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| Easterly view of the freeway near the Linda Vista Avenue exit. | Closeup of the Linda Vista Avenue bridge. |
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Westerly view of the east end of the Colorado Freeway. Many structures are visible here including both Arroyo Seco bridges, the Linda Vista Avenue exit ramps, and the east end of the freeway. |
Signage at the Figueroa Street eastbound onramp. |
Photos above Courtesy of Caltrans |
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Maps:
Colorado Freeway as it was in 1954
Colorado Freeway as it was from 1955 to 1971
Western Segment of the Colorado Freeway in 1957.
| New photos of the existing freeway: | |
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Eastbound along the old freeway. Bridges coming up are over Figueroa Street. |
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Figueroa Street UC 53-1024R |
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Old END FREEWAY sign at Colorado Street. Note the anti-vandalism razor wire. |
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View of the western freeway segment. Note the raised curb median. |
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The Colorado Freeway was first opened to traffic on June 25, 1954. The first segment ran from Orange Grove Blvd in Pasadena west to Avenue 64 in Eagle Rock. However, the westbound lanes of the Arroyo Seco Bridge were opened a little earlier on October 8, 1953. This first segment included four structures. The largest and most interesting structure was the Arroyo Seco Bridge. It was designed to compliment the 1913 Colorado Street Pioneer Bridge.
In 1955, the freeway was extended further west from Avenue 64 to Colorado Blvd at Eagle Vista Drive. In 1957, the Golden State Freeway was also extended from Western Avenue in Burbank to Los Feliz Blvd in Glendale. Along with many other interchanges, a freeway-grade exit to Colorado Street was built. This is known as the Colorado Street Freeway Extension and was signed as SR-134.
In 1971, the eastern Colorado Freeway was rebuilt to higher standards. It was widened, repaved, and realigned. It was also renamed as the Ventura Freeway. Part of the old Colorado Freeway still exists, however, as the westbound Colorado Blvd exit. The western segment of the freeway still exists almost unmodified and still remains in heavy use. One aspect of the western segment is rather unique. It remains as the last freeway in Los Angeles with an intact raised median with no barrier.
Signage:
The Colorado Freeway bore many shields. From the western end to Figueroa Street, it was SR-134. At Figueroa Street, SR-134 ended. SR-11 and US 66 Alternate took over at Figueroa. SR-11 then left the freeway at the Linda Vista Blvd exit and headed north to SR-118. US 66 Alternate stayed on the freeway to its eastern end at Orange Grove Blvd and continued east to Arroyo Parkway, ending there. The western segment of the freeway bore only SR-134 shields. In 1964, US 66 Alternate was removed entirely and SR-11 left the Colorado Freeway for the Pasadena Freeway. SR-134 took over the entire freeway and remains there today.
Interchange listing for the Colorado Freeway as it existed in 1957 :
Eastbound
| Exits | Entrances |
| Linda Vista Avenue | Colorado Blvd |
| Colorado Blvd / Orange Grove Blvd | Figueroa Street |
| Melrose Avenue | |
WESTERN SEGMENT |
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| Golden State Freeway | |
| Edenhurst Avenue | Edenhurst Avenue |
| San Fernando Road | Colorado Street |
Westbound
| Exits | Entrances |
| San Rafael Avenue | Colorado Blvd |
| Avenue 64 | San Rafael Avenue |
| Figueroa Street | |
| Colorado Blvd | |
WESTERN SEGMENT |
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| Colorado Street | |
| Edenhurst Avenue | Edenhurst Avenue |
| Golden State Freeway NORTH / SOUTH |
Bridge Log as of 1958: Runs west to east covering both segments of the freeway.
Western Segment
| Postmile (current) | Name | Number | Year Built |
| 4.55 | Rte 134/5 Separation | 53-1073E | 1957 |
| 4.60 | Los Angeles River | 53-1072 | 1957 |
| 4.83 | Edenhurst Avenue UC | 53-1108 | 1957 |
| 5.03 | San Fernando Road West UC | 53-1107 | 1957 |
| 5.04 | Colorado Blvd UP | 53-1071 | 1957 |
| 5.06 | San Fernando Road East UC | 53-1106 | 1957 |
Eastern Segment (main freeway)
| Postmile (current) | Name | Number | Year Built |
| Monte Bonito UC | 53-1023L | 1955 | |
| Monte Bonito UC | 53-1023R | 1955 | |
| Figueroa Street UC | 53-1024L | 1955 | |
| Figueroa Street UC (11/134 Separation) | 53-1024R | 1955 | |
| Eagle Vista Drive OC | 53-1025 | 1955 | |
| Melrose Avenue UC | 53-0760 | 1954 | |
| Club Road OC | 53-0805 | 1955 | |
| Arroyo Seco Bridge and 134/11 Separation | 53-0166 | 1953 | |
| Colorado Street Onramp OC | 53-0762 | 1954 | |
| Orange Grove Blvd OC | 1953 |
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