View source for Southern California freeways

{{short description|Freeway system}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}

[[File:SocalfreewaysystemWIKI.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Interstate and State Highway System of Southern California]]
[[File:LA-IE Freeway System.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Metropolitan Los Angeles Freeway System and Metropolitan Inland Empire]]

A vast network of interconnected [[Controlled-access highway|freeways]] in the [[Megaregions of the United States|megaregion]] of [[Southern California]] serves a population of over 23 million people. The Master Plan of Metropolitan Los Angeles Freeways was adopted by the Regional Planning Commission in 1947 and construction began in the early 1950s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cahighways.org/maps-sc-fwy.html |title=California Highways: Telling a Story through Highway and Planning Maps: Southern California Freeway Development (Part 1 - 1940s) |publisher=www.cahighways.org |date=1936-07-13 |accessdate=2022-07-26}}</ref> The plan hit opposition and funding limitations in the 1970s, and by 2004, only some 61% of the original planned network had been completed.

== History ==

=== Origins ===
Southern California's romance with the automobile owes in large part to resentment of the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]]'s tight control over the region's commerce in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During his successful campaign for governor in 1910, anti-Southern Pacific candidate [[Hiram Johnson]] traveled the state by car, which was no small feat at that time. In the minds of Southlanders, this associated the automobile with clean, progressive government, in stark contrast to the railroads' control over the corrupt governments of the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] and [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]]. While the Southern Pacific-owned [[Pacific Electric Railway]]'s famous Red Car streetcar lines were the axis of urbanization in [[Los Angeles]] during its period of spectacular growth in the 1910s and 1920s, they were unprofitable and increasingly unattractive compared to automobiles. As cars became cheaper and began to fill the region's roads in the 1920s, Pacific Electric lost ridership. Traffic congestion soon threatened to choke off the region's development altogether. At the same time, a number of influential [[urban planning|urban planners]] were advocating the construction of a network of what one widely read book dubbed "Magic [[Motorway]]s", as the backbone of [[suburb]]an development. These "[[Green belt|greenbelt]]" advocates called for decentralized, automobile-oriented development as a means of remedying both urban overcrowding and declining rates of home ownership.{{facts|date=January 2023}}

Traffic congestion was of such great concern by the late 1930s in the [[Los Angeles metropolitan area]] that the influential [[Automobile Club of Southern California]] engineered an elaborate plan to create an elevated freeway-type "Motorway System," a key aspect of which was the dismantling of the streetcar lines, to be replaced with buses that could run on both local streets and on the new express roads.<ref>http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2008/06/june-15-1938.html "Motorways Plan Revealed: System of Roads Designed to Cure Traffic Ills," [[Los Angeles Times]], June 15, 1938</ref> In the late 1930s, when the freeway system was originally planned locally by Los Angeles [[city planner]]s, they had intended for [[light rail]] tracks to have been installed in the center margin of each freeway (which would presumably have carried [[Pacific Electric Railway]] red cars), but this plan was never fully implemented.<ref>[[Peter Hall (urbanist)|Hall, Peter]] ''Cities in Civilization: Culture, Technology, and Urban Order'', London, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1998; New York, Pantheon Books, 1998 See section on Los Angeles</ref>

=== Planning and construction ===
During [[World War II]], transportation bottlenecks on Southern California roads and railways convinced many that if Southern California was to accommodate a large population, it needed a completely new transportation system. The city of Los Angeles favored an upgraded rail transit system focused on its central city. However, the success of the [[Arroyo Seco Parkway]], built between Los Angeles and [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] in 1940, convinced many that a freeway system could solve the region's transportation problems. Leaders of surrounding cities, such as [[Whittier, California|Whittier]], [[South Gate, California|South Gate]], [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], and Pasadena, accordingly called for a web of freeways to connect the whole region, rather than funneling their residents out of their own downtowns and into that of Los Angeles. Pro-freeway sentiments prevailed, and by 1947, a new comprehensive freeway plan for Los Angeles (based largely on the original locally planned 1930s system, but without the light rail tracks in the median strips of the freeways) had been drawn up by the California Department of Public Works (now [[Caltrans]]). [[San Diego]] soon followed suit, and by the early 1950s, construction had begun on much of the region's freeway system.{{facts|date=January 2023}}

==Proposed/future freeways==
Caltrans or local transportation agencies have identified the following priority freeway projects:
*A [[toll road]] that will go through a tunnel in the Santa Ana Mountains from [[Irvine, California|Irvine]] to [[Corona, California|Corona]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-11-18|title=The Crazy $700 Billion Plan To Fix SoCal Traffic: Tunnels!|url=https://laist.com/news/the-crazy-700-billion-plan-to-fix-socal-traffic-tunnels|access-date=2021-04-28|work=LAist|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2010-08-27|title=Plans for Irvine-Corona tunnel shelved|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2010/08/27/plans-for-irvine-corona-tunnel-shelved/|access-date=2021-04-28|work=Orange County Register|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://www.octa.net/ice.aspx|title=Schedule|website=octa.net|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010145914/http://octa.net/ice.aspx|archive-date=October 10, 2012}}</ref>
*Upgrading [[Foothill Freeway|State Route 210]] to [[Interstate Highway standards|Interstate standards]] and renumbering the route Interstate 210.<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Fagin|date=May 7, 2016|url=https://www.cahighways.org/209-216.html|work=California Highways|title=Routes 209-216}}{{self-published source|date=May 2016}}</ref>
*A new freeway, the [[Mid County Parkway]], from [[Interstate 215 (California)|Interstate 215]] in [[Perris, California|Perris]] to [[California State Route 79|State Route 79]] in [[San Jacinto, California|San Jacinto]].<ref>{{citation | url=http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_midcounty03.4225303.html|title=Schedule|website=pe.com}}</ref>
*An extension for [[Interstate 710 and State Route 710 (California)|Interstate 710]], the Long Beach Freeway, to its originally planned terminus at Interstate 210, the [[Foothill Freeway]], in [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]], via a [[tunnel]] underneath the city of [[South Pasadena, California|South Pasadena]]<ref>{{citation | url=https://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/710study/|title=Schedule|website=dot.ca.gov}}</ref> or some other means.  Caltrans, however, cancelled the project in November 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/11/28/710-freeway-extension-alhambra-south-pasadena/|title=Editorial: Caltrans Officially Kills 710 Extension Project After Decades Of Debate|date=2018-11-28|work=[[KCBS-TV|CBS Los Angeles]]|language=en-US|access-date=2021-06-18}}</ref>
*An extension to the [[California State Route 241|State Route 241]] [[toll road]] to meet [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] in or near [[San Clemente, California|San Clemente]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://octa.net/socmis_background.aspx|title=Schedule|website=octa.net}}</ref>
*Upgrading [[California State Route 71|State Route 71]], the [[Chino Valley Freeway]], to a full controlled-access freeway north of [[California State Route 60|State Route 60]], the [[Pomona Freeway]], to [[Interstate 10 in California|Interstate 10]], the [[San Bernardino Freeway]], in [[Pomona, California|Pomona]].<ref>{{citation | url=http://www.mission71project.com/|title=Schedule|website=mission71project.com}}</ref>
*Upgrading [[California State Route 55|State Route 55]], the [[Costa Mesa Freeway]], from south of its current freeway terminus at 19th Street in [[Costa Mesa, California|Costa Mesa]] to [[California State Route 1|State Route 1]], [[Pacific Coast Highway (California)|Pacific Coast Highway]], in [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]], potentially via a tunnel.<ref>{{citation | url=http://octa.net/55_access.aspx|title=Schedule|website=octa.net}}</ref>
*Construction of the High Desert Corridor, a freeway and [[Limited-access road|expressway]] between [[California State Route 14|State Route 14]], the [[Antelope Valley Freeway]], in [[Palmdale, California|Palmdale]] and [[Interstate 15 in California|Interstate 15]], the [[Mojave Freeway]], near [[Victorville, California|Victorville]]. It would also carry a high-speed rail line to [[Las Vegas|Las Vegas, Nevada]].<ref>{{citation | url=https://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/travel/projects/high-desert-corridor/|title=Schedule|website=dot.ca.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-high-desert-freeway-20180210-htmlstory.html|title=L.A. County set to build its first new freeway in 25 years, despite many misgivings|last=Sahagun|first=Louis|date=February 10, 2018|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=July 31, 2018}}</ref> Caltrans put the freeway on hold in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-10-06/high-desert-corridor-freeway-stopped|title=Editorial: It was a terrible idea to build a new freeway in Los Angeles County. Now it's on hold for good|date=2019-10-06|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-17}}</ref>
*State Route 48 is a completely unconstructed 25.5-mile (41.03&nbsp;km) freeway to connect at the current SR 14/138 junction and West Avenue E, go east running parallel with East Avenue E and East Avenue G, and terminate in Hi Vista at East Avenue G/200th Street East, at the planned SR 122 freeway.{{facts|date=January 2023}}
*State Route 122 is a completely unconstructed 61.3-mile (98.7&nbsp;km) freeway, defined to run from SR 14 south of Palmdale, and proceed northeast through Hi Vista, and terminate at the current U.S. 395/SR 58 at Kramer Junction.{{facts|date=January 2023}}
*State Route 249 is a 13.5-mile (21.7&nbsp;km) unconstructed route that would connect SR 2 north of La Cañada Flintridge with SR 14 south of Palmdale. Angeles Forest Highway (CR N3) follows the general alignment, but Caltrans has no plans to take it over. However, there are plans to explore the building of this route between Palmdale and Los Angeles by tunneling through the mountains.{{facts|date=January 2023}}
*A toll road that would run from [[California State Route 126|SR 126]] to [[California State Route 118|SR 118]] in Simi Valley through the [[Santa Susana Mountains]] (proposed in August 1990).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-02-me-1774-story.html|title=Private Toll Highway Linking California 126 With 118 Is Proposed : Transportation: The road, which would ease traffic in Simi Valley, is one of eight proposals Caltrans has received. Up to four will be selected by Sept. 14.|date=1990-08-02|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US|access-date=2021-06-17}}</ref>  The only north–south highways that connect SR 126 with SR 118 are I-5 and [[California State Route 23|SR 23]]. Motorists on SR 126 can use this route to reach Simi Valley without having to use [[Interstate 5]] via [[Newhall Pass]] to SR 118 or SR 23 to Moorpark and vice versa. A good traversable route would be Tapo Canyon Road, Windmill Canyon Road, and Pico Canyon Road, but Caltrans has no plans to take it over.{{facts|date=January 2023}}

