Foothill Fwy – State 118

Foothill Freeway

Pasadena to La Canada

State Highway 118

Overview of the freeway looking southeast towards Pasadena from the La Canada area. Interchanges visible from bottom to top - Meadow Grove St/Michigan Avenue, Berkshire Avenue, Linda Vista Avenue/SR-11, and Arroyo Boulevard. Freeway ends at the bottom of the photo at the Foothill Blvd junction.
Overview of the freeway looking southeast towards Pasadena from the La Canada area. Interchanges visible from bottom to top – Meadow Grove St/Michigan Avenue, Berkshire Avenue, Linda Vista Avenue/SR-11, and Arroyo Boulevard. Freeway ends at the bottom of the photo at the Foothill Blvd junction. Courtesy – Caltrans

In 1955, the first segment of the Foothill Freeway was constructed near Devils Gate Dam. It went from Foothill Blvd near Hampton Road east to near the intersection of Montana Ave and Canada Ave. This was done to help alleviate the traffic congestion at the crossing of Devils Gate Dam and the Arroyo Seco.

Four interchanges were constructed as a part of this new freeway at Meadow Grove St, Berkshire Place, Linda Vista Ave (then State 11), and Arroyo Blvd. This freeway lasted until 1974 when the I-210 freeway was constructed through this area. Only the western half of the freeway alignment was incorporated into the new I-210 freeway.

As the old freeway passed close to Devils Gate Dam, a wider freeway right of way would have been prohibitive. Instead, a new alignment to the south was constructed allowing for a wider freeway.

View over the Michigan Ave OC. This is now the location of a pedestrian bridge over the 210.
View over the Michigan Ave OC. This is now the location of a pedestrian bridge over the 210. Courtesy – Caltrans
Western end of the freeway, looking through the Michigan Ave OC.
Western end of the freeway, looking through the Michigan Ave OC. Courtesy – Caltrans
View looking southeasterly from the Linda Vista bridge. This segment of the old freeway is still in use and intact. The new Foothill Freeway (I-210) runs to the right of the old freeway.
View looking southeasterly from the Linda Vista bridge. This segment of the old freeway is still in use and intact. The new Foothill Freeway (I-210) runs to the right of the old freeway. Courtesy – Caltrans
Close-up of the Linda Vista exit sign. Note the SR-11 shield on the sign.
Close-up of the Linda Vista exit sign. Note the SR-11 shield on the sign. Courtesy – Caltrans
Looking west along the Foothill Freeway near the Linda Vista exit.
Looking west along the Foothill Freeway near the Linda Vista exit. Courtesy – Caltrans
View of the Arroyo Blvd OC. This bridge is still intact. All the old signs have been removed though.
View of the Arroyo Blvd OC. This bridge is still intact. All the old signs have been removed though. Courtesy – Caltrans
Close-up of the sign in the center of the photo. This sign was typical of the signage in 1955.
Close-up of the sign in the center of the photo. This sign was typical of the signage in 1955.

Following the bypass of the eastern segment by the new freeway, the old road was relinquished and converted to a city street. The old interchange at Linda Vista Ave was removed to create an at-grade intersection. Some of the ramps were closed off at Arroyo Blvd as well. For many years, the original signage remained as well, with a mileage sign and exit sign visible near Arroyo Blvd. Today, the roadway is known as Oak Grove Drive and remains as a reminder of what freeways were like in the 1950’s.

Current photos of what remains of the Foothill Freeway of 1955:

1999 Aerial photo showing I-210 and old State 118 (above). Arroyo Blvd interchange is visible on the right side of the image.
1999 Aerial photo showing I-210 and old State 118 (above). Arroyo Blvd interchange is visible on the right side of the image. Courtesy – Caltrans
1955 curbing along Canada Ave south of Woodbury Ave. This was formerly a westbound offramp from the Foothill Freeway.
1955 curbing along Canada Ave south of Woodbury Ave. This was formerly a westbound offramp from the Foothill Freeway.
Arroyo Blvd OC. Bridge 53-0999
Arroyo Blvd OC. Bridge 53-0999
Detail of original railing near the onramp from Arroyo Blvd.
Detail of original railing near the onramp from Arroyo Blvd.
Date stamp near the Arroyo Blvd OC.
Date stamp near the Arroyo Blvd OC.
Former offramp at Arroyo Blvd.
Former offramp at Arroyo Blvd.
1950's railing and the former freeway near Arroyo Blvd.
1950’s railing and the former freeway near Arroyo Blvd.
Postmile for Route 210 on one of the light posts near the Arroyo Blvd exit.
Postmile 22.192 for Route 210 on one of the light posts near the Arroyo Blvd exit.
Former mileage sign from 1949 along the freeway.
View of the freeway and the eastbound Arroyo Blvd exit.
View of the freeway and the eastbound Arroyo Blvd exit.
View eastbound from the onramp from Arroyo Blvd.
View eastbound from the onramp from Arroyo Blvd.
View of the freeway from the Arroyo Blvd OC.
View of the freeway from the Arroyo Blvd OC.
View of the Arroyo Seco Bridge 53-0992
View of the Arroyo Seco Bridge 53-0992
Deck view of the Arroyo Seco bridge.
Deck view of the Arroyo Seco bridge (53-0992) at current Linda Vista Rd junction.
Westbound view of the
Westbound view of the Flint Canyon Wash Bridge
Map from 1971 showing I-210 and SR-118 signage.
1971 map showing I-210 and SR-118 signage.
ACSC MAP of the freeway from 1957.
ACSC MAP of the freeway from 1957.

Exit List:

WESTBOUND
ExitsEntrances
BEGIN FREEWAY
Arroyo Blvd
Highland Avenue
Linda Vista Avenue
SR-11		Linda Vista Avenue
Berkshire PlaceBerkshire Place
Michigan Avenue
Meadow Grove Street
END FREEWAY
EASTBOUND
ExitsEntrances
BEGIN FREEWAY
Michigan Avenue
Meadow Grove Street		Meadow Grove Street
Berkshire PlaceBerkshire Place
Highland Avenue
Linda Vista Avenue
SR-11
Arroyo Blvd
END FREEWAY

Bridge Log from 1958:

PostmileNameBridge NumberYear Built
Meadow Grove Street OC53-07331955
Berkshire Place UC53-07341955
11/118 Separation53-01751955
Flint Canyon Wash53-10381955
Arroyo Seco Bridge53-09921955
Arroyo Seco Equestrian Tunnel53-10351955
Arroyo Blvd OC53-09991955

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