 10, then ends at Valley Boulevard a short distance north of Interstate 10 near the border between Alhambra and Los Angeles. It is proposed to be extended north to Pasadena, to a new terminus at Junction Interstate 210 along former California 7. This extension is hotly contested, and no construction has begun as of September 2002. Note the control city of Pasadena, which assumes that someday Interstate 710 will reach that far north. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 130C, Interstate 710 Northbound. Many of the northbound signs for Interstate 710 feature Interstate shields that were laid over the older signs featuring California 7 shields, as these signs are much older than the mid-1980s sign changeover. Also note this is a left exit, which is not uncommon along this portion of Interstate 5 (the Santa Ana Freeway). Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 133, Grande Vista Avenue. Many of the signs located along Interstate 5 between California 91 and downtown are vintage, and they have the same problems of not being very legible. These signs, like all button-copy signs in California, are slated for replacement. The next exit posted on this mileage sign shows both Interstate 5 and Interstate 10 shields, even though traffic is currently traveling north on Interstate 5. This is meant to signify that motorists have reached the colossal downtown interchange complex, which features not just Interstates 5 and 10 but also California 60 and U.S. 101. Even though this interchange handles an incredibly high amount of traffic, it is still nowhere near large enough to handle existing traffic loads. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 133, Grande Vista Avenue. Even though Indiana Street (Exit 132) has the correct exit number from the old numbering experiment, Grande Vista Avenue does not have the correct number. The experimental number was Exit 132B, but it will be renumbered as Exit 133 when new signs are placed. The next set of overhead signs indicates where traffic should go for U.S. 101, Interstate 5, and Interstate 10. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	U.S. 101 traffic defaults to the left lanes, as the Santa Ana Freeway follows U.S. 101, and Interstate 5 picks up the Golden State Freeway north of downtown. Interstate 5, meanwhile, continues north, with a new control city of Sacramento (was formerly Bakersfield until the 1980s). Northbound Interstate 5 splits into U.S. 101 north (to downtown Los Angeles), Interstate 10 westbound (to Santa Monica), and Interstate 5 northbound. Although not mentioned here, Interstate 10 eastbound merges with Interstate 5 northbound. Hopefully, the new signs will correct this oversight. Note that California 60 (Former U.S. 60), the Pomona Freeway, does not have an exit, because it is assumed that traffic wishing to reach California 60 would have taken Interstate 710 north to California 60 east. Of course, the same assumption could be made about traffic trying to reach eastbound Interstate 10 from here. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway reaches Exit 134A, Junction Westbound Interstate 10/Santa Monica Freeway. Eastbound Interstate 10 is not listed on this sign, but it should be shown alongside Interstate 5 north. Northbound Interstate 5 reduces to only two through lanes of traffic as it merges with eastbound Interstate 10. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway at Exit 134B, Soto Street, near downtown Los Angeles. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway approaching Exit 134C, Seventh Street, one-quarter mile. This early-dawn photo features the dominant Los Angeles skyline in the background. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway at the left exit for Exit 134C, Seventh Street. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway at the merge with eastbound Interstate 10 (merging from the left). Due to the fact this was early Thanksgiving morning, traffic was unusually light through downtown Los Angeles. Photo taken 11/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway at Exit 135B, Cesar Chavez Avenue. The next exit is Exit 135C, Junction Eastbound Interstate 10/San Bernardino Freeway. Photo taken 11/28/02.

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Page Updated July 27, 2004.