I-5: Golden State / Santa Ana / San Diego Freeways
Golden State / Santa Ana / San Diego Freeway / Ridge Route Runs from the Mexican Border to the Oregon Border
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.
Northbound I-5 via motorcycle in 2014. Speed is slower than it appears due to “fisheye” type lens.
Northbound left exit for Firestone Blvd, former SR-42. This was near where I-105 was planned to end. Firestone Blvd also carried US 101 Bypass, until the construction of the Santa Ana Freeway through here in 1953.
At Norwalk Blvd, the greenout covers a SR-35 shield. State Hwy 35 used to be a Los Angeles area roadway until 1964, having been functionally replaced by I-605, it was moved to the San Francisco Bay area, there replacing SR-5 (Skyline Blvd).
Old median in the Downey area.
Approaching I-605 NB
At the 710, a US 101 shield is covered on the right side.
Going northbound through the “Mixmaster” Interchange. Atlantic Blvd was formerly the route of SR-15, which the Long Beach Freeway replaced. There is no direct connection to I-710 SB, only NB.
Santa Ana Freeway near Indiana Street in 1948.
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.
Passing downtown near Broadway.
Signage at the Glendale Freeway. Black overlay next to the 5 shield covers a US 99 shield.
I-5 passing through Elysian Valley from the Elysian Hills.
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.
Hyperion Viaduct in Glendale. Built 1928.
Older railing left in the median of the freeway near Alameda Avenue.
Sometimes the greenout will fall off, revealing older routings of highway numbers. Route 134 now runs along a portion of the Ventura Freeway. This sign has since been repaired.
Golden State Freeway under construction in Burbank approaching Alameda Ave.
Freeway southbound near Sheldon Street in the San Fernando Valley. This section was completed in 1963.
Southerly view of the 5 from Lankershim Blvd in 1962, shortly before the freeway was extended north. Courtesy – Caltrans
Signage at Brand Blvd for SR-118. Taken in the 1970’s from a helicopter by Caltrans.
Original signage at the 5 / 405 split. Note the US 6 signage. The 405 overhead was still there until a few years ago. Courtesy – AASHTO
Overhead signs at the old south end of the Golden State Freeway. Bridge at center is the San Fernando Road OH. This is the 1955 version of the I-5 / I-405 Interchange. Courtesy – Caltrans
Northbound at the Antelope Valley Freeway (SR-14) interchange.
View of the 5/14 interchange from the Weldon Canyon OC. This half of the bridge has been unused since around 1972. View is looking southward. Closest flyover ramp connects SB I-5 to NB SR-14. A span of the old (1975) 5s-14n connector did collapse in the 1994 Reseda/Northridge earthquake.
I-5 northbound just south of Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita.
Looking towards Six Flags Magic Mountain across the 5. X2, Tatsu, Viper, Full Throttle, and Superman can be seen peeking out from behind the buildings and hills.
At the “English Switch” where NB I-5 crosses under SB I-5 to climb Five Mile Grade and the Ridge Route. NB 5 follows old US 99 here.
View of the Ridge Route, Ridge Route Alternate (uphill grade), and southbound I-5 at Marple Canyon. Violin Saddle and Violin Summit, along I-5, are visible in the distance.
Signage at the north end of the crossover.
Near Cherry Canyon. This is my favorite section of I-5 over the new Ridge Route. How eight lanes of freeway gracefully glide in the shadow of the old Ridge Route shows the advances in highway engineering in just 60 years.
At the summit of Tejon Pass – 4,144′
Snow in Lebec on Thanksgiving 2019, looking southerly. Courtesy – Caltrans
