| Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) Truck Bypass north |
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Three separate roadways link Interstate 5 to Interstate 405 north: the high occupancy vehicle lanes, the main (general purpose) lanes, and the truck bypass lanes. This series of photos follows the connection to Interstate 405 north via the Truck Bypass Lanes. A standalone off-ramp connects Interstate 405's truck bypass with Exit 1, Irvine Center Drive. Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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Northbound Interstate 405 Truck Bypass reaches Exit 1, Irvine Center Drive. This is the first of several exits to serve 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 that has grown substantially over the past several decades. Irvine is home to the University of California at Irvine and the Irvine Spectrum Center nestled between Interstate 5 and Interstate 405. Looking northwest, Interstate 405 will stay in the city of Irvine until reaching John Wayne Airport near the California 55 interchange (Exit 9). Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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The truck bypass lanes merge back into the general purpose lanes. Photo taken 12/23/04. |
| Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) Carpool (HOV) Lanes north |
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This pair of photos follows the high occupancy vehicle (carpool) lane as it transitions from Interstate 5 to Interstate 405 north. Photos taken 03/15/08. |
| Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) Main Lanes north |
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Northbound Interstate 405 meets Exit 1, Irvine Center Drive. Like its counterpart in the truck bypass lanes, Exit 1 serves the Irvine Spectrum Center. This master developed area includes an office complex, large shopping center (featuring carousel and Ferris wheel), and ample developed residential complexes. Photo taken 02/02/08. |
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After the Irvine Center Drive exit, the truck lanes merge back onto the mainline freeway. Photo taken 02/02/08. |
| Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north |
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An Interstate 405 north reassurance shield assembly is posted after the truck bypass and main lanes merge together. Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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After the Irvine Center Drive exit, the next exit along northbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) is Exit 2, California 133 (Laguna Freeway). Photos taken 09/25/05 and 03/15/08. |
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A second Interstate 405 north reassurance shield assembly is posted after the on-ramp from Irvine Center Drive. Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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The next exit along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north is Exit 2, California 133 (Laguna Freeway) south to Laguna Beach. A project completed in 2009 resulted in the conversion of California 133 (Laguna Canyon Road) southwest of here into an expressway between Interstate 405 and California 73. Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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Laguna Beach is well-known for its arts festivals, and this sign is posted prior to the California 133 south off-ramp to advise motorists of same. California 133 travels southwest from here, ending at its junction with California 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) in the city of Laguna Beach. Photo taken 07/10/10. |
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Northbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 2, California 133 (Laguna Freeway) south to Laguna Beach. California 133 is only a freeway briefly south of Interstate 405 before it shifts into a four-lane expressway configuration. Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next two exits along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north: Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive and Sand Canyon Avenue and Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Avenue. Photo taken 09/25/05. |
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The next exit along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north is Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive and Sand Canyon Avenue. This exit, which also serves the city of Irvine, connects to Shady Canyon Drive south to the community of Shady Canyon and Sand Canyon Avenue north to the community of Oak Creek. Photos taken 07/10/10 and 09/25/05. |
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Northbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive and Sand Canyon Avenue. Photos taken 07/13/09 and 09/25/05. |
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The next exit along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north is Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road (0.75 mile). Photo taken 07/10/10. |
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An older, porcelain-enamel overhead guide sign is posted for Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road on the Shady Canyon Drive and Sand Canyon Avenue overpass. Photo taken 03/15/08. |
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An Interstate 405 north reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from Sand Canyon Avenue and Shady Canyon Drive. Photo taken 09/25/05. |
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The right two lanes connect to Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road. University Drive travels west to the University of California at Irvine. Jeffrey Road travels north through Irvine, passing by Irvine Valley College. Photo taken 07/10/10. |
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Both Exit 4 (University Drive west) and Exit 5 (Culver Drive south) connect to the University of California at Irvine. Photo taken 07/10/10. |
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Northbound Interstate 405 meets Exit 4, University Drive west to the University of California at Irvine and Jeffrey Road north to Irvine Valley College. Photos taken 07/10/10, 02/02/08 and 09/25/05. |
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The next exit along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north is Exit 5, Culver Drive. Note the exit number tab, which was placed in the white space to the right of the overhead guide sign. Photos taken 02/02/08 and 11/25/04. |