== Naming ==

=== Freeway names ===
Southern California residents idiomatically refer to freeways with the definite article, as "the <nowiki>[freeway number]</nowiki>", e.g. "the 5" or "the 10".<ref name="KCET">{{cite news |last=Masters |first=Nathan |date=November 10, 2015 |title=The 5, the 101, the 405: Why Southern Californians Love Saying 'the' Before Freeway Numbers |url=https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/the-5-the-101-the-405-why-southern-californians-love-saying-the-before-freeway-numbers |publisher=KCET |accessdate=July 28, 2023}}</ref> This use of the article differs from other American dialects, including that of Northern California, but is the same as in the UK (e.g. "Take the M1 to the M25") and other European countries (e.g. "die A1" in German<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-22 |title=A1 - Die Unvollendete |url=https://www1.wdr.de/fernsehen/heimatflimmern/sendungen/a-eins-die-unvollendete-100.html |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=www1.wdr.de |language=de}}</ref>).{{cn|date=July 2023}} In addition, sections of the southern California freeway system are often referred to by names rather than by the official numbers. For example, the names Santa Monica and San Bernardino are used for segments of the [[Interstate 10 (California)|Interstate 10]] even though overhead freeway signs installed at interchanges since the 1990s don't display these names, using instead the highway number, direction, and [[control city]]. A freeway "name" may refer to portions of two or more differently numbered routes; for example, the [[Ventura Freeway]] consists of portions of [[U.S. Route 101 (California)|U.S. Route 101]] and [[State Route 134 (California)|State Route 134]], and the [[San Diego Freeway]] consists of portions of [[Interstate 5 (California)|Interstate 5]] and the full length of [[Interstate 405 (California)|Interstate 405]].

When Southern California freeways were built in the 1940s and early 1950s, local common usage was primarily the freeway name preceded by the definite article.<ref name="Geyer" /> It took several decades for Southern California locals to start to also commonly refer to the freeways with the numerical designations, but the usage of the definite article persisted. For example, the San Gabriel River Freeway evolved into "the 605 Freeway" and then shortened to "the 605".<ref name="KCET"/><ref name="Geyer">{{cite journal | journal=American Speech | volume=76 |date=Summer 2001 | pages=221–224 | first =Grant | last=Geyer | title='The' Freeway in Southern California | issue=2 | doi=10.1215/00031283-76-2-221| s2cid=144010897 }}</ref>

=== Named interchanges ===
* [[Four Level Interchange|Four Level]] ([[Bill Keene]] Memorial): {{jct|state=CA|US|101|SR|110}}
* [[Dosan Ahn Chang Ho Memorial Interchange|Dosan Ahn Chang Ho]] Memorial: {{jct|state=CA|I|10|I|110|SR|110}}
* [[East Los Angeles Interchange|East Los Angeles]]: {{jct|state=CA|I|5|I|10|SR|60|US|101}}
* [[Hollywood Split]] (Bruce T. Hinman Memorial): {{jct|state=CA|US|101|SR|134|SR|170}}
* [[Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange|Judge Harry Pregerson]]: {{jct|state=CA|I|105|I|110}}
* [[El Toro Y]]: Southern junction of {{jct|state=CA|I|5|I|405}}
* [[Kellogg Interchange|Kellogg]]: {{jct|state=CA|I|10|SR|57|SR|71}}
* [[Orange Crush interchange|Orange Crush]]: {{jct|state=CA|I|5|SR|22|SR|57}}
* [[Newhall Pass interchange|Newhall Pass]] (Clarence Wayne Dean Memorial): {{jct|state=CA|I|5|SR|14}}
* [[Glendora Curve]]: {{jct|state=CA|SR|57|I|210|SR|210}}
* [[Jack Schrade Interchange|Jack Schrade]] (Mission Valley Viaduct): {{jct|state=CA|I|8|I|805}}
* [[David M. Gonzales]] Memorial: {{jct|state=CA|I|5|CA|118}}
* [[Marilyn Jorgenson Reece]] Memorial: {{jct|state=CA|I|10|I|405}}
* [[Sadao Munemori|Sadao S. Munemori]] Memorial: {{jct|state=CA|I|105|I|405}}

=== Other named features ===
* [[US Highway 101 (California)|Downtown Slot]]: where [[US Highway 101 (California)|Highway 101]] passes through a trench in downtown Los Angeles.
* [[South Bay Curve]]: where [[Interstate 405 (California)|Interstate 405]] bends from north–south to east–west in [[Torrance, California|Torrance]]
* [[Sepulveda Pass]]: [[Interstate 405 (California)|Interstate 405]] just south of [[U.S. Route 101 (California)|U.S. Route 101]] near the [[J. Paul Getty Museum]].
* [[Cahuenga Pass]]: the [[Hollywood Freeway]] just south of the interchange with the [[Ventura Freeway]]
* [[Figueroa Street Tunnels]]: the northbound lanes of the [[Pasadena Freeway]] between the [[Four Level Interchange]] and the interchange with the [[Golden State Freeway]]
* [[Glendora Curve]]: the transition of the northbound 57 [[Orange Freeway]] to the westbound 210 [[Foothill Freeway]]; or the eastbound 210 transition to the southbound 57.  Formerly part of Interstate 210 before the completion of the newer section of the Foothill Freeway in 2003.

