# Interstate 605

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Interstate Highway in California

For the cancelled interstate bypass in Seattle, Washington, see [Interstate 605 (Washington)](/source/Interstate_605_(Washington)).

Interstate 605 San Gabriel River Freeway I-605 highlighted in red Route information Auxiliary route of I-5 Maintained by Caltrans Length 27.40 mi[1] (44.10 km) History 1940s as a state highway, 1964 as a number[2] NHS Entire route Major junctions South end I-405 / SR 22 in Seal Beach Major intersections SR 91 in Cerritos I-105 in Norwalk I-5 in Santa Fe Springs SR 60 in Avocado Heights I-10 in Baldwin Park I-210 in Irwindale North end Huntington Drive in Duarte Location Country United States State California Counties Orange, Los Angeles Highway system Interstate Highway System Main Auxiliary Suffixed Business Future State highways in California Interstate US State Scenic History Pre‑1964 Unconstructed Deleted Freeways ← I-580 → I-680

**Interstate 605** (abbreviated **I-605**, officially known as the **San Gabriel River Freeway**) is a 27-mile-long (43 km) major north–south [auxiliary Interstate Highway](/source/List_of_auxiliary_Interstate_Highways) in the [Greater Los Angeles](/source/Greater_Los_Angeles) urban area of [Southern California](/source/Southern_California). It runs from [I-405](/source/Interstate_405_(California)) and [State Route 22](/source/California_State_Route_22) (SR 22) in [Seal Beach](/source/Seal_Beach%2C_California) in [Orange County](/source/Orange_County%2C_California) to [I-210](/source/Interstate_210_(California)) just south of the [Irwindale](/source/Irwindale%2C_California)–[Duarte](/source/Duarte%2C_California) border in [Los Angeles County](/source/Los_Angeles_County%2C_California). The San Gabriel River Freeway closely parallels the [San Gabriel River](/source/San_Gabriel_River_(California)) for most of its alignment, hence its name, which is one of the few [Southern California freeways](/source/Southern_California_freeways) not named after a city along its route. But similar to other freeways in the area, I-605 is also known colloquially as "**the 605**" to Southern California residents (See also [California English § Freeways](/source/California_English#Freeways)).

Aside from changes to the interchange with I-105 (which did not open until the early 1990s), and the addition of an HOV lane between I-405 and I-10, I-605 is one of the only remaining freeways that kept its original alignment throughout its run through Los Angeles County since it first opened.

## Route description

The entirety of I-605 is defined in section 619 of the [California Streets and Highways Code](/source/California_Codes) as **Route 605**, and that the highway is from:[3]

(a) [Route 1](/source/California_State_Route_1) near [Seal Beach](/source/Seal_Beach%2C_California) to [Route 405](/source/Interstate_405_(California)). (b) Route 405 to [Route 210](/source/Foothill_Freeway) near [Duarte](/source/Duarte%2C_California).

The segment defined in subdivision (a) remains unconstructed, and is not included in the [Federal Highway Administration](/source/Federal_Highway_Administration) (FHWA)'s Interstate Highway route logs.[4][5]

The southern terminus of I-605 is at the [San Diego](/source/Interstate_405_(California)) ([I-405](/source/Interstate_405_(California))) and Garden Grove ([SR 22](/source/California_State_Route_22)) Freeways in [Seal Beach](/source/Seal_Beach%2C_California). This interchange was built to accommodate the aforementioned southern extension to [SR 1](/source/California_State_Route_1). From there, I-605 runs roughly north through the [Gateway Cities](/source/Gateway_Cities) of the [Los Angeles Basin](/source/Los_Angeles_Basin). It then shifts north-northeast, crossing the [Whittier Narrows](/source/Whittier_Narrows) and across the [San Gabriel Valley](/source/San_Gabriel_Valley). I-605 then ends at its junction with the [Foothill Freeway](/source/Foothill_Freeway), ([I-210](/source/Interstate_210_(California))) just south of the [Irwindale](/source/Irwindale%2C_California)–[Duarte](/source/Duarte%2C_California) border. Ramps from I-605 then extend north to [Huntington Drive](/source/Huntington_Drive) in Duarte.

I-605 follows most of the length of the [San Gabriel River](/source/San_Gabriel_River_(California)) from the San Diego Freeway in Seal Beach to the [Santa Fe Dam](/source/Santa_Fe_Dam_Recreation_Area). Typically dry riverbed and flood basins are visible from many portions of the route, especially near the northern terminus.

In the mid-2000s, a [HOV lane](/source/HOV_lane) was added for motorists with two or more people to use between I-405 and I-10. The HOV lane ends at I-10 and there are no plans to extend it to I-210 at this time. With the addition of the HOV lane, the left shoulder was eliminated to avoid massive costs to widen the freeway. The highway also suffers from traffic jams regularly, especially the junction with [I-5](/source/Interstate_5_in_California) (the [Santa Ana Freeway](/source/Santa_Ana_Freeway)). Newer signs with exit numbers replaced the older signs between the Orange County line and I-10 in 2016, with the completion of the I-605 and I-10 junction improvement. I-605 is one of the only Southern California freeways without destinations ([control cities](/source/Control_cities)) such as "[Seal Beach](/source/Seal_Beach%2C_California)" or "[Irwindale](/source/Irwindale%2C_California)" since its opening. Rather, cardinal directions ("NORTH" or "SOUTH"), and a simple "THRU TRAFFIC" designation in place of control cities, are used on signs along I-605 itself.

I-605 is part of the [California Freeway and Expressway System](/source/California_Freeway_and_Expressway_System),[6] and is part of the [National Highway System](/source/National_Highway_System_(United_States)),[4] a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [Federal Highway Administration](/source/Federal_Highway_Administration).[7] I-605 is designated as the San Gabriel River Freeway, as named by Senate Bill 99, Chapter 1101 in 1967,[8] and amended to section 619 of the California Streets and Highways Code.[3]

## History

The northern end of I-605 at I-210 in Irwindale

In 1957, the number for this route was proposed as I-13, as it is positioned approximately midway between I-5 and I-15 (although it intersects the former). That number was rejected, as was the second proposed number, I-102. Finally, the designation I-605 was accepted in 1958.[9][*[unreliable source?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reliable_sources)*]

I-605 began construction in 1963 and the first section was opened in 1964 from [I-405](/source/Interstate_405_(California)) to [SR 60](/source/California_State_Route_60). The newest section (extension to [I-210](/source/Interstate_210_(California))) was opened in 1971 was originally signed as SR 243. There are plans to extend it to [SR 1](/source/California_State_Route_1) further south in Orange County as SR 605, but strong community opposition means that it is unlikely that the alignment will ever be built.[9]

In 2020, there was a proposal to widen I-605, which would have added four new lanes to 12 mi (19 km) of I-605 between [Norwalk](/source/Norwalk%2C_California) and [El Monte, California](/source/El_Monte%2C_California). This proposal was rejected due to strong community opposition, in particular due to the fact that it would have led to the destruction of houses in [Downey, California](/source/Downey%2C_California).[10]

## Exit list

County Location mi[11][12] km Exit[11] Destinations Notes Orange Seal Beach 0.00 0.00 1A SR 22 west (7th Street) – Long Beach Southern terminus; SR 22 east exit 2; I-405 north exit 24; I-405 south/SR 22 east is former SR 7 south Seal Beach–Los Alamitos line 0.41 0.66 1B I-405 south (San Diego Freeway) / SR 22 east (Garden Grove Freeway) – Garden Grove — 405 Express Lanes south to SR 22 east Orange–Los Angeles county line Seal Beach–Los Alamitos– Long Beach tripoint 1C I-405 north (San Diego Freeway) – Santa Monica Signed as exit 1A northbound; former SR 7 north; I-405 south exit 24A Orange Los Alamitos 1.41 2.27 1D Katella Avenue / Willow Street Signed as exit 1B northbound; southbound access to Willow Street is via exit 2A Coyote Creek 1.60 2.57 Bridge Los Angeles Long Beach 1.69 2.72 2A Willow Street Southbound exit only 1.93 3.11 2B Spring Street / Cerritos Avenue Southbound exit and northbound entrance Long Beach–Lakewood line 3.38 5.44 3 Carson Street / Lincoln Avenue Former US 91 and SR 18 Lakewood–Cerritos line 4.51 7.26 5A Del Amo Boulevard Cerritos 5.39 8.67 5B South Street 6.69 10.77 7A SR 91 (Artesia Freeway) SR 91 east exit 17, west exit 17B Cerritos–Norwalk line 7.45 11.99 7B Alondra Boulevard Norwalk 8.50 13.68 9A Rosecrans Avenue 9.29 14.95 9B I-105 west (Century Freeway) / Imperial Highway Signed as exits 9B (I-105) and 9C (Imperial Highway) northbound; I-105 east exits 18A-B; Imperial Highway is former SR 90; eastern terminus of I-105 (for non-HOV traffic) 9.53 15.34 10 Firestone Boulevard Former SR 42 Downey 11.25 18.11 11 Florence Avenue Downey–Santa Fe Springs line 11.25 18.11 11 I-5 (Santa Ana Freeway) – Los Angeles, Santa Ana Former US 101 Byp. south; I-5 exit 124 Santa Fe Springs 11.89 19.14 12 Telegraph Road Former US 101 Byp. north; former SR 26 West Whittier-Los Nietos 13.18 21.21 13 Slauson Avenue 13.69 22.03 14 Washington Boulevard Signed as exits 14A (west) and 14B (east) southbound West Whittier-Los Nietos–Whittier line 15.21 24.48 15 Whittier Boulevard (SR 72) Former US 101 Whittier–Pico Rivera line 16.05 25.83 16 Beverly Boulevard Southbound access to Beverly Boulevard west is via exit 17 Pico Rivera–Industry line 17.21 27.70 17 Rose Hills Road Industry 18.29 29.43 18 Peck Road Industry 19.05 30.66 19 SR 60 (Pomona Freeway) – Los Angeles, Pomona SR 60 exit 12 Avocado Heights–Industry line 21.03 33.84 21 Valley Boulevard Former US 60 and SR 212 Baldwin Park 21.83 35.13 22 I-10 (San Bernardino Freeway) – Los Angeles, San Bernardino Former US 99 / US 70 / US 60; I-10 east exits 31A-B, west exit 31A Baldwin Park–Irwindale line 22.71 36.55 23 Ramona Boulevard – Baldwin Park, El Monte Former US 99 Irwindale 23.79 38.29 24 Lower Azusa Road / Los Angeles Street 25.16 40.49 25 Live Oak Avenue Northbound exit and southbound entrance 26.60 42.81 26 Arrow Highway Southbound exit and northbound entrance 27.40 44.10 27A I-210 east (Foothill Freeway) – San Bernardino I-210 exits 36A-B (exit 36B signed as Mount Olive Drive) 27.40 44.10 27B I-210 west (Foothill Freeway) – Pasadena Irwindale–Duarte line 27.54 44.32 27C Huntington Drive (Historic US 66) – Duarte Northern terminus; at-grade intersection; former US 66 ​ Mount Olive Drive Continuation beyond Huntington Drive 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Electronic toll collection Incomplete access

