Southern California Regional Rocks and Roads - I-5: Golden State / Santa Ana / San Diego Freeways

PICTORIAL GUIDE TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HIGHWAYS

I-5

Golden State / Santa Ana / San Diego Freeway / Ridge Route

Runs from the Mexican Border to the Oregon Border

High Points

Weldon Summit / Newhall Pass – 1760′
Whitaker Summit – 2860′
Tejon Pass – 4144′

Historical Information

Follows former US 99 from I-10 north and former US 101 from US 101 south.

About I-5

The 5 is the main north-south Interstate in Southern California. It traverses some of the most densely populated areas in the region and serves most of the major cities. The route was developed as a freeway early on with large portions being constructed as US 99 and US 101. In 1960, I-5 signage started to go up, signaling the end of those routes where they overlapped. Both US 99 and US 101 were removed south of Los Angeles in 1964 with the northern section of 99 in 1965.

I-5 through San Diego County follows old US 101. The first section was opened south of downtown San Diego from National City to San Ysidro in the mid 1950’s. It was fully complete through San Diego County by the late 1960’s.

Montgomery Freeway

South of the 163, I-5 becomes the Montgomery Freeway. While it was originally completed in the mid 1950’s from National City to San Ysidro, it was completely reconstructed in the early 1970’s to its present state.

San Diego Freeway

1959 photo of the freeway in San Clemente heading northbound. Freeway ended at the El Camino Real interchange until 1960. Courtesy – Caltrans

chpw_cover_1961 — 1961 California Highways and Public Works cover photo showing the 5 and 101 signed in San Clemente.

Aerial view of the 5 just south of Oso Pkwy about 1960. Roadway to the left is the former alignment of US 101, which still exists today. Courtesy – Caltrans

1958 view of the El Toro Road interchange, looking southerly. Courtesy - Caltrans. — 1958 view of the El Toro Road interchange, looking southerly. Courtesy – Caltrans.

Northbound at the southern I-405 split. Note the greenout on Santa Ana, used to show Los Angeles until mid-2007.

Santa Ana Freeway

Passing through Santa Ana. High bridge is the 5/55 HOV connector.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Just south of the Orange Crush interchange in Santa Ana.

View of the Santa Ana Freeway in the late 1950's at Katella Ave. Second interchange is Anaheim Blvd, a former routing of US 101. — View of the Santa Ana Freeway in the late 1950’s at Katella Ave. Second interchange is Anaheim Blvd, a former routing of US 101. Courtesy – Caltrans

View of the NB onramp from West Road in Anaheim. This is one of the new direct connectors to/from Disneyland.

NB I-5 offramp to Brookhurst Avenue before opening.

View of I-5 southerly from Brookhurst Avenue. Ramp to the left is the NB offramp, ramp to the right is the SB onramp.

View of the 5s-91e connector roadway at the top. Note the high amount of superelevation and the high speed curve.

View of SR-91 eastbound from the 5s-91e connector ramp before the ramp was opened. Note the old left entrance still in use. Ramp is now used at the direct carpool connector.

Closeup view of the HOV bridge over SB I-5. Lane to the left connects 91e to 5s HOV, middle lanes connect 5n and 91w HOV with 91w HOV lanes.

Another view of the HOV bridge with a new exit sign below over I-5 north.

Carpool ramp from 91w. High bridge in background left is the 5s-91e connector.

Northbound approaching the 91. — Northbound at the 91.

Former Stanton Ave overcrossing with space for the former left onramp for southbound traffic.

1960's signage, now gone, at Beach Blvd heading southbound. This was the last old sign bridge in Orange County on I-5 until a few years ago. — 1960’s signage, now gone, at Beach Blvd heading southbound. This was the last old sign bridge in Orange County on I-5 until a few years ago.

Southbound on I-5. The upper overlay is for old SR-14, the lower one was for SR-39. Beach Blvd later had its own exit further south.

Old freeway configuration entering Orange County before recent reconstruction.

Northbound I-5 via motorcycle in 2014. Speed is slower than it appears due to “fisheye” type lens.

Golden State Freeway

North of the East Los Angeles Interchange, I-5 becomes the Golden State Freeway, a holdover name from US 99 which was known as the Golden State Highway since the 1920’s. This section of I-5 was completed in stages from 1954 to 1970. North of Castaic, the freeway heads over the Ridge Route, a name that has carried over from the original 1915 Ridge Route, which is still there. It is also erroneously known as “The Grapevine“, a name that really applies to Grapevine Canyon, not the whole road over the mountains. Prior to 1983, northbound signs still pointed to Bakersfield as a control city. In 1983, the signs were changed to Sacramento, better reflecting the next major city on I-5 instead of former US 99.

The majority of the Golden State Freeway was built between 1958 and 1962. One section, under the 1928 Hyperion Viaduct, somehow still manages to squeeze under a bridge that was never designed with a major freeway in mind.