== Comparisons and firsts ==
* First freeway in California ([[Arroyo Seco Parkway]] linking [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] and [[Los Angeles]])
* First [[stack interchange]] ([[Four Level Interchange]] in downtown Los Angeles)
* First grade-separated HOV lanes{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}
* First fully automated tollway system ([[91 Express Lanes]] in northern Orange County)

The Southern California area has fewer lane-miles per capita than most large metropolitan areas in the United States, ranking 31st of the top 39. As of 1999, Greater Los Angeles had 0.419 lane-miles per 1,000 people, only slightly more than [[New York metropolitan area|Greater New York City]] and fewer than [[Greater Boston]], the [[Washington Metropolitan Area]] and the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. (American metros average .613 lane-miles per thousand.) San Diego ranked 17th in the same study, with 0.659 lane-miles per thousand, and the [[Inland Empire (California)|Inland Empire]] ranked 21st, with 0.626.<ref>[http://www.publicpurpose.com/hwy-tti99ratio.htm http://www.publicpurpose.com/hwy-tti99ratio.htm] ''publicpurpose.com''</ref>

== Limited-access roads not maintained by the state ==
The following [[limited-access road]]s are not maintained by the state:
*[[Colorado Street]], former routing of [[State Route 134 (California)|State Route 134]], from [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] to [[San Fernando Road]] just west of [[Glendale, California|Glendale]]
*[[Colorado Freeway]], former routing of [[State Route 134 (California)|State Route 134]], from Colorado Blvd in [[Eagle Rock, Los Angeles|Eagle Rock]] to the [[Ventura Freeway]]
*Harbor Scenic Drive from Interstate 710 at Ocean Boulevard to {{RMS|Queen Mary}}
*[[Jamboree Road]] in [[Irvine, California|Irvine]], a non-tolled extension of [[State Route 261 (California)|State Route 261]] from Walnut Avenue near Interstate 5 to Barranca Parkway
*[[Oak Grove Drive]] in [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]], former routing of the [[Foothill Freeway]]
*Shoreline Drive in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], the downtown exit from southbound Interstate 710 to Queens Way
*[[La Cienega Boulevard]] in the [[Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles|Baldwin Hills]], originally intended to be part of the discontinued [[Laurel Canyon Freeway]]
*[[Los Patrones Parkway]] in [[Las Flores, California|Las Flores]], a non-tolled extension of [[State Route 241 (California)|State Route 241]] from Oso Parkway to Cow Camp Road

== List of freeways ==

=== Major freeways leading into and out of Southern California ===
*[[File:I-5 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] south terminus at [[San Ysidro, San Diego, California|San Ysidro]] in [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], northbound to the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]] and [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]
**[[John J. Montgomery Freeway]] from the [[Mexico–United States border|U.S.-Mexico border]] crossing at [[San Ysidro, San Diego, California|San Ysidro]] to [[downtown San Diego]]
**[[Interstate 5 in California|San Diego Freeway]] from downtown [[San Diego]] to the [[El Toro Y]]
**[[Santa Ana Freeway]] from the El Toro Y to the [[East L.A. Interchange]]
**[[Golden State Freeway]] from the East L.A. Interchange to [[Wheeler Ridge, California|Wheeler Ridge]]
*[[File:I-8 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 8]] west terminus in [[Ocean Beach, San Diego|Ocean Beach]] in [[San Diego]], eastbound to the [[Arizona]] State Line towards [[Yuma, Arizona|Yuma]]
**[[Ocean Beach Freeway]] from [[Ocean Beach, San Diego|Ocean Beach]] to [[Old Town, San Diego|Old Town]]
**[[Mission Valley Freeway]], also known as the [[Alvarado Freeway]], from [[Old Town, San Diego|Old Town]] to [[El Cajon, California|El Cajon]]
**[[Kumeyaay Highway]] from Ocean Beach to the [[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]-[[Imperial County, California|Imperial County]] Line as well as [[El Centro, California|El Centro]] and [[Imperial, California|Imperial]]
*[[File:I-10 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 10 (California)|Interstate 10]] west terminus in [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], eastbound to the [[Arizona]] State Line towards [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]
**[[Santa Monica Freeway]] from [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]] to the [[East L.A. Interchange]]
**[[San Bernardino Freeway]] from the [[East L.A. Interchange]] to [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]
*[[File:I-15 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]] south terminus in Barrio Logan in [[San Diego]], northbound to the [[Nevada]] State Line towards [[Las Vegas]]
**[[Wabash Freeway]] (signed as [[State Route 15 (California)|State Route 15]]) from Barrio Logan in San Diego to [[Interstate 805 (California)|Interstate 805]]
**[[Escondido Freeway]] from [[Interstate 805 (California)|Interstate 805]] to the [[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]-[[Riverside County, California|Riverside]] County Line
**[[Temecula Valley Freeway]] from the San Diego-Riverside County Line to [[Lake Elsinore, California|Lake Elsinore]]
**[[Corona Freeway]] from Lake Elsinore to [[Corona, California|Corona]]
**[[Ontario Freeway]] from Corona to the Devore neighborhood of [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]
**[[Mojave Freeway]], also [[Barstow Freeway]], from Devore to the [[Nevada]] State Line
*[[File:I-40 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 40 (California)|Interstate 40]] west terminus in [[Barstow, California|Barstow]], eastbound to the [[Arizona]] State Line towards [[Kingman, Arizona|Kingman]]
**[[Needles Freeway]]
*[[File:US 101 (CA).svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 101 (California)|U.S. Route 101]] south terminus at the [[East L.A. Interchange]], westbound to [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]] then northbound through the [[Central Coast of California|Central Coast]] region to [[Silicon Valley]] and [[San Francisco]]
**[[Santa Ana Freeway]] from the East L.A. Interchange to the [[Four Level Interchange]]
**[[Hollywood Freeway]] from the Four Level Interchange to the junction with the Ventura Freeway
**[[Ventura Freeway]] from the junction with the Hollywood Freeway to [[Seacliff, California|Seacliff]]
*[[File:California 14.svg|20px]] [[State Route 14 (California)|State Route 14]], south terminus at [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] in [[Los Angeles]], northbound to [[U.S. Route 395 in California|U.S. Route 395]] and [[Bishop, California|Bishop]]
**[[Antelope Valley Freeway]] from [[Tunnel Station]] to [[Mojave, California|Mojave]]