## See also

- [California Roads portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:California_Roads)

- [Greater Los Angeles portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Greater_Los_Angeles)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-fhwa_1-0)** ["Route Log and Finder List - Interstate System: Table 2"](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm). [FHWA](/source/Federal_Highway_Administration). Retrieved October 7, 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Los Angeles Highways"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111115132742/http://scvresources.com/highways/la_tidbits.htm). Scvresources.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.scvresources.com/highways/la_tidbits.htm) on November 15, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CSHC619_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CSHC619_3-1) ["Section 619"](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=619.). *California Streets and Highways Code*. Sacramento: California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved August 17, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-fhwa-nhs_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-fhwa-nhs_4-1) Federal Highway Administration (March 25, 2015). [*National Highway System: Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA*](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/california/los_angeles-long_beach-anaheim_ca.pdf) (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 29, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FHWA_5-0)** ["Table 1: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways"](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm). *FHWA Route Log and Finder List*. [Federal Highway Administration](/source/Federal_Highway_Administration). January 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cafes_6-0)** ["Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Division 1"](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&division=1.&title=&part=&chapter=2.&article=2.). *California Streets and Highways Code*. Sacramento: California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved February 6, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NHS-FHWA_7-0)** Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderly, Kevin (June 20, 2012). ["What is the National Highway System?"](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/). *National Highway System*. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** California Department of Transportation; California State Transportation Agency (January 2021). [*2020 Named Freeways, Highways, Structures and Other Appurtenances in California*](https://web.archive.org/web/20221010125421/https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/research-innovation-system-information/documents/place-names/web-2020-named-freeways-final-a11y.pdf) (PDF). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. p. 96. Archived from [the original](https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/research-innovation-system-information/documents/place-names/web-2020-named-freeways-final-a11y.pdf) (PDF) on October 10, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CAHwys_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CAHwys_9-1) Faigin, Daniel. ["Interstate 605"](http://www.cahighways.org/466-740.html#605). *California Highways*. Retrieved September 23, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Metro Board Unanimously Approves Motion to Delay 605/5 Freeway Widening and Instead Study Alternatives"](https://la.streetsblog.org/2020/10/22/metro-board-unanimously-approves-motion-to-delay-605-5-freeway-widening-and-instead-study-alternatives/). *Streetsblog Los Angeles*. October 22, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-calnexus_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-calnexus_11-1) Warring, KS (April 18, 2008). ["Interstate 605 Freeway Interchanges"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160820195702/http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/605.pdf) (PDF). *[California Numbered Exit Uniform System](/source/California_Numbered_Exit_Uniform_System)*. [California Department of Transportation](/source/California_Department_of_Transportation). Archived from [the original](http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/605.pdf) (PDF) on August 20, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["California Log of Bridges on State Highways: District 12"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070220074533/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/structur/strmaint/brlog/logpdf/logd12.pdf) (PDF). *[Caltrans](/source/Caltrans)*. California Department of Transportation. October 2006. Archived from [the original](http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/structur/strmaint/brlog/logpdf/logd12.pdf) (PDF) on February 20, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2019.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Interstate 605 (California)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Interstate_605_(California)).

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KML is from Wikidata

- [Caltrans: I-605 highway conditions](https://roads.dot.ca.gov/)

- [Caltrans Traffic Conditions Map](https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/)

- [California Highway Patrol Traffic Incidents](https://cad.chp.ca.gov/)

- [California @ AARoads.com - I-605](http://www.aaroads.com/california/i-605_ca.html)

- [California Highways: I-605](http://www.cahighways.org/466-740.html#605)

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