| Golden West Street heads north into Westminster and south into Huntington Beach, while Bolsa Avenue heads west to Westminster Mall and north-south Bolsa Chica Street and east to unincorporated Midway City and Santa Ana, where it becomes First Street. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| After Exit 18, the following interchange is Exit 16, Junction California 39/Beach Boulevard. At one time, the California 39 corridor was planned for a freeway, but that plan is no longer in the books. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway reaches Exit 18, Bolsa Avenue and Golden West Street. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next three exits along southbound Interstate 405 are: Exit 16, Junction California 39/Beach Boulevard; Exit 15B, Magnolia Street/Warner Avenue west; and Exit 15A, Warner Avenue east. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| This roadside sign announces the next exit (Junction California 39/Beach Boulevard) is Exit 16. Note that the California 39 shield is omitted. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| California 39 begins at California 1/Pacific Coast Highway near Huntington City Beach, then follows Beach Boulevard, a divided highway, north through Westminster, Garden Grove, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Vista, and La Mirada, before ending at its intersection with California 72/Whittier Boulevard in La Habra just south of the Orange-Los Angeles County Line. Another segment of California 39 exists in Los Angeles County north of West Covina (junction Interstate 10) follows Azusa Avenue and San Gabriel Canyon Road into Angeles National Forest. The gap in the two routes is connected by Los Angeles County Route N-8/Colima Road. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 16, Junction Southbound California 39/Beach Boulevard to Huntington Beach. After this interchange, Interstate 405 briefly reenters Huntington Beach, then enters Fountain Valley. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next four exits along southbound are Exit 15B, Magnolia Street/Warner Avenue west; Exit 15A, Warner Avenue east; Exit 14, Brookhurst Street; and Exit 12, Euclid Street/Ellis Avenue. Each of these three exits serve the city of Fountain Valley. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Magnolia Street is a north-south street that heads north to Westminster and Garden Grove and south to Huntington Beach and FOuntain Valley. Exit 15B serves Magnolia Street as well as Warner Avenue westbound. Use Warner Avenue west to Huntington Harbor and Bolsa Chica State Beach and Ecological Reserve. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| One of the most infamous signs in the California Exit Numbering program is the installation of signs such as this one, which only state that Exit 15B is Next Right. The sign does not describe the exit nor provide a street name, which in our opinion compromises the value of the sign. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway reaches Exit 15B, Magnolia Street and Warner Avenue west. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next exit along southbound is Exit 15A, Warner Avenue east to Mile Square Regional Park and Santa Ana. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| A butterfly sign bridge is used for the exit for Exit 15A, Warner Avenue along southbound. The next exit is Exit 14, Brookhurst Street. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 14, Brookhurst Street; Exit 12, Euclid Street/Ellis Avenue; and Exit 11B, Harbor Boulevard. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 14, Brookhurst Street to Fountain Valley and Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| This tiny roadside sign indicates that the Euclid Street interchange (the final interchange along southbound Interstate 405 within the city of Fountain Valley) is Exit 12. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Use Euclid Street north to Mile Square Regional Park and western Santa Ana. Euclid Street effectively ends at this interchange, and Ellis Avenue continues due west from here through Fountain Valley to Huntington Beach. Follow Main Street southwest to reach California 1/Pacific Coast Highway in downtown Huntington Beach. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 12, Euclid Street/Ellis Avenue. The next exit is Exit 11B, Harbor Boulevard to Costa Mesa. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next three exits provide access to the city of Costa Mesa: Exit 11B, Harbor Boulevard; Exit 11A, Fairview Road; and Exit 10, Junction California 73 south to Exit 17B, Bear Street. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 approaches Exit 11B, Harbor Boulevard. Harbor Boulevard travels south through Costa Mesa to Newport Beach, merging with California 55 just north of downtown Newport Beach. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 11B, Harbor Boulevard. The next exit is Exit 11A, Fairview Road, followed by Exit 10, Junction California 73 south to the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor (toll road). Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along southbound: Exit 11A, Fairview Road; Exit 10, Junction California 73/California 55 south; and Exit 9B, Bristol Street. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway reaches Exit 11A, Fairview Road. The next exit is Exit 10, Junction California 73/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor south (with connections to California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway south to Newport Beach). Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| This mileage sign along southbound provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 10, Junction California 73 south to California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway and the San Joaquin Hills Corridor (Toll); Exit 9B, Bristol Street; and Exit 9A, Junction California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway north to Orange. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The lanes for the California 73 exit are separated by this barrier, while the main lanes continue south on Interstate 405. The next exit is Exit 9B, Bristol Street. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next three exits along southbound Interstate 405 are Exit 9B, Bristol Street; Exit 9A, Junction California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway; and Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard to John Wayne (Orange County) Airport. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Since Interstate 405 southbound is generally traveling due east between California 73 and California 55, it intersects north-south Bristol Street. Bristol Street heads north toward South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, then onward into the city of Santa Ana. Heading south, Bristol Street serves Costa Mesa, then angles southeast along the California 73 corridor toward Newport Beach. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 9B, Bristol Street. The next exit is Exit 9A, Junction Northbound California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway. This area has been under construction over the past several years to increase capacity at these interchanges. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next three exits along southbound are Exit 9A, Junction California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway; Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard; and Exit 7, Jamboree Road. After passing by Exit 9A/Costa Mesa Freeway, Interstate 405 leaves Costa Mesa and enters Irvine. Irvine covers the remaining eight miles of Interstate 405 southbound. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 approaches Exit 9A, Junction Northbound California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway. Use the two right lanes to exit onto northbound California 55; the left five lanes plus HOV lane continue south on Interstate 405. Note that trucks may use either of the two right lanes; this is because of the traffic merging and loss of the number six lane ahead. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard; Exit 7, Jamboree Road; and Exit 5, Culver Drive. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next exit along southbound is Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard/John Wayne Airport. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Downtown Irvine looms ahead along southbound Interstate 405. The next exit (Exit 8) is for Orange County's regional airport, named after the famous actor John Wayne. This airport is small given its traffic volume, and planes must take off at a steep angle to minimize noise disruption. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard/John Wayne Airport. MacArthur Boulevard connects to California 73 and ultimately California 1 near Newport Beach. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 approaches Exit 7, Jamboree Road, three-quarters of a mile. Photo taken 03/30/03.
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| The next two exits along southbound Interstate 405 are Exit 7, Jamboree Road and Exit 5, Culver Drive. The buildings are part of central Irvine. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 7, Jamboree Road. Northbound Jamboree Road leads to California 261, a toll road connector to California 241. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 5, Culver Drive, one and one-half miles. Interestingly, the same mileage is presented on the next median mileage sign, shown in the next picture. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| This mileage sign provides the distance to the next two southbound Interstate 405: Exit 5, Culver Drive, one and one-quarter miles and Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road, two and three-quarter miles. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Many of these exits lead to Irvine and the University of California at Irvine. This picture is of southbound Interstate 405 at Exit 5, Culver Drive. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 5, Culver Drive. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road, one and three-quarters miles. It is unusual to find advance signs one and three-quarters miles ahead of the interchange such as this sign. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| This mileage sign along southbound Interstate 405 provides the distance to the next two exits: Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road, one and one-half miles, followed by Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive/Sand Canyon Avenue, two and one-half miles. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 approaches Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road, next right. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| This mileage sign along southbound Interstate 405 provides the distance to Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive/Sand Canyon Avenue, one mile and Exit 2, Junction California 133/Laguna Freeway. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive/Sand Canyon Avenue, which is signed with an add-on exit number. Note the wide-open spaces through this stretch of Interstate 405 through Irvine; this is the most rural segment of busy Interstate 405. (Some of this land southwest of Interstate 405 is owned by the Nature Conservancy.) Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Prior to Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive south and Sand Canyon Avenue north, this roadside sign advises of Exit 2, Junction California 133 north to Santa Margarita and Riverside. Interestingly, a standard add-on tab was placed on top of this roadside sign, which is generally not common in California but is very common in other states. The connection to Riverside is via California 133 toll road north to California 241 toll road north to California 91/Riverside Freeway east. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive south to Quail Hill and Shady Canyon and Sand Canyon Avenue north to Alton Parkway and Irvine Center Drive. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 2, Junction California 133, one-half mile. It seems like the control cities and/or freeway name were removed and/or covered up on this sign. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Use California 133/Laguna Freeway south to Laguna Beach and Laguna Canyon. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 approaches Exit 2, Junction California 133, one-quarter mile. This sign has seen some changes given the number of green overlays. Photo taken 03/30/03.