=== San Diego area ===
*[[File:I-5 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]]
**[[John J. Montgomery Freeway]] from [[U.S.-Mexico border]] crossing at [[San Ysidro, San Diego, California|San Ysidro]] to [[downtown San Diego]]
**[[Interstate 5 in California|San Diego Freeway]] from [[downtown San Diego]] to the [[El Toro Y]] in [[Orange County, California|Orange County]]
*[[File:I-8 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 8 (California)|Interstate 8]]
**[[Ocean Beach Freeway]] from [[Ocean Beach, San Diego|Ocean Beach]] to [[Old Town San Diego]]
**[[Mission Valley Freeway]] from Old Town San Diego to [[El Cajon, California|El Cajon]]
**[[Kumeyaay Freeway]] from Ocean Beach to [[Imperial County, California|Imperial County]]
*[[File:I-15 (CA).svg|20px]] [[File:California 15.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]] and [[State Route 15 (California)|State Route 15]]
**[[Escondido Freeway]] from [[Barrio Logan, San Diego|Barrio Logan]] to [[Escondido, California|Escondido]]
*[[File:California 52.svg|20px]] [[State Route 52 (California)|State Route 52]]
**[[Soledad Freeway]] from [[La Jolla, San Diego|La Jolla]] to [[Santee, California|Santee]]
*[[File:California 54.svg|20px]] [[State Route 54 (California)|State Route 54]]
**[[South Bay Freeway]] from [[National City, California|National City]] to Jamacha Road exit
*[[File:California 56.svg|20px]] [[State Route 56 (California)|State Route 56]]
**[[Ted Williams Freeway]] from [[Carmel Valley, San Diego|Carmel Valley]] to [[Sabre Springs, San Diego|Sabre Springs]]
*[[File:California 67.svg|20px]] [[California State Route 67|State Route 67]]
**[[San Vicente Freeway]] from [[El Cajon, California|El Cajon]] to [[Lakeside, California|Lakeside]]
*[[File:California 75.svg|20px]] [[State Route 75 (California)|State Route 75]]
**[[San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge]]
*[[File:California 78.svg|20px]] [[State Route 78 (California)|State Route 78]]
**[[Ronald Packard Parkway]] from [[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]] to [[Escondido, California|Escondido]]
*[[File:California 94.svg|20px]] [[State Route 94 (California)|State Route 94]]
**[[Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway (San Diego)|Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway]] from downtown San Diego to [[Spring Valley, San Diego County, California|Spring Valley]]
*[[File:California 125.svg|20px]] [[State Route 125 (California)|State Route 125]]
**[[South Bay Expressway]] from [[Otay Mesa]] to Jamacha Road exit
**[[Ramona Freeway]] from Jamacha Road exit to [[Santee, California|Santee]]
*[[File:California 163.svg|20px]] [[State Route 163 (California)|State Route 163]]
**[[Cabrillo Freeway]] from downtown San Diego to [[Kearny Mesa]] at [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]]
*[[File:I-805 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 805 (California)|Interstate 805]]
**[[Jacob Dekema Freeway]], also known as the [[Inland Freeway]] from [[San Ysidro, San Diego, California|San Ysidro]] to "The Merge" at [[Sorrento Valley]]
*[[File:California 905.svg|20px]] [[State Route 905 (California)|State Route 905]]
**[[Otay Mesa Freeway]] from [[San Ysidro, San Diego, California|San Ysidro]] to the [[Otay Mesa]] border crossing

==== Controlled access routes not maintained by the state ====
*[[Kearny Villa Road]] near [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar]], former routing of [[U.S. Route 395 (California)|U.S. Route 395]]
*[[Pacific Highway (San Diego)|Pacific Highway]] near [[San Diego International Airport]] ([[Lindbergh Field]]), former routing of [[U.S. Route 101 (California)|U.S. Route 101]]
*[[Friars Road]] in [[Mission Valley]] near the site of the former [[San Diego Stadium]]

