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San Diego Freeway
Runs from the 5 at Sylmar back to the 5 at the El Toro Y.

This freeway is a bypass of Downtown Los Angeles. However, it is not faster. In fact, 10am looks just like 10pm traffic-wise seven days a week. Photos are to follow of the Sepulveda Pass and LAX segments of the freeway. This freeway more or less invented the 24 hour rush hour. There is a joke that it was numbered the 405 because you are going 4 or 5 miles per hour. Soon, the freeway will have HOV lanes along its entire route. The Sepulveda Pass NB HOV project is the only section that isn't under construction at present.

The Mulholland Bridge over the 405 at the top of Sepulveda Pass. View is southbound.
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From California Highways and Public Works November/December 1960.


The US 101/I-405 interchange signage. The US 101 sign has no button copy on it.

The 405 at the 118. Devonshire St. is the former alignment of Rt. 118. Note the lack of striping on the thru lanes. Only Botts Dots here.

Mileages to the larger cities in the area. This one is in the middle of the San Fernando Valley. Bakersfield is the former control city of the 405 northbound.



One of the few remaining signs for the named freeways in LA. This one is at the north end of the 405.


The north end has an END marker.

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North end of the 405 at the 5. Truck lanes are at right.

 

Approaching LAX from the north, signs point towards surface streets instead of I-105.
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Signs placed at certain exits along the 405 from LAX to Sunset Blvd. This section of I-405 is the most congested. Alternate I-405 and I-10 shields have also been placed at Wilshire Blvd and Sepulveda Blvd.
Here, I-405 meets SR-91. This far west, SR-91 is a surface street - Artesia Blvd. Also note the older 107 shield for Hawthorne Blvd.
Along the section cosigned with the 22, newer "Boulevard" style lights have been installed, giving this section of the 405 a very unique look.

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