Site Navigation Baja California California Colorado Idaho Hawaii Nevada New Mexico Oregon Utah Washington     Interstate 110/California 110 Interstate 110 and California 110 provide a continuous freeway link from the Port of Los Angeles at San Pedro with downtown Pasadena. The portion of freeway between San Pedro and Interstate 10 is Interstate-standard as the Harbor Freeway. This section of freeway has benefited by the construction of separated high occupancy vehicle lanes and multimodal transportation facilities. Interstate 110 transitions into California 110 at the Interstate 10 interchange; the Harbor Freeway becomes the Pasadena Freeway at the "Four Level Interchange" at Junction U.S. 101 (Hollywood Freeway). This section of California 110, between Interstate 10 and Interstate 5, passes through downtown Los Angeles, and it is always full of traffic at all hours of day and night. California 110 then turns northeast, headed toward Pasadena with an entirely different look and feel. Gone are all of the innovative transit and high occupancy vehicle lanes that were featured on Interstate 110. In fact, much of this freeway has seen little change, with very short deceleration lanes for exits, stop signs on the onramps, narrow or nonexistent shoulders, and limited sight distance. Originally known as the Arroyo Seco Parkway, the Pasadena Freeway is an original freeway from the 1940s, and much of the highway is in its original condition. It is nowhere near Interstate standards. By the time it reaches Pasadena, California 110 changes into Arroyo Parkway, a wide surface street. The state route ends at Colorado Boulevard (Historic U.S. 66), just shy of Interstate 210. At this time, the state is considering decommissioning portions of this city street and returning it to the city of Pasadena, but it has not yet occurred. California/Interstate 110 was originally U.S. 6 along the Harbor/Pasadena Freeway south of Interstate 5 and U.S. 66 along the Pasadena Freeway north of Interstate 5. After the U.S. routes were decommissioned, the freeways were known as California 11 between 1964 and 1985. In that year, the Harbor Freeway south of Interstate 10 was added to the Interstate Highway System, so the entire route was recommissioned as Interstate 110. Click here for Southbound California 110/Interstate 110. Northbound Interstate 110 and California 110 Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway begins its northerly journey upon departing Gaffey Street. The right two lanes of Gaffey Street become northbound Harbor Freeway, with a connection to California 47/Vincent Thomas Bridge available in the far right lane. While some maps show Gaffey Street between 9th Street and Interstate 110 as California 110, it is not currently part of the state highway system. A pedestrian overcrossing doubles as an arch wishing visitors to "come back to San Pedro soon." San Pedro is not its own city, however; it is actually part of the city of Los Angeles. Photo taken 05/30/04. After passing under the San Pedro arch and making the turn at the traffic signal, Interstate 110 and California 47 immediately split. California 47 travels east and then north across Terminal Island and into the western edge of the city of Long Beach before becoming part of the Alameda Corridor. Photo taken 05/30/04. This rare, button-copy, standalone, neutered Interstate 110 shield is located along northbound just after the merge with traffic from southbound California 47. Photo taken 03/31/03. Northbound Interstate 110 approaches Exit 1B, Channel Street/John S. Gibson Boulevard. Photo taken 03/31/03. The next exit along northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway is Exit 3A, C Street, one and a quarter miles. Photo taken 03/31/03. Northbound Interstate 110 approaches Exit 3A, C Street, one-half mile. The next exits are Anaheim Street and Junction California 1/Pacific Coast Highway (which travels east-west through here). Photo taken 03/31/03. Northbound Interstate 110 reaches Exit 3A, C Street. The next exit is Exit 3B, Anaheim Street, one-half mile. Photo taken 03/31/03. Now several miles north, the transition ramp from the high occupancy vehicle lanes on westbound Interstate 105 to northbound Interstate 110 provides an incredible view from the top of a five-level stack interchange. Photo taken 02/15/04. Now descending from such heights, the high occupancy vehicle lanes from westbound Interstate 105 enter northbound Interstate 110 on the left so as to merge with the Interstate 110 high occupancy vehicles. The skyline of downtown Los Angeles is visible in the distance. Photo taken 02/15/04. Another view of the high occupancy vehicle transition lane as it reaches the level of Interstate 110. Photo taken 02/15/04. View of the northbound high occupancy vehicle lanes, which remain separate from the main lanes until they near Exit 20. Photo taken 02/15/04. Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway for Exit 16/Manchester Avenue, Exit 17/Florence Avenue, and Exit 18A/Gage Avenue. Photo taken 08/15/03. Until the late 1990s, Manchester Avenue was signed as California 42, even though it was removed from the legislative state route system many years prior. However, when Interstate 105 was completed, California 42 was no longer needed as a state highway, and it was turned back to the cities it passed through. Remnants of the old designation are still clearly visible on this sign located along northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway approaching Exit 16, Manchester Avenue. Photo taken 08/15/03. View of transition from northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway onto high occupancy vehicle lanes as seen from the high occupancy vehicle lanes. The high occupancy vehicles become separated from the main lanes of the freeway, with connections back to the mainline at Exits 20-21. Photo taken 02/15/04. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway at Exit 16, Former California 42/Manchester Avenue. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway approaching Exit 17, Florence Avenue. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway at Exit 17, Florence Avenue. Photo taken 08/15/03. Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway for Exit 18A/Gage Avenue, Exit 18B/Slauson Avenue, and Exit 19/Vernon Avenue. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway at Exit 18B, Slauson Avenue. Slauson Avenue gained notoriety in the early 1990s when it was mentioned in some rap songs by Dr. Dre. The freeway is passing through the heart of South-Central Los Angeles. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway approaching Exit 19, Vernon Avenue, one-half mile. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway at Exit 19, Vernon Avenue. Photo taken 08/15/03. With the high-occupancy vehicle lanes still straddling the north and southbound lanes, this mileage sign along northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway provides the distance to Exit 20A/Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Exit 20B/37th Street and Exposition Boulevard. Taking either route west leads to the University of Southern California, which has won several college football championships, including a joint title with Louisiana State University for the Fall 2003 season. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway at Exit 20A, Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Photo taken 08/15/03. As the high-occupancy, grade-separated lanes come to an end, this mileage sign along Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway provides distances to Exit 20B/37th Street and Exposition Boulevard; Exit 20C/Adams Boulevard, and Exit 21/Junction Interstate 10 freeway. Photo taken 08/15/03. Meanwhile, over at the segregated high occupancy vehicle lanes, here is a view of the same mileage sign. Photo taken 02/15/04. Motorists along the high occupancy vehicle lanes have an array of their own options on the separated lanes. The left lane provides carpool only access to 39th Street, while the middle lane heads into downtown via Adams Boulevard and Figueroa Street. All through traffic should merge to the right lane to continue north on Interstate 110, which downgrades to California 110 upon crossing the Interstate 10 interchange (Exit 21). Photo taken 02/15/04. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway at Exit 20B, 37th Street/Exposition Boulevard. Photo taken 08/15/03. At the same time, through traffic leaves the segregated high occupancy vehicle lanes and merges onto northbound Interstate 110. The high occupancy vehicle lanes continue north, but they do not rejoin the freeway; instead, they head into downtown Los Angeles. There are plans to extend the high occupancy lanes further along Interstate 110 and California 110, but that would be a costly endeavor. Photo taken 02/15/04. The downtown Los Angeles skyline, along with the remainder of the high occupancy vehicle lane, is visible in this panoramic picture along northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway approaching Exit 20C, Adams Boulevard. It is a very clear day in sunny Los Angeles! Photo taken 02/15/04. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway goes below grade again as it approaches Exit 20C, Adams Boulevard. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway at Exit 20C, Adams Boulevard. Photo taken 02/15/04. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway approaching Exit 21, Junction Interstate 10. Upon reaching Interstate 10, Interstate 110 downgrades to California 110, but the Harbor Freeway continues north until reaching the Four-Level Interchange (Junction U.S. 101). Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway approaching Exit 21, Junction Interstate 10. The far right lane is for eastbound and the second lane from the right is for westbound. Photo taken 02/15/04. Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway approaching Exit 21/Interstate 10, Exit 22/6th Street/9th Street (called the "Downtown Exit" on this sign for some reason), and Exits 23A-B/4th and 3rd Streets. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway approaching Exit 21, Junction Interstate 10/Santa Monica Freeway. Note the green overlay panels that feature the California 110 shields; they used to be California 11 shields. Photo taken 02/15/04. These small reflective signs mounted on a bridge over northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway remind motorists of their lane allocation on the approach to Exit 21/Junction Interstate 10. Photo taken 02/15/04. Northbound Interstate 110 ends as the two right lanes exit onto Interstate 10; California 110 continues as the Harbor Freeway into downtown Los Angeles. The second largest city in the country, Los Angeles is the hub of Southern California and a major media market. Most movies made in the United States come from Hollywood, a community of Los Angeles. California 110 now passes through what is arguably one of the most recognizable skylines in the country, due to its presence in many movies. Photo taken 02/15/04. View of the signage for Interstate 10 east and west in the transition ramp as seen from northbound Interstate 110/Harbor Freeway. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound California 110/Harbor Freeway approaching Exit 22, 6th Street and 9th Street. Photo taken 02/15/04. Exit 22 provides access into downtown Los Angeles via 6th Street and 9th Street, meeting Figueroa Boulevard and South Grand Avenue. Both 6th Avenue and 9th Avenue are one-way eastbound near California 110. Photo taken 02/15/04. Northbound California 110/Harbor Freeway at Exit 22, 6th Street and 9th Street. The next exit is Exit 23, 4th Street and 3rd Street. Photo taken 02/15/04. View of the downtown Los Angeles skyline as seen along northbound California 110/Harbor Freeway after the ramp to Exit 22. Photo taken 02/15/04. Another view of downtown Los Angeles as seen from northbound California 110/Harbor Freeway. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound California 110 at Exit 23B, 4th Street/3rd Street. The old exit number from the 1960s-era experiment is no longer valid due to a recalculation of the southern zero milepost per the Caltrans' CalNexus database. This exit number will have to be removed to ensure accuracy. Photo taken 02/15/04. Mileage sign along northbound for the next three exits: Exit 24A, Junction U.S. 101; Exit 24B, Hill Street; and Exit 25, Academy Road). Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound California 110 approaching Exit 24A, Junction U.S. 101/Hollywood Freeway North and U.S. 101/Santa Ana Freeway South, one mile. U.S. 101/Hollywood Freeway north heads toward Hollywood and then west toward Ventura and Santa Barbara. U.S. 101/Santa Ana Freeway heads southeast to meet Interstate 10/San Bernardino Freeway east and Interstate 5/Santa Ana Freeway south on the other side of downtown. Photo taken 2/15/04. Now reaching the city center, California 110 remarkably narrows to only three through lanes in the heart of the freeway capital of the world. With tight configurations, no shoulders, and an over-abundance of traffic, California 110 is frequently congested along this stretch. Buildings made famous by the thousands of movies made in Hollywood dominate the view from the freeway, making this skyline familiar and unfamiliar at once to a visitor. Photos taken 08/15/03. This is it folks, the sign that is one of the most famous highway guide signs in the country. Why? Richard Ankrom, a local artist had gotten lost one too many times trying to get from northbound California 110 to northbound Interstate 5. So over the course of weeks, he obtained the specifications for an Interstate shield, and once it was complete to Caltrans standards for button copy, non-reflective signage (prior to the new reflective signage standard), he installed the "North Interstate 5" shield on the green area to the left of the Northbound California 110 pull-through shield. For more on Richard Ankrom and his project, visit The L.A. Weekly: A Considerable Town - Guerrilla Public Service: The Man Who Would Be Caltrans (May 10-16, 2002). Photos taken 02/15/04. The left lanes carry California 110 traffic, while the right lanes default to north/south U.S. 101. Southbound U.S. 101/Santa Ana Freeway leads to a connection with Interstate 5 and Interstate 10. Northbound U.S. 101/Hollywood Freeway leads north to a connection with California 170 and California 134/Ventura Freeway. No trucks are permitted on northbound California 110; California 110 continues north as the Pasadena Freeway and the Harbor Freeway comes to its northern terminus here at the Four-Level Interchange. The close-up photos provide details of the shields. Since some of these signs are already being replaced, we try to get as much detail of the older sign as we can. Photos taken 02/15/04. Northbound California 110 at Exit 24A, Junction U.S. 101. Despite the signage here, California 110 does NOT