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This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north: Exit 5, Culver Drive; Exit 7, Jamboree Road (to California 261); and Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard. At the time the University Drive overpass was widened, the guide sign was replaced (shifting from porcelain enamel button copy to reflective sheeting). Photos taken 07/13/09 and 03/15/08. |
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A carpool lane entrance/exit point is located between the on-ramp from University Drive and the Culver Drive off-ramp. Photo taken 09/25/05. |
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Culver Drive travels south from this interchange to the University of California at Irvine, then enters the city of Newport Beach near the community of San Joaquin Hills (changing into Bonita Canyon Road, which interchanges with California 73 (San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor)). To the north, Culver Drive travels into the Woodbridge community of the city of Irvine, meeting Interstate 5 at Exit 99. Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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Northbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 5, Culver Drive. Through Irvine, Interstate 405 generally travels northwest and in some areas almost due west. For more of its route southeast of Long Beach, Interstate 405 parallels the coastline. As the coastline continues to aim northwest, so does Interstate 405. Only at Santa Monica will Interstate 405 continue due north to rejoin Interstate 5 rather than turn west to follow the coastline. U.S. 101 takes over the responsibility of serving coastal communities with freeway access west of Los Angeles. Photo taken 09/25/05. |
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The next exit along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north is Exit 7, Jamboree Road. This interchange also serves the city of Irvine. Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north: Exit 7, Jamboree Road (to California 261 north); Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard; and Exit 9A, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway). Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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Jamboree Road is a major route through the city of Irvine. To the north, Jamboree Road nearly straddles the border between Irvine and Tustin, becomes an expressway (with an interchange at Edginer Road/Irvine Center Drive), then transitions directly onto California 261 toll road. To the south, Jamboree Road travels past the University of California at Irvine and then continues into the city of Newport Beach (meeting California 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) near Fashion Island shopping center). Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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A view of the Irvine skyline can be seen from northbound Interstate 405. Construction of office towers at this interchange continued throughout the 1990s and 2000s, part of a master development plan for Irvine. Photo taken 03/15/08. |
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The right two lanes of Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) connect to Exit 7, Jamboree Road. Photo taken 11/25/04. |
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Northbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 7, Jamboree Road. Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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An Interstate 405 north route marker is posted after the on-ramp from Jamboree Road. Photo taken 05/02/10. |
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This mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard; Exit 9A, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway); and Exit 9B, Bristol Street. Photo taken 03/15/08. |
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A roadside exit number guide sign is posted for Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard. Use Exit 8 to John Wayne Airport. Photos taken 03/15/08 and 11/25/04. |
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Northbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard to John Wayne/Orange County Airport. John Wayne Airport is a regional airport with several commercial carriers. Flights originating from or culminating at John Wayne Airport tend to be more expensive than Ontario International Airport or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The next exit is Exit 9A, California 55/Costa Mesa (Newport) Freeway. Photos taken 03/15/08 and 11/25/04. |
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This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north: Exit 9A, California 55; Exit 9B, Bristol Street; and Exit 11, South Coast Drive and Fairview Road. Photo taken 03/15/08. |
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Interstate 405 widens out substantially as it approaches the California 55 interchange. The high occupancy vehicle lane direct connection ramp from Interstate 405 north to California 55 south opened between 2004 and 2009. Photos taken 03/15/09, 10/25/09, and 02/15/04. |
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As the HOV lane prepares to split between Interstate 405 north and California 55 north, signage for the direct access ramp from John Wayne Airport to California 55 comes into view on the right side of the freeway. The access ramp has one exit to Main Street; all other traffic defaults onto California 55 north. Photos taken 03/15/08 and 10/25/09. |
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Northbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 9A, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway). California 55 is a southwest-northeast (diagonal) freeway that travels from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa northeast to Orange and Anaheim via Santa Ana. The signage was modified between 2004 and 2009 to reduce one of the exit arrows and to open the HOV direct connector ramp. Interstate 405, meanwhile, turns almost due west between John Wayne Airport (Exit 8) and the Costa Mesa-Fountain Valley city limits (after Euclid Street, Exit 12). Photos taken 03/15/08 and 10/25/09. |
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This reflective sign assembly is posted on the gore point for Exit 9A. It was placed as part of the project to increase capacity at this interchange. The mileage sign provides the distance to the next two exits along Interstate 405 north: Exit 9B, Anton Boulevard, Avenue of the Arts, and Bristol Street and Exit 11, South Coast Drive, Fairview Road, and Harbor Boulevard. Photos taken 09/25/05 and 02/15/04. |
