| Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) south |
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The next three exits serve city of Costa Mesa: Exit 11B, Harbor Boulevard; Exit 11A, Fairview Road; and Exit 10, California 73 (Corona del Mar Freeway) south to the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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This interchange sequence sign along Interstate 405 south provides the distance to the next three exits (all of which serve Costa Mesa): Exit 11B, Harbor Boulevard; Exit 11A, Fairview Road; and Exit 10, California 73 (Corona del Mar Freeway) south to Exit 17B, Bear Street. This old, porcelain enamel sign has been amended a few times since it was originally posted. Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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A set of Southern California Edison power lines crosses over Interstate 405; these lines parallel the Santa Ana River, over which the freeway crosses. Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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Passing under the power lines and approaching the Santa Ana River bridge, Interstate 405 leaves Fountain Valley and enters the city of Costa Mesa, which had a population of 108,724 as of 2000 Census and sits at an elevation of 98 feet. Costa Mesa incorporated on June 29, 1953. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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This view looks southeast along Interstate 405 at the Santa Ana River crossing. Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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The next exit along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) is Exit 11B, Harbor Boulevard, which serves the city of Costa Mesa. Harbor Boulevard travels south through Costa Mesa to Newport Beach, merging with California 55 just north of downtown Newport Beach. Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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The right two lanes of Interstate 405 south will connect to Exit 11B, Harbor Boulevard. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 11B, Harbor Boulevard. The next exit is Exit 11A, Fairview Road, followed by Exit 10, California 73 south to the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor (toll road). Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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The Orange County Toll Road network offers an alternative for through traffic to southern Orange County and San Diego via California 73/San Joaquin Transportation Corridor. Use Exit 10 (California 73 south) as an alternative to Interstate 405. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along southbound: Exit 11A, Fairview Road; Exit 10, California 73/California 55 south; and Exit 9B, Bristol Street. Photos taken 04/13/09 and 05/30/04. |
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The next exit along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) south is Exit 11A, Fairview Road. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 11A, Fairview Road. The next exit is Exit 10, California 73 (San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor) south (with connections to California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) south to Newport Beach). Photos taken 06/17/06 and 05/30/04. |
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This sign advises that California 73 (San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor) (toll) is an alternate route in lieu of Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) south to San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, and San Diego. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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This mileage sign along southbound provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 10, California 73 south to California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) and the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor (Toll); Exit 9B, Bristol Street; and Exit 9A, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) north to Orange. Photos taken 04/13/09 and 05/30/04. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 reaches Exit 10, California 73 (Corona del Mar Freeway) south to the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. The lanes for the California 73 exit are separated by this barrier, while the main lanes continue south on Interstate 405. The next exit is Exit 9B, Bristol Street. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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The next three exits along southbound Interstate 405 are Exit 9B, Bristol Street; Exit 9A, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway); and Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard to John Wayne (Orange County) Airport. Photos taken 04/13/09 and 06/17/06. |
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A tiny Interstate 405 south reassurance shield is posted shortly thereafter. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Since Interstate 405 southbound is generally traveling due east between California 73 and California 55, it intersects north-south Bristol Street. Bristol Street heads north toward South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, then onward into the city of Santa Ana. Heading south, Bristol Street serves Costa Mesa, then angles southeast along the California 73 corridor toward Newport Beach. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 9B, Bristol Street. The next exit is Exit 9A, northbound California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway). This area has been under construction over the past several years to increase capacity at these interchanges. Photos taken 06/17/06 and 05/30/04. |
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Several office and hotel buildings are located around the Interstate 405 and Bristol Street interchange. Photo taken 05/30/04. |
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The next three exits along southbound are Exit 9A, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway); Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard; and Exit 7, Jamboree Road. After passing by Exit 9A/Costa Mesa Freeway, Interstate 405 leaves Costa Mesa and enters Irvine. Irvine covers the remaining eight miles of Interstate 405 southbound. Photos taken 04/13/09 and 05/30/04. |
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A direct access ramp between the Interstate 405 south HOV lane and the California 55 north HOV lane was added in the late 2000s. Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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The right two lanes of Interstate 405 south will connect Exit 9A, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) north. Use the two right lanes to exit onto northbound California 55; the left five lanes plus HOV lane continue south on Interstate 405. Note that trucks may use either of the two right lanes; this is because of the traffic merging and loss of the number six lane ahead. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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At the next HOV lane entrance/exit, traffic may depart for MacArthur Boulevard. Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 9A, California 55 (Costa Mesa Freeway) north. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard; Exit 7, Jamboree Road; and Exit 5, Culver Drive. Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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Interstate 405 passes through the California 55 interchange. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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Use Exit 8 to Pepperdine University. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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The next six exits serve the city of Irvine. Interstate 405 leaves Costa Mesa and enters Irvine at the airport. 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. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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The next exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard. Oddly, this reflective sign was removed and gone by 2008. Photo taken 05/30/04. |
