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Caltrans is invested $1.9 billion dollars to improve southern segments along I-5 (the Santa Ana Freeway) between the Orange County line and I-605 (the San Gabriel River Freeway). Improvements enhanced safety and freeway access and new HOV lanes. Projects include:
- High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV or carpool) Lanes – Carpool lanes for vehicles with two or more passengers
- Mixed-Flow Lanes – Lanes for all motorists
- Interchange Modifications – Upgraded on and off ramps, bridge reconstruction (including adding more lanes)
- Pedestrian Overcrossings – Bridge for pedestrians to cross over freeway
- Frontage Road Modifications – Reconstruction or improvements on road surfaces adjacent to freeway
- Re-establishing a major surface street connection between communities
The I-5 South Corridor freeway widening project began with the Carmenita Road interchange project in late 2011. The other four interchanges that were reconstructed along the I-5 include Alondra Boulevard, Imperial Highway/Pioneer Boulevard, Norwalk Boulevard and Firestone Boulevard. The I-5 South Corridor project was completed in cooperation with six cities: Downey, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, La Mirada, Cerritos, and Buena Park.
There are four mixed-flow lanes and one HOV lane in each direction of I-5 between the Orange County line and just south of the I-605 interchange. On northbound I-5 there are now four all-purpose traffic lanes plus one HOV (high occupancy vehicle) or carpool lane on from Alondra Boulevard to the Orr & Day Road railroad overhead south of the Florence Ave. Bridge. Then there are three all purpose lanes, plus two auxiliary lanes connecting to the northbound and southbound I-605. Under the I-605 Bridge, I-5 reverts to four all-purpose lanes, plus a fifth auxiliary lane connecting traffic from I-605 to I-5. Then it reduces again to four all-purpose lanes.
On southbound I-5 there are now five lanes where traffic merges from the I-605 interchange until south of the Florence Avenue Bridge, where it becomes four all-purpose lanes and one HOV lane all the way to the Orange County line, matching lanes on the Orange County side of I-5.
Photo of completed I-5 Florence Ave. Interchange below:
Photo of Valley View Ave. Bridge at I-5 under construction below:
Completed Projects Info
The Carmenita Road, Alondra Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, Imperial Highway / Pioneer Boulevard, and Florence Avenue interchanges are complete.
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Carmenita Road Project:
The first of six segments to break ground. Construction began in late 2011 and completed in late 2016.
Cost: $380 million.
Replaced and reconstructed the existing two-lane Carmenita Road overcrossing with a 10-lane structure (five lanes in each direction). Reconfigured the on and off ramps and realigned the following frontage roads: Firestone Boulevard, Freeway Drive, Carmenita Road, Arctic Circle, Molette Street and Excelsior Drive.
Also widened I-5 from Alondra Boulevard to Shoemaker Avenue by adding one High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or car pool lane and one general purpose lane in each direction; widened the shoulder: and constructed a median barrier.For map of the final interchange configuration, click here:
Alondra Boulevard Project:
The second of six segments to break ground. Construction began in April 2012 and completed in late 2015.
Demolition of the old Alondra Blvd. Bridge was complete by June 2013. The new bridge opened August 29, 2014.
Cost: $110 million
Reconstructed the Alondra Blvd. Bridge overcrossing. The new bridge is longer and widened from a four to six lanes, with three lanes in each direction.
Widened nearly one mile of I-5 from North Fork Coyote Creek to Marquardt Avenue. Added one High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or car pool lane and one general purpose lane in each direction; widened shoulders; and constructed a concrete median barrier.For a map of the final interchange configuration, click here:
Rosecrans Avenue / Bloomfield Avenue Bridge Project:
The third of six segments to break ground. Construction began in 2012 and completed in late 2017.
Cost: $180 Million
Reconstructed the Shoemaker Ave. Bridge, the Rosecrans Ave. Bridge, the Bloomfield Avenue Bridge, and the Silverbow Ave. pedestrian overcrossing. Widened one mile of I-5 from Shoemaker Ave. to Silverbow Ave. Added one High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane, or car pool lane, and one general purpose lane in each direction. Widened the freeway shoulders, built concrete median barriers, reconfigured the on and off ramps, and realigned Firestone Boulevard.
When I-5 was built in the 1950’s, it blocked traffic access on Bloomfield Ave. between the cities of Santa Fe Springs and Norwalk. When we reconstructed the bridge, we elevated it 25 feet to re-open Bloomfield Ave. under I-5.
This project also includes the construction of an Austin Vault, which filters freeway drainage and reduces pollutants.
For a map of the final interchange configuration, click here: -
Imperial Highway / Pioneer Boulevard Project:
The fourth of six segments to break ground. Construction began in 2013 and completed in August of 2019.
Cost: $323 Million.
The project extended from Silverbow Ave. in the city of Norwalk to the Orr & Day Rd. railroad overhead (south of the Florence Ave. Bridge) on Interstate 5.
We widened two miles of I-5 to add one High Occupancy Vehicle Lane (HOV) or car pool lane and one general purpose lane in each direction.
Three bridges were reconstructed to accommodate the widened freeway: The Norwalk-San Antonio Undercrossing, the Imperial Highway Undercrossing and the Pioneer Boulevard Undercrossing.
The project included shoulder widening, new ramp alignment, concrete median barriers, sound walls, and decorative tile work. We also extended Adoree Street north to Imperial Highway.
Interchange modifications at Imperial Highway and Norwalk Blvd. / San Antonio Dr. included adding one lane in each direction to the streets with traffic signals to improve traffic flow at the interchanges.
For a map of the final interchange configuration, click here:
Imperial -Final Config Map – Final Version
Florence Avenue Project:
The fifth of six segments to break ground. Construction began in February of 2015 and completed in spring of 2021.
Cost: $215.4 Million
The I-5 Florence Avenue Interchange Project widened I-5 and added one High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV, or carpool lane) and one general purpose lane in each direction. The project extended through the cities of Downey and Santa Fe Springs to just north of the San Gabriel River Freeway (Interstate 605) bridge.
The freeway improvements included widening structures at Florence Avenue and Orr and Day Road, shoulder widening, median barriers, new on-ramp and off-ramp designs, and reconfiguring the Florence Avenue interchange at the I-5.
The Florence Avenue overcrossing was widened from four lanes to six lanes. The new bridge is also approximately three feet higher and 321 feet longer. Finally, pedestrian access was improved and on and off-ramps were reconstructed and realigned to accommodate the I-5 freeway widening.
For a map of the final interchange configuration, click here: