| Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south |
|
At Exit 117 (Artesia Boulevard and Knott Avenue), Interstate 5 enters Orange County, which had a population of 2,846,289 people as of the 2000 Census. Orange County was formed on March 11, 1889, when the southern portion of Los Angeles County was placed into its own county (Orange County consists of 948 square miles). Thirty-four incorporated cities exist in Orange County as of 2008, with some newer communities located in unincorporated areas (such as Ladera Ranch). At this point, Interstate 5 also enters the city of Buena Park, the "Center of the Southland." Incorporated in 1953, Buena Park had a population of 78,282 people as of the 2000 Census. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
While ignoring the next exit (Exit 116, California 39), this mileage sign provides the distance to the ensuing two exits: Exit 114B, California 901/Riverside Freeway east to Riverside and Exit 114A, Magnolia Avenue (to California 91 (Artesia Freeway) west) and Orangethorpe Avenue. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The next exit along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south is Exit 114B, California 91 (Riverside Freeway) east to Riversdie. This is very old sign posted on an old sign bridge. It has not yet been replaced the current reconstruction project on Interstate 5. Instead, the California 91 sign now features an exit number shield pasted onto the original sign. This copy and paste technique for exit numbering is common along southbound Interstate 5 in Orange County. Also note that the original signs were shifted in position: California 91 east is now a RIGHT exit rather than a LEFT exit (after the 2001 reconstruction of the 5-91 interchange). Also the green overlay panel that added "Fullerton" as a destination city for eastbound California 91 (Riverside Freeway) was removed. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Another exit number sign (this time on the side of the road) for Exit 114B, California 91 east is posted shortly thereafter. Looking ahead, California 91 traffic will take the right lanes, while through traffic for Interstate 5 south remains in the left lanes. There is no direct access to westbound California 91. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 114B, California 91 east to Riverside. Note the control city of San Diego on this sign, as opposed to Santa Ana used two sign bridges previously. This sign bridge was also removed in 2006 and will be replaced with the conclusion of the highway expansion activities north of this point. Photo taken 09/25/05. |
|
The next exit along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south is Exit 114A, Magnolia Avenue. Use Magnolia Avenue north to Fullerton and south to Anaheim. Exit 114A also provides the only access to California 91 west to the cities of Buena Park, La Palma, and Cerritos. A carpool (high occupancy vehicle) lane begins on the left side of the freeway. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south: Exit 114A, Magnolia Avenue; Exit 113, Brookhurst Street and La Palma Avenue; and Exit 112, Euclid Street. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 114A, Magnolia Avenue. This exit is situated under the shadow of the flyover transition ramp from southbound Interstate 5 to eastbound California 91. Note the lack of an exit number. While the advance sign for Exit 114A meets the minimum criteria for a "signed" exit number, it is surprising that an exit number was not included on this new sign. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The entire segment of Interstate 5 between California 91 and California 22 was reconstructed and greatly expanded in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Previously, this highway looked much like the current Interstate 5 in Los Angeles County, with six lanes and narrow medians and shoulders. Here, Interstate 5 passes under the Magnolia Avenue overpass. Upon passing through the California 91 interchange, Interstate 5 briefly passes through the southwest corner of the city of Fullerton, then enters the city of Anaheim. Founded in 1857, Anaheim has a population of 345,556 people (per the 2000 Census) and consists of 50.5 square miles of area. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 113, Brookhurst Street and La Palma Avenue. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 113, Brookhurst Street and La Palma Avenue. This lengthy overpass carries east-west La Palma Avenue over Interstate 5; a second long overpass will carry north-south Brookhurst Street over Interstate 5. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south: Exit 112, Euclid Street; Exit 111, Lincoln Avenue; and Exit 110B, Disneyland Drive and Ball Road. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Interstate 5 passes under Brookhurst Street. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The right lane of Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south becomes exit only for Exit 112, Euclid Street. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 112, Euclid Street. The massive expansion of Interstate 5 through Anaheim was one of the last construction projects to feature non-reflective, button-copy signs, so exit numbers were retrofitted onto otherwise new signs. The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 111, Lincoln Avenue. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The ramp from Interstate 5 south to Euclid Street flies over the main lanes of the freeway to connect to Euclid Street near Anaheim Plaza. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Passing under the Euclid Street overpass, southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 111, Lincoln Avenue, which serves Anaheim in both directions. Lincoln Avenue historically carried U.S. 91 and California 18 across Anaheim prior to 1964. U.S. 91 began in Long Beach at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and then-California 15/Atlantic Avenue. U.S. 91 then traveled east along Pacific Coast Highway to California 19 (Lakewood Boulevard) north, then turned east again on Carson Street, which changes names to Lincoln Avenue and eventually Center Street. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south: Exit 110B, Disneyland Drive and Ball Road; Exit 110A, Harbor Boulevard; and Exit 109B, Disney Way. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The right two lanes of southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) will connect to Exit 110B, Disneyland Drive and Ball Road. The next three exits serve Disneyland, which is "the happiest place on Earth." Disney's California Adventure, Anaheim Convention Center, and plentiful resort hotels are located immediately adjacent to Disneyland. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
One of the features of the newly expanded freeway was the addition of high occupancy vehicle lanes along the center divide. In some cases, special exits were constructed for the high occupancy vehicle lanes only. An example of this is the direct access ramp (DAR) from southbound Interstate 5 to Disneyland Drive for high occupancy vehicles. This makes sense, considering that most people going to Disneyland are families and therefore fit the high occupancy vehicle definition. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The high occupancy vehicle lane splits at the direct access ramp (DAR) from Interstate 5 to Disneyland Drive (left exit for carpools only). Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
After the high occupancy vehicle exit for Disneyland Drive is Exit 110B for everyone else. The Disney properties in Anaheim include Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure as well as variety of hotels, water park, and other amenities. Ball Road, meanwhile, leads east into Anaheim and Orange, passing by Arrowhead Pond, home of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks Major League Hockey franchise, near its interchange with California 57. Photo taken 07/15/03. |
|
The direct access ramp from the HOV lanes flies above the main lanes of the freeway and then connects to Disneyland Drive. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The next exit along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south is Exit 110A, Harbor Boulevard. The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 110A. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 110A, Harbor Boulevard. Harbor Boulevard is former U.S. 101 and later was part of California 72. Following the historic El Camino Real corridor, U.S. 101 used to follow Harbor Drive north to La Habra, then turn northwest along Whittier Boulevard (current California 72) en route to downtown Los Angeles. With the construction of Bypass U.S. 101 (Santa Ana Freeway), U.S. 101 was routed off of Whittier and Harbor, and it was moved onto the freeway with a "BYPASS" banner, and then moved entirely to the new freeway. The old alignment was renumbered as California 72 in 1964. The section of California 72 south of La Habra was later removed from the state highway system, and that section is now locally maintained. Speaking of Disney, the Disney properties are located along the west side of Harbor Boulevard south of Interstate 5. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
This mileage sign along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 109B, Disney Way; Exit 109A, Katella Avenue and Orangewood Avenue; and Exit 107C, State College Boulevard and The City Drive. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Meanwhile in the HOV lanes, the next direct access ramp connects to Gene Autry Way east to the Angel Stadium of Anaheim. This is the most direct route to the stadium parking for those attending a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball game. These direct access ramps do not get exit numbers. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Another mileage sign is posted along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) prior to Exit 109B, Disney Way (which is not shown on the sign). The next four exits after Exit 109B are: Exit 109A, Katella Avenue and Orangewood Avenue; Exit 107C, State College Boulevard and The City Drive; and Exits 107B-A, California 22 (Garden Grove Freeway). Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 109B, Disney Way. The next mainline off-ramp is Exit 109A, Katella Avenue and Orangewood Avenue, and the HOV direct access ramp to Gene Autry Way is still ahead. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Immediately thereafter, southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 109A, Katella Avenue and Orangewood Avenue. Katella Avenue is a major east-west street, cutting through the city of Orange to the east and Anaheim, Garden Grove, Stanton, and Los Alamitos to the west. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The next exit is the left exit from the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to Gene Autry Way east to the Angel Stadium of Anaheim (formerly known as Edison International Field). Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes split, with the left lane connecting to a direct access ramp to Gene Autry Way east. The HOV lane continues south along Interstate 5 continuously to San Juan Capistrano south of the California 74 interchange. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
A mileage sign is posted along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) for mileage to the next three exits: Exit 107C, State College Boulevard and The City Drive and Exits 107B-A, California 22 (Garden Grove Freeway). Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 107C, State College Boulevard and The City Drive, next right. Interestingly, a smaller exit numbered sign indicates that Exit 107C also goes to Chapman Avenue. This is not a very helpful use of exit numbering; the exit number should appear on both signs to alleviate confusion. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 107C, State College Boulevard/The City Drive/Chapman Avenue. This exit leads to downtown Anaheim as well as Edison International Field, home of the Anaheim Angels. Interstate 5 leaves Anaheim and enters the city of Orange. Consisting of 23.6 square miles, Orange incorporated on April 6, 1888, and is home to 128,821 people per the 2000 Census. The city retains a historic core downtown ("Old Towne, Orange Historic District"), which includes many older buildings than typically found in other Orange County cities. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 is Exits 107A-B, California 22 (Orange Crush Interchange). There is no access from Interstate 5 south to California 57 (Orange Freeway) north (illogical connection). Now rather than have an exit tab that reads "EXITS 107B-A," these signs have one tab on the left for Exit 107A (eastbound) and another on the right for Exit 107B (westbound). This is confusing for a couple of reasons. First, the left tab normally indicates a left exit, but there is no left exit here. Second, there are no cardinal directions presented on this sign, thus the directions for Exit 107B versus Exit 107A is unclear. In addition to the exit numbering game, also note the reemergence of Santa Ana in lieu of San Diego as the control city on a new sign! Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
While this sign is better than the previous sign, it is still a bit confusing with respect to left exits. It is very nice to see control cities used on these signs; that is a practice that Caltrans District 11 (San Diego/Imperial Counties) has apparently forgotten for non-Interstate freeways. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
While it contains a great deal of information, this sign is accurate and easy to read. It contains all the components of good signing: route number, exit number, destination city, and cardinal direction. Exit 107B for westbound California 22 departs here; Exit 107A follows. Note that Exit 107A is in its proper position on this sign: in the upper right corner. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Immediately thereafter, southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 107A, California 22 (Garden Grove Freeway) east. This ramp also connects to southbound Bristol Street to Santa Ana and La Veta Avenue west to the city of Orange. Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) leaves the city of Orange and enters the city of Santa Ana, which sits at an elevation of 135 feet, consists of 27.2 square miles, and receives an average of nearly 13 inches of rainfall annually. Incorporated in 1886, Santa Ana became the seat of Orange County when Orange County split from Los Angeles County in 1889. As of the 2000 Census, Santa Ana had a population of 337,977 people; that number climbed to a total of 353,428 per a 2007 California Department of Finance Estimate. The city is 76% Latino or Hispanic per the 2000 Census, and Santa Ana therefore has one of the nation's largest urban populations of that ethnic group. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Passing through the California 22 (Garden Grove Freeway) interchange, the next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 105B, Broadway and Main Street into Santa Ana. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The next exit along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south is Exit 105A, 17th Street and Penn Way. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 105A, 17th Street and Penn Way. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next two exits along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway): Exit 104B, Santa Ana Boulevard and Grand Avenue and Exit 104A, Fourth Street and First Street. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The right lane of Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) becomes exit only for Exit 104B, Santa Ana Boulevard and Grand Avenue. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 104B, Santa Ana Boulevard and Grand Avenue. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
A direct access ramp serves the connection from the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to California 55 south to Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. The HOV transition ramp rises above the level of the mainline freeway and will follow a viaduct unlike any other in Orange County. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The next exit along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south is Exit 104A, Fourth Street/First Street (right lane becomes exit only). The exit number was again pasted onto an existing sign. The second exit is Exit 103, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway). Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 104A, First Street and Fourth Street in Santa Ana. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next two exits along Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway): Exit 103, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) and Exit 102, Newport Avenue. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
|
The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Exit 103, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) (also sometimes known as the Newport Freeway). Heading southwest, California 55 leads into Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. To the north, California 55 connects with the city of Orange, then ends at its junction with California 91. Photos taken 11/27/06 and 07/15/03. |
|
The right two lanes of Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south connect to Exit 103, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) and Exit 102, Newport Avenue. Interstate 5 leaves the city of Anaheim and enters the city of Tustin ("Community Trees History Future"). Tustin incorporated in 1927, consists of 11.4 square miles, and was home to 67,504 people as of the 2000 Census. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 103, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway). The following exit is for Newport Avenue. Note how the sign bridge is partially integrated into the viaduct that carries the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) transition ramp from Interstate 5 south to California 55 south. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
|
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 102, Newport Avenue. This exit ramp is part of the larger Interstate 5/California 55 interchange complex. The ramp actually connects to a collector distributor lane, and the actual exit to Newport Avenue is still a half-mile or so south of here. Interstate 5 leaves Santa Ana and enters Tustin. Photo taken 11/27/06 and 07/15/03. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 passes under the transition ramp from California 55 south to Interstate 5 south. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
|
These pictures show the transition ramp signage for the connection to Exit 102, Newport Avenue. The first photo shows the signage from the mainline freeway, and the second photo shows the connection from California 55 south to Interstate 5 south. Photos taken 11/27/06 and 06/27/04. |
|
Shortly thereafter is the gore point signage for Exit 102, Newport Avenue in Tustin. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
|
The next exit along southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) is Exit 101B, Red Hill Avenue. An exit number was added to the sign between 2004 and 2006. Photos taken 11/27/06 and 06/27/04. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 101B, Red Hill Avenue; the next exit is Exit 101A, Tustin Ranch Road. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
This mileage sign along southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 101A, Tustin Ranch Road; Exit 100, Jamboree Road (to California 261); and Exit 99, Culver Drive. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 101A, Tustin Ranch Road. The next exit along southbound is Exit 100, Jamboree Road (to California 261). Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
This mileage sign provides the distance to Jamboree Road (Exit 100), Culver Drive (Exit 99), and Jeffrey Road (Exit 97). Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
Eastbound Jamboree Road connects with Portola Parkway and Northbound Toll California 261 en route to a connection with Toll California 241/Foothill Corridor. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
Westbound Jamboree Road picks up traffic from California 261 en route to meeting Interstate 405 in Irvine. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 100, Jamboree Road. Interstate 5 leaves the city of Tustin and enters the city of Irvine. Home to 143,072 people as of the 2000 Census, Irvine has grown substantially as the city continues to develop. Incorporated on December 28, 1971, Irvine is mostly a master planned community and is home to the University of California at Irvine and the Irvine Spectrum Center nestled between Interstate 5 and Interstate 405. The next exit along Interstate 5 south is Culver Drive, Exit 99. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
This mileage sign provides the distance to Culver Drive (Exit 99), Jeffrey Road (Exit 97), and California 133 north (Exit 96B). Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
Culver Drive is the first Irvine interchange. It heads southwest through Irvine to the University of California at Irvine and California 73/San Joaquin Foothill Corridor. Culver Drive heads northeast to meet Portola Parkway near Northwood. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
The right lane of Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) becomes exit only for Exit 99, Culver Drive. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 99, Culver Drive in Irvine. Photo taken 07/15/03. |
|
This mileage sign provides the distance to Jeffrey Road (Exit 97) California 133 north (Exit 96B), and Exit 96A, Sand Canyon Avenue. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 97, Jeffrey Road. Photo taken 07/15/03. |
|
Mileage sign along southbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 96B, California 133 north. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 96B, next right/exit only. Northbound California 133 is a toll road that connects with California 241/Foothill Corridor northeast of Irvine. This provides a fast connection from Irvine and Tustin to California 91 (Riverside Freeway) toward Riverside and the Interstate 15 corridor. The southbound California 133 exit is still ahead. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
The next exit along southbound is Exit 96A, Sand Canyon Road. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
This mileage sign provides the distance to Exit 95, California 133 South to Laguna Beach; Exit 94, Alton Parkway; and Exit 92, Truck Bypass for the Interstate 405 merge. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
The right two lanes of Interstate 5 south connect to Exit 95, California 133 south. Photo taken 11/27/06. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 95, California 133 south to Laguna Beach. California 133 is a toll-free freeway from Interstate 5 south to Interstate 405, then reverts to an expressway between Interstate 405 and Orange County S-18 (El Toro Road). Parts of the expressway were under construction in 2002 and 2003; when complete, the highway will facilitate better traffic flow between Irvine and the Orange County beach communities of Emerald Bay, Laguna Beach, and Dana Point. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
View of the interchange between Interstate 5 and California 133 as seen from southbound Interstate 5. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
This mileage sign provides the distance to Exit 94, Alton Parkway; Exit 92, Truck Bypass to Bake Parkway and Lake Forest Drive; and Exit 91, Bake Parkway. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
A carpool-only exit is provided for Barranca Parkway just prior to reaching the Alton Parkway interchange. To the east of Interstate 5 is the sprawling yet closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Proposals ranging from an international airport to a park have been considered for the site, but it appears that it will be developed into homes and commercial instead. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
Just like at the northern Interstate 405 interchange, traffic along southbound Interstate 5 must split into truck and auto lanes in order to allow for varying speeds while merging. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
The next exit along southbound is Exit 94, Alton Parkway. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 94, Alton Parkway. The next exit is Exit 93-92, which is the truck bypass and connection to Bake Parkway and Lake Forest Drive. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
|
Southbound Interstate 5 splits into Local/Truck Lanes and Express/Auto Lanes. The "truck" lanes also carry the connection to Exit 92, Bake Parkway and Lake Forest Drive, so autos may freely use these lanes. Photos taken 11/27/06 and 06/27/04. |
|
|
Southbound Interstate 5 retains one carpool lane, three through lanes, and two local/truck lanes upon reaching the Exit 93 truck bypass split. The ramps ahead form the merge between Interstate 5 and Interstate 405. The Santa Ana Freeway comes to an end as it is absorbed into the San Diego Freeway. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
Call boxes continue along the side of Interstate 5 as it passes through the Interstate 405 interchange complex. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
The tall bridges in the center of the freeway represent the direct transitions from Interstate 5 to Interstate 405 car pool (high occupancy vehicle) lanes. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
|
Southbound Interstate 5 passes under the carpool lane transition ramps. Photo taken 06/27/04. |
| Interstate 5 scenes |
Page Updated September 11, 2010.