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The right lane of Interstate 405 south becomes exit only for Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard. Use Exit 8 to John Wayne Airport (Gateway to Orange County, California). Orange County's regional airport is named after the famous actor John Wayne. This airport is small given its traffic volume, and planes must take off at a steep angle to minimize noise disruption. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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A carpool entrance/exit point is located shortly before the off-ramp to Exit 8. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard to John Wayne Airport. To the south, MacArthur Boulevard connects to California 73 and ultimately California 1 near Newport Beach. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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Upon exiting from the freeway at Exit 8, this sign advises of the lane allocation for MacArthur Boulevard. The left two lanes turn south onto MacArthur Boulevard, the center lane connects to John Wayne Airport, and the right lane connects to MacArthur Boulevard north. Photos taken 10/25/09. |
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The next exit along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) is Exit 7, Jamboree Road (three-quarters of a mile). Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Interstate 405 leaves the vicinity of John Wayne Airport and enters the city of Irvine. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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The next two exits along southbound Interstate 405 are Exit 7, Jamboree Road and Exit 5, Culver Drive. The buildings are part of a large business area in western Irvine. Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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The right two lanes of Interstate 405 will connect to Exit 7, Jamboree Road. A reassurance shield for Interstate 405 south is also posted here, ostensibly for traffic merging onto the freeway from MacArthur Boulevard. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 7, Jamboree Road. Northbound Jamboree Road leads to California 261, a toll road connector to California 241. Construction of the business park and office towers around Interstate 405 continued, with a notable new building present in 2009 that was not there in 2006. Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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The next exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 5, Culver Drive (one and one-half miles). Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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This mileage sign provides the distance to the next two southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway): Exit 5, Culver Drive, one and one-quarter miles and Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road, two and three-quarter miles. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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Many of these exits lead to Irvine and the University of California at Irvine. This picture is of southbound Interstate 405 at Exit 5, Culver Drive. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Three advance guide signs for Exit 5, Culver Drive are posted in sequence prior to the off-ramp. Some of the older signs remained in place adjacent to the newer signs. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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The older porcelain enamel sign for Exit 5 is posted in the median. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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The right two lanes become exit only for Culver Drive. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 5, Culver Drive. Use Culver Drive to drive northeast into the Woodbridge community of the city of Irvine. Photos taken 06/17/06 and 05/30/04. |
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The next exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road (1.75 miles). It is unusual to find advance signs one and three-quarters miles ahead of the interchange such as this sign. This sign was gone by 2006 and not replaced. Photo taken 05/30/04. |
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This mileage sign along southbound Interstate 405 provides the distance to the next two exits: Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road, one and one-half miles, followed by Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive/Sand Canyon Avenue, two and one-half miles. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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This Interstate 405 south reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from Culver Drive. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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A carpool lane entrance/exit is located shortly thereafter. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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University Drive travels west to the University of California at Irvine (UCI) and Jeffrey Road travels east to Irvine Valley College. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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This mileage sign along southbound Interstate 405 provides the distance to Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive and Sand Canyon Avenue, one mile and Exit 2, California 133 (Laguna Freeway). Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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A long pedestrian bridge crosses over Interstate 405. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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The next exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive and Sand Canyon Avenue. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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An add-on exit number is affixed to the top of this roadside sign for Exit 3. Note the wide-open spaces through this stretch of Interstate 405 through Irvine; this is probably the most rural segment of busy Interstate 405. (Some of this land southwest of Interstate 405 is owned by the Nature Conservancy; other areas are slotted for future development.) Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Carpool traffic connecting to California 133 should exit from the HOV lane here. Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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Prior to the off-ramp for Exit 3 (Shady Canyon Drive south and Sand Canyon Avenue north), this roadside sign advises of Exit 2, California 133 north to Santa Margarita and Riverside. Interestingly, a standard add-on tab was placed on top of this roadside sign, which is generally not common in California but is very common in other states. The connection to Riverside is via California 133 toll road north to California 241 toll road north to California 91 (Riverside Freeway) east. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive south to Quail Hill and Shady Canyon and Sand Canyon Avenue north to Alton Parkway and Irvine Center Drive. Photos taken 10/25/09 and 06/17/06. |