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This series of photos follows the ransition from the HOV lanes on Interstate 405 north to the HOV lanes on California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) north. Photos taken 03/15/08. |
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Following the off-ramp to California 55 south, this series of photos shows the ramp passing through the Interstate 405-California 55 interchange. An independent off-ramp connects to Baker Street. Photos taken 10/25/09. |
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Back on the mainline, the next interchange along Interstate 405 north is Exit 9B, Anton Boulevard, Avenue of the Arts, and Bristol Street. (This particular sign was misrepresented as Exit 9 from 2003 until 2007, when the number was fixed to Exit 9B.) Photo taken 09/25/05. |
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Exit 9B is the first to serve the city of Costa Mesa (population 108,724 as of 2000 Census, elevation 98 feet, and incorporated on June 29, 1953). The other two exits to serve Costa Mesa are both under Exit 11 -- Exit 11A, South Coast Drive; Exit 11B, Fairview Road; and Exit 11C, Harbor Boulevard. Photo taken 07/10/10. |
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Northbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 9B, Anton Boulevard, Avenue of the Arts, and Bristol Street. (This particular sign was misrepresented as Exit 9 from 2003 until 2007, when the number was fixed to Exit 9B.) Use Bristol Street north to the city of Santa Ana, the seat of Orange County. This exit also serves South Coast Plaza, a destination shopping mall on the north side of the freeway. Photos taken 07/10/10 and 09/25/05. |
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A high occupancy vehicle (HOV - carpool) lane direct connection ramp (from Interstate 405 south to California 55 north) passes over Interstate 405's northbound lanes. This view looks from the gore point for Exit 9B. Photo taken 05/02/10. |
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The off-ramp to Exit 9B connects to a collector distributor lane arrangement. This view shows the signage on the c-d lane between Interstate 405 and the ramp to Exit 9B, Bristol Street. (A prior ramp -- not shown here -- links to Anton Boulevard and Avenue of the Arts.) Photos taken 07/10/10 and 07/13/09. |
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This mileage sign provides the distance to the next two exits along Interstate 405 north: Exit 11, South Coast Drive, Fairview Road, and Harbor Boulevard and Exit 12, Euclid Street. Use either Fairview Road or Harbor Boulevard north into Santa Ana. Interstate 405 avoids entering Santa Ana by paralleling its southern city limits between Exits 9A and 12. Photo taken 11/25/04. |
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The next exit along Interstate 405 north connects Exit 11, South Coast Drive, Fairview Road, and Harbor Boulevard. The off-ramp to Exit 11 is not a collector distributor lane. The ramp immediately connects to Exit 11A, South Coast Drive, then follows with an off-ramp to Exit 11B, Fairview Road, and finally culminates at Exit 11C, Harbor Boulevard. Photo taken 09/25/05. |
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Northbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 11, South Coast Drive, Fairview Road, and Harbor Boulevard. Photo taken 09/25/05. |
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Upon departing the freeway at Exit 11, the first right connects to Exit 11A, South Coast Drive. Stay in the left lane of the exit ramp to Exit 11B to Fairview Road and Exit 11C to Harbor Boulevard. Overhead, the transition ramp from California 73 connects with Interstate 405 north. There is no direct access from Interstate 405 north to California 73 (illogical connection). Due to the feeder ramps from California 73, the interchange weaving with Exits 11A-B-C is rather complication and complex. Photo taken 09/25/05. |
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As seen from the mainline, an off-ramp from California 73 north allows traffic to connect to Harbor Boulevard. Two lanes from California 73 north merge onto Interstate 405. Photo taken 11/25/04. |
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This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north: Exit 12, Euclid Street; Exit 14, Brookhurst Street; and Exit 15, Magnolia Street. Photo taken 11/25/04. |
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A carpool lane entrance/exit is located after the off-ramp to Exit 11 and prior to Exit 12. The next exit along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north is Exit 12, Euclid Street and Newhope Street. Photos taken 09/25/05 and 04/21/07. |
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A second interchange sequence sign again provides the distance to the next three exits along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north: Exit 12, Euclid Street and Newhope Street; Exit 14, Brookhurst Street; and Exit 15, Magnolia Street. Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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Exit 12 connects Interstate 405 to northbound Euclid Street, northeast Newhope Street, and westbound Ellis Avenue in Fountain Valley. Photo taken 07/13/09. |
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The right two lanes of Interstate 405 north connect to Exit 12 to Euclid Street, Newhope Street, and Ellis Avenue. Photo taken 11/25/04. |
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Interstate 405 leaves Costa Mesa and enters the city of Fountain Valley, "A Nice Place to Live and Work" (incorporated June 13, 1957). The next exit along Interstate 405 north is Exit 14, Brookhurst Street/Fountain Valley. Photo taken 02/02/08. |
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Northbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) meets Exit 12 to Euclid Street, Newhope Street, and Ellis Avenue. This exit ramp is located immediately after the freeway crosses the Santa Ana River, which serves as the boundary between Costa Mesa and Fountain Valley. Photo taken 09/25/05. |
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Upon exiting at Exit 12, this sign advises motorists on how to connect to Euclid Street (left lane), Newhope Street (middle lane), and Ellis Avenue (right lane). Photo taken 11/19/11. |
Page Updated November 30, 2011.