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| Southbound Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway reaches Exit 2, Junction California 133/Laguna Freeway. Southbound California 133 leads to Laguna Beach via Laguna Canyon Road, and northbound California 133 leads to Interstate 5 and California 241 in the Orange County foothills. Photo taken 03/30/03.
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| This view of the collector-distributor lanes for the modified cloverleaf Interstate 405/California 133 interchange shows both button copy signs have been changed to reflect that California 133 north is a freeway that connects to the Orange County Toll Road system. The next three exits along southbound are Exit 1B, Irvine Center Drive; Exit 1A, Bake Parkway; and Exit 0B, Truck Bypass Interstate 5 south to Lake Forest Drive. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| View of the signage for the Laguna Freeway (California 133) as seen from the collector-distributor lanes along southbound Interstate 405. This is a modified cloverleaf interchange. Photo taken 03/30/03.
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| This sign was the first time we'd seen an exit number pasted onto an existing, non-reflective overhead sign (southbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 1B, Irvine Center Drive). although the exit number is small and not as easy to read, it is a good attempt by Caltrans District 12 to sign more exit numbers. This is far better than the roadside signs placed for Exits 14 and 15 along northbound Interstate 405. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 1B, Irvine Center Drive. Irvine Center Drive leads north to the Irvine Spectrum Center, which fits snugly into the apex of the Interstate 5/405 interchange north to Alton Parkway. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The next exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 1A, Bake Parkway. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| This is the final mileage sign along southbound Interstate 405, and it provides the distance to three of the next four exits: Exit 1A, Bake Parkway; Exit 0B, Interstate 5 Truck Bypass South to Lake Forest Drive; Exit 0A, Interstate 5 south (omitted); and the first exit on southbound Interstate 5 after the Interstate 405 merge: Exit 91, Junction Orange County Route S-18/El Toro Road. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| This is the final reassurance marker along southbound Interstate 405, just prior to the Bake Parkway offramp (Exit 1A). There is no END Interstate 405 shield assembly. The next three exits (Exit 1A, Bake Parkway; Exit 0B, Interstate 5 Truck Bypass South to Lake Forest Drive; and Exit 0A, Interstate 5 south) all serve the city of Lake Forest, along with Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, and Leisure World (the retirement community). Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 1A, Bake Parkway. This ramp turns south from the freeway, and it parallels Interstate 5 before meeting Bake Parkway about a half-mile south of this interchange. Since there is no direct access to northbound Interstate 5/Santa Ana Freeway from southbound Interstate 405, one option would be to take the Bake Parkway exit, then turn east and then north on Interstate 5. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The gore point signage reaffirms that Exit 1A is Bake Parkway. The final two exits along southbound (Unsigned Truck Bypass/To Lake Forest Drive and Interstate 5 southbound) have no exit numbers. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| The final exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Lake Forest Drive, which is actually the transition from southbound Interstate 405 onto the Interstate 5 Truck Bypass. Use the Truck Bypass southbound to reach the exit for Lake Forest Drive, which is located approximately one mile south of the Interstate 405/Interstate 5 interchange. Through traffic may also take this exit, since the ramp basically becomes a collector/distributor lane for Interstate 5 between Interstate 405 and Lake Forest Drive. Photo taken 05/30/04.
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| End Southbound Interstate 405 as it merges onto southbound Interstate 5 in Irvine. The second photo shows the Interstate 5 traffic merging in from the left; the flyover ramp is the direct transition from Interstate 405 high occupancy vehicle lanes to Interstate 5 high occupancy vehicle lanes. The San Diego Freeway designation does not end here; instead, the San Diego Freeway continues south along Interstate 5 all the way to downtown San Diego. This interchange marks the southern terminus of the Santa Ana Freeway, which is Interstate 5 from Irvine north to Los Angeles and U.S. 101 from there north to the Four Level Interchange north of downtown Los Angeles. Photos taken 03/30/03.
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| Other Photos of Interstate 405
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| Freeway entrance from Exit 7/Jamboree Boulevard onto northbound Interstate 405 in Irvine. Photo taken 09/22/00.
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| Interstate 405 "bubble shield" used for a detour routing in Long Beach along southbound California 1. Photo taken 09/22/00.
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Page Updated October 2, 2004.