=== Inland Empire Metropolitan Area ===
(Includes San Bernardino and Riverside Counties)
*[[File:I-10 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 10 (California)|Interstate 10]]
**[[San Bernardino Freeway]] from the [[East L.A. Interchange]] to [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]
*[[File:I-15 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]]
**[[Temecula Valley Freeway]] from [[San Diego County]] line to [[Lake Elsinore, California|Lake Elsinore]].
**[[Corona Freeway]] from Lake Elsinore to [[Corona, California|Corona]]
**[[Ontario Freeway]] from [[Corona, California|Corona]] to [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]
**[[Mojave Freeway]] from [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]] to the [[Nevada]] State Line
*[[File:I-40 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 40 (California)|Interstate 40]]
**[[Needles Freeway]] from [[Barstow, California|Barstow]] to the [[Arizona]] State Line
*[[File:California 60.svg|20px]] [[State Route 60 (California)|State Route 60]]
**[[Pomona Freeway]] from the [[East L.A. Interchange]] to [[Riverside, California|Riverside]]
**[[Moreno Valley Freeway]] from [[Riverside, California|Riverside]] to the junction with [[Interstate 10 (California)|Interstate 10]]
*[[File:California 71.svg|20px]] [[State Route 71 (California)|State Route 71]]
**[[Chino Valley Freeway]] from just north of [[State Route 91 (California)|State Route 91]] to [[State Route 57 (California)|State Route 57]]
*[[File:California 91.svg|20px]] [[State Route 91 (California)|State Route 91]]
**[[Riverside Freeway]] from [[Fullerton, California|Fullerton]] at [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] to [[Riverside, California|Riverside]]
*[[File:I-210 (CA).svg|20px]][[File:California 210.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 210 (California)|Interstate 210]] and [[State Route 210 (California)|State Route 210]]
**[[Foothill Freeway]] from [[Sylmar, Los Angeles|Sylmar]] to [[Redlands, California|Redlands]]
*[[File:I-215 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 215 (California)|Interstate 215]]
**[[Escondido Freeway]] from [[Murrieta, California|Murrieta]] to [[Riverside, California|Riverside]]
**[[Riverside Freeway]] from [[Riverside, California|Riverside]] to [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]
**[[Barstow Freeway]] from [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]] to the northern junction with [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]]

