Junction of most of the major freeways in Los Angeles and one of the world’s busiest freeway interchanges.
Golden State Freeway (I-5) Santa Ana Freeway (US 101 / I-5) Santa Monica Freeway (I-10) San Bernardino Freeway (I-10) Pomona Freeway (SR-60)
More than 430,000 vehicle pass through this interchange daily.
Interchange Diagram from the California Division of Highways.
The East Los Angeles Freeway Interchange is a very complex and interesting freeway junction. While some sort of junction was planned in the area, it wasn’t originally intended to become what it is. The first freeway through the area dates to about 1943, the Ramona Parkway (now the I-10 San Bernardino Freeway). In 1948, the first section of the Santa Ana Freeway (US 101 and I-5) was extended south from the San Bernardino Split to near the current I-710 Long Beach Freeway. As a part of this early construction, provisions for a future interchange with the “Olympic Parkway” was constructed near Soto St.
Overview of the East Los Angeles Interchange from a USGS topographical map. There is a small error on this map denoting the San Bernardino Freeway west of I-5 as SR-10. It is in fact Route 10, not really a part of I-10 but not a State Sign route.
Main East Los Angeles Interchange. The Santa Ana Freeway (US 101 and I-5) is the only roadway that flows all the way through this interchange without the use of ramps.
I-5 / I-10 Interchange. Purple areas east of I-5 mark the area of I-10 that was reconstructed in the early 1970’s. The purple line west of I-5 marks the El Monte Busway.
San Bernardino Split. The purple line marks the El Monte Busway. The flyover ramp from I-10 West to US 101 South, originally constructed in 1955, was removed in 1995 due to the redundancy of the same connection at the I-5 / I-10 junction and seismic retrofit. SR-10 is an error, it reflects Route 10, not I-10. I-5 / I-10 Junction.
ACSC map from 1958 showing the I-5 / I-10 interchange.
Map showing the beginnings of the modern interchange. Dates to 1959.
San Bernardino Split and I-5 / I-10 Junction in 1959.
Location of the East Los Angeles Interchange in 1959 with just US 101 (Santa Ana Freeway and Future I-5) passing through..
Ramps shown as proposed leading from US 101 at Marietta Street to 8th Street were to be the beginning of the Olympic Parkway. These ramps were never constructed. However, the underpass from North US 101 to westbound Olympic Parkway was constructed in 1948. It remained a bridge over nothing for many years until 1962. Traffic from Westbound SR-60 to Westbound I-10 now uses the underpass. I-10 is the modern construction of what was to be the Olympic Parkway so, it may have took many years, but the bridge finally is used for the purpose it was designed for.
1958 plans for signage at the I-5/I-10/US 101/SR-60 Interchange (58-7vc41)
1958 plans for signage at the I-5/I-10/US 101/SR-60 Interchange (58-7vc41)
State Route 60, the Pomona Freeway, was originally to be signed State Route 26, though how far east is unknown. State 26 used to run along Olympic Blvd to the south. Initially, the signs were placed with this designation, but covered over with a portion of the State Route shield visible. When the Pomona Freeway was finally built in 1965, those signs were replaced with State Route 60 shields.
Photographs of the East Los Angeles Interchange
1999 Aerial photo of the East Los Angeles Interchange. Courtesy – Caltrans
Oblique aerial view of the East Los Angeles Interchange. Taken by the Division of Highways on October 30, 1961. Connections to SR-60 have been built but aren’t in use. They won’t be until 1965. The ramps to I-10 opened in 1962.
Oblique aerial view westerly along under-construction I-10 Santa Monica Viaduct (Los Angeles River BOH). Photo was taken by the Division of Highways on December 7, 1960. Bridges over the Los Angeles River were completed earlier in 1959 in a separate contract.
Aerial view of the Los Angeles River BOH under construction on February 2, 1959. Photo Courtesy – Robert Owen Winkler.
Photo showing the construction of the Los Angeles River BOH on I-10 on February 2, 1959. This photo shows how many buildings were removed to accommodate the freeway. Photo Courtesy – Robert Owen Winkler.
Los Angeles River BOH under construction on January 29,1959. Looking easterly. Photo Courtesy – Robert Owen Winkler
Oblique aerial view easterly along the mostly-completed I-10 Santa Monica Viaduct. Photo was taken by the Division of Highways on September 16, 1961. Viaduct is still under construction west of Alameda Avenue. Loop ramp visible at center connects eastbound Olympic Blvd to eastbound traffic heading to the East Los Angeles Interchange.
I-10 ramps over the Los Angeles River. This bridge connects I-10 westbound (right) and I-5 southbound (left) with Mateo Street and Santa Fe Avenue. Mainline I-10 runs on the bridge to the right. Vehicles visible on the bridge to the right just left I-5 southbound.
View from the onramp to 10 westbound from Soto Street. Ramp is in the foreground. Ramps from 10 eastbound are in the left background. Closest ramp connects I-5 southbound to the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) southbound.
Old overpass built for the Olympic Parkway in 1948. US 101, now I-5, travels over the bridge. The bridge had only dirt beneath it until 1961 when the ramps from the Pomona Freeway were built here. Traffic from SR-60 westbound to I-10 westbound now passes through here.
Westbound along SR-60 approaching the East Los Angeles Interchange. There is no direct connector from 60 west to 5 south. To get there, signs direct travelers to I-710 southbound.
Beginning of the Golden State Freeway at 6th Street / Whittier Blvd. Traffic entering from the right is coming from the northbound Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) and westbound Pomona Freeway (SR-60). Traffic at left is coming from eastbound Santa Monica Freeway (I-10).
Eastbound Pomona Freeway split to US 101 northbound, I-5 northbound, and Soto Street. I-10 eastbound traffic has already split off.
Signage for the onramps from Soto Street north of 8th Street. Ramp in background is the connector from I-10 eastbound to I-5 southbound. Onramp to SR-60 eastbound is the first exit on the right.
Santa Ana Freeway split with US 101, I-5, and I-10
5 North at the 10 West split
5 North Connector at the 60 West connection
10 eastbound at Santa Fe Avenue. Signage here shows both I-5 and I-10 co-signed over the Golden State Freeway.
5 North at the 10 East
Sign plans from 1965 showing the removal of US 99 North and US 101 South from the East Los Angeles Interchange.
Sign plans from 1965 showing the removal of all the US routes except US 101 on the Santa Ana Freeway from Route 10 to I-5.