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The next exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 2, California 133 (one-half mile). It seems like the control cities and/or freeway name were removed and/or covered up on this sign. Photo taken 04/13/09. |
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California 133 travels south through Laguna Canyon to the city of Laguna Beach. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) approaches Exit 2, California 133 (0.25 mile). This sign has seen some changes given the number of green overlays. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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Southern California Edison powerlines cross over the freeway. The taller tower carries 220kV power lines linking the Orange County grid to San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 2, California 133 (Laguna Freeway). Southbound California 133 leads to Laguna Beach via Laguna Canyon Road, and northbound California 133 leads to Interstate 5, then changes into a toll road for the remaining distance to California 241 in the Orange County foothills. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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Looking at the collector distributor lanes, the first ramp connects to California 133 south to Laguna Beach and the next ramp connects to California 133 north. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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This view of the collector distributor lanes for the modified cloverleaf Interstate 405/California 133 interchange shows both button copy signs have been changed to reflect that California 133 north is a freeway that connects to the Orange County Toll Road system. The next three exits along southbound are Exit 1B, Irvine Center Drive; Exit 1A, Bake Parkway; and Exit 0B, Truck Bypass Interstate 5 south to Lake Forest Drive. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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A small sign points the allocation of traffic to Interstate 405 south and California 133 north via the collector distributor lanes. Note the difference in signs ... the original showed the original designation of "Laguna Freeway," but the new one shows a California 133 route marker instead. Photos taken 03/30/03 and 10/25/09. |
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The next exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 1C, Irvine Center Drive (right two lanes, one optional and the other exit only). Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 1C, Irvine Center Drive. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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This traffic signal is located at the end of the ramp from Exit 1C to Irvine Center Drive. Photo taken 10/25/09. |
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The next exit along Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) south is Exit 1B, Bake Parkway. The exit number on this sign was changed from 1A to 1B, hence the appearance of two exit tabs on top of each other. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 1B, Bake Parkway; Exit 1A, Interstate 5 Truck Bypass South to Lake Forest Drive; (Exit 0, Interstate 5 south is omitted); and Interstate 5's Exit 91, Orange County S-18 (El Toro Road). Photo taken 05/30/04. |
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This is the final reassurance marker along Interstate 405 south, just prior to the Bake Parkway off-ramp (Exit 1A). There is no end Interstate 405 shield assembly. The next three exits (Exit 1A, Bake Parkway; Exit 0B, Interstate 5 Truck Bypass South to Lake Forest Drive; and Exit 0A, Interstate 5 south) all serve the city of Lake Forest, along with Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, and Leisure World (the retirement community). Photo taken 05/30/04. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 1B, Bake Parkway. This ramp turns south from the freeway, and it parallels Interstate 5 before meeting Bake Parkway about a half-mile south of this interchange. Since there is no direct access to northbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) from southbound Interstate 405, one option would be to take the Bake Parkway exit, then turn east and then north on Interstate 5. Photos taken 04/13/09 and 05/30/04. |
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The gore point signage used to show that Bake Parkway was Exit 1A, but it was changed to Exit 1B once Lake Forest Drive was added into the list as an exit of Interstate 405. Photo taken 05/30/04. |
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The final exit along southbound Interstate 405 is Exit 1A, Lake Forest Drive, which is actually the transition from southbound Interstate 405 onto the Interstate 5 Truck Bypass. Use the Truck Bypass southbound to reach the exit for Lake Forest Drive, which is located approximately one mile south of the Interstate 405/Interstate 5 interchange. Through traffic may also take this exit, since the ramp basically becomes a collector distributor lane for Interstate 5 between Interstate 405 and Lake Forest Drive. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Southbound Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) reaches Exit 1A, Lake Forest Drive and the Interstate 5 Truck Bypass south. Although Interstate 405 ends here, the San Diego Freeway continues south onto Interstate 5 south. The San Diego Freeway designation does not end here; instead, the San Diego Freeway continues south along Interstate 5 all the way to downtown San Diego. This interchange marks the southern terminus of the Santa Ana Freeway, which is Interstate 5 from Irvine north to Los Angeles and U.S. 101 from there north to the Four Level Interchange north of downtown Los Angeles. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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This view shows the gore point for Exit 1A, Lake Forest Drive. Ahead, all four main lanes will merge onto Interstate 5 south. Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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Traffic from Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) south merges with Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway). Traffic from Interstate 5 joins Interstate 405 from the left. No end shield for Interstate 405 south is posted here. The flyover ramp in the center of Interstate 5 is the direct transition from Interstate 405 high occupancy vehicle lanes to Interstate 5 high occupancy vehicle lanes. Photo taken 03/30/03. |
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This interchange, known as the El Toro Y, is one of the widest interchanges in the region, with approximately 22 lanes (combined HOV, main, and truck bypass lanes). Photo taken 06/17/06. |
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This series of photos follows the HOV lane connection from Interstate 405 south to Interstate 5 south. There was plenty of traffic on Interstate 5 south on this day. Photos taken 04/13/09. |
Page Updated September 25, 2010.