intersect Interstate 5 or Interstate 10 at this intersection! In reality, the right-hand ramp actually connects to southbound U.S. 101, which then leads to both directions of Interstate 10 and southbound Interstate 5. The way this is currently labeled can be very confusing, since it seems like you're intersecting the same road several times. In our opinion, this sign should read, "South U.S. 101 to South Interstate 5 and East Interstate 10." No trucks may continue on California 110 northbound, which is not Interstate-standard from this point northward to Pasadena. Photo taken 02/15/04. The Four-Level Interchange, which is the intersection of the Santa Ana, Hollywood, Harbor, and Pasadena Freeways (or the intersection of the 101 and 110 freeways), is ahead on northbound California 110. Northbound California 110 shifts from the Harbor Freeway onto the Pasadena Freeway upon passing under this interchange, and it also becomes the historic route of the Arroyo Seco Parkway (old U.S. 66). Photo taken 02/15/04. View of the Four-Level Interchange from its lowest level, the transition from northbound California 110 to U.S. 101 north. Opened in 1954, the Four-Level Interchange is known as the first symmetrical stack of its kind, and similar interchanges have been built elsewhere throughout the country. Photo taken 02/15/04. Mileage sign along northbound California 110 for the next three exits (Exit 24B/Hill Street, Exit 25/Academy Road, and Exit 26A/Interstate 5 North). Photo taken 08/15/03. The next exit on California 110 northbound is Exit 24B, Hill Street. This exit is the best route to reach the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball Team's Stadium. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound California 110 at Exit 24B, Hill Street. Dodger Stadium is located to the northwest of the 110 freeway in what's popularly called "Chavez Ravine." The next exit is Exit 25 to Solano Avenue and Casanova Street, with connections to Academy Road. Photo taken 08/15/03. This overhead advises motorists for Interstate 5 to remain in the left lane while others continuing north on California 110/Pasadena Freeway/Historic Arroyo Seco Parkway should stay in the three right lanes. Things get a bit confusing with the tunnels ahead, so try to select your lane here. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound California 110 enters the first tunnel immediately after passing Exit 25/Academy Road interchange. The exit to northbound Interstate 5 is taken from the left lane, and traffic is frequently very congested through here (as the freeway passes under a city park). Photo taken 08/15/03. California 110 now enters the second of four tunnels along northbound. These tunnels are closely spaced, with brief glimpses of sunlight in between each tunnel. The left lane is still the exit-only lane for northbound Interstate 5/Exit 26A. Photo taken 08/15/03. Now entering the third tunnel, northbound California 110 is completely separated from southbound lanes, which do not enter the tunnel system here on the original Arroyo Seco Parkway. The southbound lanes stay on-grade and therefore cut through the park. This historic route has limited shoulders and poor sight distance through this stretch. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound California 110 entering the fourth and last tunnel, with all traffic for Interstate 5 northbound placed in the left lane. Note that the control city for Interstate 5 was changed from Bakersfield to Sacramento to comply with national control city standards. Due to the sun angle, regrettably there is dashboard glare on this picture. Photo taken 08/15/03. Northbound California 110 at the sharp, almost 90-degree exit ramp to northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 26A. History plays a very large role in the design of this exit ramp, and it is a frequent choke point due to the deceleration occurring in the left lane. In addition to the older, non-standard roadway design, this sign and sign bridge are both very old structures. Photo taken 08/15/03. Once exited from northbound California 110, the exit ramp follows this vintage alignment, with old-style guardrail on the right and intricate retaining wall on the left. Not visible to the right is the Los Angeles River, just over the precipice of the guardrail. Photo taken 08/15/03. View of the transition ramp between northbound California 110 (Exit 26A) and Interstate 5. It is almost long enough to call it a freeway in its own right! Photo taken 08/15/03. The transition ramp between northbound California 110 (Exit 26A) and the merge onto northbound Interstate 5 is so long that is has its own exit: Riverside Drive. After this exit, the "main line" of the exit ramp finally merge onto northbound Interstate 5. Photo taken 08/15/03. Caltrans continues to maintain California 110 even as it transitions from the Pasadena Freeway into the city of Pasadena, as evidenced by this shield. Photo taken 06/15/03. Page Updated September 26, 2004.