=== Greater Los Angeles ===
(includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura Counties)
*[[File:California 1.svg|20px]] [[State Route 1 (California)|State Route 1]]
**freeway stub in [[Dana Point]], leading north from [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]]
**[[Santa Monica Freeway]] from [[California State Route 1|Pacific Coast Highway]] in [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]] to [[Interstate 10 (California)|Interstate 10]]
**freeway stub east of [[Oxnard]]
*[[File:California 2.svg|20px]] [[State Route 2 (California)|State Route 2]]
**[[Glendale Freeway]] from [[Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California|Silver Lake]] to junction with [[State Route 134 (California)|State Route 134]] in [[Glendale, California|Glendale]]
**[[Frank D. Lanterman Freeway]] from junction with [[State Route 134 (California)|State Route 134]] to [[La Cañada-Flintridge]]
*[[File:I-5 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]]
**[[Interstate 5 in California|San Diego Freeway]] from [[San Diego]] to the [[El Toro Y]]
**[[Santa Ana Freeway]] from the [[El Toro Y]] to the [[East L.A. Interchange]]
**[[Golden State Freeway]] from the [[East L.A. Interchange]] to [[Wheeler Ridge, California|Wheeler Ridge]] in [[Kern County]]
*[[File:I-10 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 10 (California)|Interstate 10]]
**[[Santa Monica Freeway]] from [[Santa Monica]] to the [[East L.A. Interchange]]
**[[San Bernardino Freeway]] from the [[East L.A. Interchange]] to [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]
*[[File:California 14.svg|20px]] [[State Route 14 (California)|State Route 14]]
**[[Antelope Valley Freeway]] from [[Tunnel Station]] to [[Mojave, California|Mojave]] in [[Kern County]]
**[[Sierra Highway]] (old Rte 14) from Newhall Avenue (formally SR 126/San Fernando Road) to Rainbow Glen Drive. This section is still maintained by Caltrans and is signed as 14U – Unrelinquished.
*[[File:I-15 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]]
**[[Temecula Valley Freeway]] from [[San Diego County]] line to [[Lake Elsinore, California|Lake Elsinore]].
**[[Corona Freeway]] from Lake Elsinore to [[Corona, California|Corona]]
**[[Ontario Freeway]] from [[Corona, California|Corona]] to [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]
**[[Mojave Freeway]] from [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]] to the [[Nevada]] State Line
*[[File:California 22.svg|20px]] [[State Route 22 (California)|State Route 22]]
**7th Street freeway stub from [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] to [[Seal Beach, California|Seal Beach]] at the [[Interstate 405 (California)|Interstate 405]] and [[Interstate 605 (California)|Interstate 605]] interchange
**[[Garden Grove Freeway]] from [[Westminster, California|Westminster]] to [[Orange, California|Orange]]
*[[File:California 23.svg|20px]] [[State Route 23 (California)|State Route 23]]
**[[Moorpark Freeway]] from [[Thousand Oaks, California|Thousand Oaks]] to [[Moorpark, California|Moorpark]]
*[[File:California 33.svg|20px]] [[State Route 33 (California)|State Route 33]]
**[[Ojai Freeway]] from [[Ventura, California|Ventura]] to [[Foster Park, California|Foster Park]]
*[[File:I-40 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 40 (California)|Interstate 40]]
**[[Needles Freeway]] from [[Barstow, California|Barstow]] to the [[Arizona]] State Line
*[[File:California 47.svg|20px]] [[State Route 47 (California)|State Route 47]]
**[[Vincent Thomas Bridge]] connecting [[San Pedro, Los Angeles, California|San Pedro]] to [[Terminal Island]]
**[[Terminal Island Freeway]] from Seaside Avenue to Henry Ford Avenue exit (splitting off from [[State Route 103 (California)|State Route 103]])
*[[File:California 55.svg|20px]] [[State Route 55 (California)|State Route 55]]
**[[Newport Boulevard]] freeway stub north from [[State Route 1 (California)|State Route 1]] in [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]]
**[[Costa Mesa Freeway]], formerly [[Newport Freeway]] from [[Costa Mesa, California|Costa Mesa]] to [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]]
*[[File:California 57.svg|20px]] [[State Route 57 (California)|State Route 57]]
**[[Orange Freeway]] from the [[Orange Crush interchange]] to [[Glendora, California|Glendora]]
*[[File:California 58.svg|20px]] [[State Route 58 (California)|State Route 58]]
**freeway stub from [[Keene, California|Keene]] to [[Mojave, California|Mojave]] in [[Kern County]]
**freeway stub from [[North Edwards, California|North Edwards]] to Kramer Junction
**freeway stub from [[Hinkley, California|Hinkley]] to [[Barstow, California|Barstow]]
*[[File:California 60.svg|20px]] [[State Route 60 (California)|State Route 60]]
**[[Pomona Freeway]] from the [[East L.A. Interchange]] to [[Riverside, California|Riverside]]
**[[Moreno Valley Freeway]] from [[Riverside, California|Riverside]] to the junction with [[Interstate 10 (California)|Interstate 10]]
*[[File:California 71.svg|20px]] [[State Route 71 (California)|State Route 71]]
**[[Chino Valley Freeway]] from just north of [[State Route 91 (California)|State Route 91]] to [[State Route 57 (California)|State Route 57]]
**freeway stub from the [[Kellogg Interchange]] leading to the [[Corona Expressway]]
*[[File:California 73.svg|20px]] [[State Route 73 (California)|State Route 73]]
**[[Corona del Mar Freeway]] from [[Costa Mesa]] to [[Irvine, California|Irvine]]
**[[San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor]] from [[Irvine, California|Irvine]] to [[Laguna Niguel, California|Laguna Niguel]]
*[[File:California 90.svg|20px]] [[State Route 90 (California)|State Route 90]]
**[[Marina Freeway]] freeway stub east and west of the [[Interstate 405 (California)|Interstate 405]] near [[Marina del Rey, California|Marina del Rey]]
**[[Richard M. Nixon Parkway]] freeway stub west from [[State Route 91 (California)|State Route 91]] in [[Yorba Linda, California|Yorba Linda]]
*[[File:California 91.svg|20px]] [[State Route 91 (California)|State Route 91]]
**[[Gardena Freeway]] from [[Interstate 110 (California)|Interstate 110]] in [[Gardena, California|Gardena]] to [[Interstate 710 (California)|Interstate 710]] in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]]
**[[Artesia Freeway]] from [[Interstate 710 (California)|Interstate 710]] in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] to [[Fullerton, California|Fullerton]] at [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]]
**[[Riverside Freeway]]  from [[Fullerton, California|Fullerton]] at [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] to [[Riverside, California|Riverside]]
*[[File:US 101 (CA).svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 101 (California)|U.S. Route 101]]
**[[Santa Ana Freeway]] from the [[East L.A. Interchange]] to the [[Four Level Interchange]]
**[[Hollywood Freeway]] from the [[Four Level Interchange]] to the junction with [[State Route 134 (California)|State Route 134]] and [[State Route 170 (California)|State Route 170]]
**[[Ventura Freeway]] from the junction with [[State Route 134 (California)|State Route 134]] and [[State Route 170 (California)|State Route 170]] to [[Seacliff, California|Seacliff]] just west of [[Ventura, California|Ventura]]
*[[File:California 103.svg|20px]] [[State Route 103 (California)|State Route 103]]
**[[Terminal Island Freeway]] co-signed from Seaside Avenue with [[State Route 47 (California)|State Route 47]] to Sepulveda Boulevard/Willow Street in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]]
*[[File:I-105 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 105 (California)|Interstate 105]]
**[[Glenn Anderson Freeway]], more commonly known as the [[Century Freeway]] from [[El Segundo, California|El Segundo]] to [[Norwalk, California|Norwalk]]
*[[File:I-110 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 110 (California)|Interstate 110]]
**[[Harbor Freeway]] from [[San Pedro, Los Angeles, California|San Pedro]] to Downtown L.A. at the interchange with the [[Santa Monica Freeway]]
*[[File:California 110.svg|20px]] [[State Route 110 (California)|State Route 110]]
**[[Harbor Freeway]] from the interchange with the [[Santa Monica Freeway]] to the [[Four Level Interchange]]
**[[Pasadena Freeway]] from the [[Four Level Interchange]] to [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]]
*[[File:California 118.svg|20px]] [[State Route 118 (California)|State Route 118]]
**[[Ronald Reagan Freeway]], also known as the [[Simi Valley-San Fernando Valley Freeway]], or more simply, the [[Simi Valley Freeway]] from [[Moorpark, California|Moorpark]] to [[San Fernando, California|San Fernando]]
*[[File:California 133.svg|20px]] [[State Route 133 (California)|State Route 133]]
**[[Laguna Freeway]] from just south of [[Interstate 405 (California)|Interstate 405]] to [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]]
**[[Eastern Transportation Corridor]] from [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] to [[State Route 241 (California)|State Route 241]]
*[[File:California 134.svg|20px]] [[State Route 134 (California)|State Route 134]]
**[[Ventura Freeway]] from [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] to [[North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|North Hollywood]] at the junction with the [[Hollywood Freeway]]
*[[File:California 138.svg|20px]] [[State Route 138 (California)|State Route 138]]
**[[Lancaster Freeway]] freeway stub east from [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] near [[Gorman, California|Gorman]]
*[[File:California 170.svg|20px]] [[State Route 170 (California)|State Route 170]]
**[[Hollywood Freeway]] from the interchange with the [[Ventura Freeway]] to the [[Golden State Freeway]]
*[[File:I-210 (CA).svg|20px]][[File:California 210.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 210 (California)|Interstate 210]] and [[State Route 210 (California)|State Route 210]]
**[[Foothill Freeway]] from [[Tunnel Station]] to [[Redlands, California|Redlands]]
*[[File:I-215 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 215 (California)|Interstate 215]]
**[[Escondido Freeway]] from [[Murrieta, California|Murrieta]] to [[Riverside, California|Riverside]]
**[[Riverside Freeway]] from [[Riverside, California|Riverside]] to [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]
**[[Barstow Freeway]] from [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]] to the northern junction with [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]]
*[[File:California 241.svg|20px]] [[State Route 241 (California)|State Route 241]]
**[[Foothill Transportation Corridor]] from Oso Parkway to the [[Eastern Transportation Corridor]]
**[[Eastern Transportation Corridor]] from the [[Foothill Transportation Corridor]] to the [[Riverside Freeway]]
*[[File:California 261.svg|20px]] [[State Route 261 (California)|State Route 261]]
**[[Eastern Transportation Corridor]] from Jamboree Road near the [[Santa Ana Freeway]] to [[State Route 241 (California)|State Route 241]]
*[[File:I-405 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 405 (California)|Interstate 405]]
**[[Interstate 405 (California)|San Diego Freeway]] from the [[El Toro Y]] to [[San Fernando, California|San Fernando]]
*[[File:I-605 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 605 (California)|Interstate 605]]
**[[San Gabriel River Freeway]] from [[Seal Beach, California|Seal Beach]] to [[Duarte, California|Duarte]]
*[[File:I-710 (CA).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 710 (California)|Interstate 710]]
**[[Long Beach Freeway]] from [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] to [[Alhambra, California|Alhambra]]
**freeway stub south from the [[Foothill Freeway]]

== See also ==
*{{portal-inline|California Roads}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book|first=David|last=Brodsly|title=L.A. Freeway, an Appreciative Essay|year=1981|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|isbn=9780520040687}}
*Carney, Steve. "From Superhighways To Sigalerts: Freeways Have Become Part Of Southland's Identity." ''Los Angeles Daily News'', September 21, 1999, p. N4. {{note|carney}}
*{{cite book|first=Paul|last=Haddad|title=Freewaytopia: How Freeways Shaped Los Angeles|publisher=Santa Monica Press|date=2021|isbn=978-1-59580-786-1}}
*Hise, Greg (1999). ''Magnetic Los Angeles: Planning the Twentieth-Century Metropolis.'' Johns Hopkins University Press.  {{ISBN|0-8018-6255-8}}.
*Schrank and T. Lomax, The Urban Mobility Report 2007.  Texas Transportation Institute.
*Taylor, Brian (2004). "The Geography of Urban Transportation Finance," pp 294–331 in Hanson and Giuliano eds., ''The Geography of Urban Transportation'', 3rd Edition.  The Guilford Press.  {{ISBN|1-59385-055-7}}.

== External links ==
*[https://www.cahighways.org/maps-sc-fwy.html The History of Southern California Freeway Development]
*[https://www.socalregion.com/highways/la_highways/ Southern California Area Highways Page]
*[https://video.dot.ca.gov/ California Department of Transportation] Live Streaming Traffic Cams
*[http://cad.chp.ca.gov/ California Highway Patrol] Los Angeles Traffic Incident Information Page
*[http://www.sigalert.com/map.asp?Region=Greater+Los+Angeles Sigalert] Los Angeles Traffic Report
*[http://www.davestravelcorner.com/articles/los-angeles/LA-Freeways.htm Los Angeles Freeway Descriptions]
*[http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hseb/products/Named_Freeways.pdf California Department of Transportation] Named Freeways ([[PDF]] file)
*{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130128022718/http://www.largetruckaccident.com/]}} Southern California Trucking Accidents
*[http://traffic.calit2.net/ California Institute for Telecommunications] Wireless Traffic Reports for Southern Cal
*[http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/mobility_report_2007.pdf The Urban Mobility Report 2007, Texas Transportation Institute]
*[http://www.scpcs.ucla.edu/news/Freeway.pdf/ Should I buy a home near the freeway? (from SCPCS)]

[[Category:Southern California freeways| ]]
[[Category:Lists of roads in California]]