View source for Interstate 605

{{short description|Interstate Highway in California}}
{{For|the cancelled interstate bypass in Seattle, Washington|Interstate 605 (Washington)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox road
|state=CA
|type=I
|route=605
|alternate_name=San Gabriel River Freeway
|section=619
|map={{maplink-road|from=Interstate 605.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=I-605 highlighted in red
|length_mi=27.40
|length_round=2
|length_ref=<ref name="fhwa">{{cite web|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm |title=Route Log and Finder List - Interstate System: Table 2|publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration|FHWA]]|access-date=October 7, 2007}}</ref>
|history=1940s as a state highway, 1964 as a number<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scvresources.com/highways/la_tidbits.htm |title=Los Angeles Highways |publisher=Scvresources.com |access-date=January 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115132742/http://scvresources.com/highways/la_tidbits.htm |archive-date=November 15, 2011  }}</ref>
|spur_of=5
|spur_type=I
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{jct|state=CA|I|405|SR|22}} in [[Seal Beach]]
|junction={{plainlist
|*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|91}} in [[Cerritos, California|Cerritos]]
*{{jct|state=CA|I|105}} in [[Norwalk, California|Norwalk]]
*{{jct|state=CA|I|5}} in [[Santa Fe Springs, California|Santa Fe Springs]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|72}} in [[Whittier, California|Whittier]]
*{{Jct|state=CA|SR|60}} in [[Avocado Heights, California|Avocado Heights]]
*{{jct|state=CA|I|10}} in [[Baldwin Park, California|Baldwin Park]]
*{{jct|state=CA|I|210}} in [[Irwindale, California|Irwindale]]
}}
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b=[[Huntington Drive]] in [[Duarte, California|Duarte]]
|counties=[[Orange County, California|Orange]], [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]
|previous_type=I
|previous_route=580
|next_type=I
|next_route=680

}}
'''Interstate&nbsp;605''' (abbreviated '''I-605''', officially known as the '''San Gabriel River Freeway''' and locally referred to as '''The 605''') is a {{convert|27|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} major north–south [[List of auxiliary Interstate Highways|auxiliary Interstate Highway]] in the [[Greater Los Angeles]] urban area of [[Southern California]]. It runs from [[Interstate 405 (California)|I-405]] and [[California State Route 22|State Route&nbsp;22]] (SR&nbsp;22) in [[Seal Beach, California|Seal Beach]] in [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] to [[Interstate 210 (California)|I-210]] just south of the [[Irwindale, California|Irwindale]]–[[Duarte, California|Duarte]] border in [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]]. The San Gabriel River Freeway closely parallels the [[San Gabriel River (California)|San Gabriel River]] for most of its alignment, hence its name, which is one of the few [[Southern California freeways]] not named after a city along its route.

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 the state highway system as '''Route 605'''. It is defined as such in the [[California Codes|California Streets and Highways Code]]'s section 619:<ref>[https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=619. California Code, SHC 619.]</ref>

<blockquote>
Route 605 is from:
<br />(a) [[California State Route 1|Route 1]] near [[Seal Beach, California|Seal Beach]] to [[Interstate 405 (California)|Route 405]].
<br />(b) Route 405 to [[Foothill Freeway|Route 210]] near [[Duarte, California|Duarte]].

Route 605 shall be known and designated as the “San Gabriel River Freeway.”
</blockquote>

The interchange with I-405 and SR 22 was built to accommodate an unconstructed future extension south to SR 1 as outlined in subdivision (a). The distance is traversable via nearby Seal Beach Boulevard, but Caltrans has no intention to adopt the road as part of Route 605.

The southern terminus of I-605 is at the [[Interstate 405 (California)|San Diego]] ([[Interstate 405 (California)|I-405]]) and Garden Grove ([[California State Route 22|SR&nbsp;22]]) Freeways in [[Seal Beach, California|Seal Beach]]. From there, it runs roughly north through the [[Gateway Cities]] of the [[Los Angeles Basin]]. It then shifts north-northeast, crossing the [[Whittier Narrows]] and across the [[San Gabriel Valley]]. I-605 then ends at its junction with the [[Foothill Freeway]], ([[Interstate 210 (California)|I-210]]) just south of the [[Irwindale, California|Irwindale]]–[[Duarte, California|Duarte]] border. Ramps from I-605 then extend north to [[Huntington Drive]] in Duarte.

I-605 follows most of the length of the [[San Gabriel River (California)|San Gabriel River]] from the San Diego Freeway in Seal Beach to the [[Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area|Santa Fe Dam]]. 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]] 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 [[Interstate 5 in California|I-5]] (the [[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]]) such as "[[Seal Beach, California|Seal Beach]]" or "[[Irwindale, California|Irwindale]]" 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]],<ref name="cafes">{{CAFESystem}}</ref> and is part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name=fhwa-nhs>{{FHWA NHS map|region=losangeles|access-date=July 29, 2017}}</ref> a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref name=NHS-FHWA>{{FHWA NHS}}</ref> I-605 from I-405 to I-10 is known as the San Gabriel River Freeway, as named by Senate Bill 99, Chapter 1101 in 1967.<ref>{{CA Named Freeways | pages=96}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:I605 CA dv 26 north lg.jpg|thumb|Approaching the northern terminus of I-605]]
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.<ref name="CAHwys">{{cite web |url=http://www.cahighways.org/466-740.html#605 |title=Interstate 605 |last=Faigin |first=Daniel |work=California Highways |access-date=September 23, 2016 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=January 2020}}

I-605 began construction in 1963 and the first section was opened in 1964 from [[Interstate 405 (California)|I-405]] to [[California State Route 60|SR&nbsp;60]]. The newest section (extension to [[Interstate 210 (California)|I-210]]) was opened in 1971 was originally signed as SR&nbsp;243. There are plans to extend it to [[California State Route 1|SR&nbsp;1]] further south in Orange County as SR&nbsp;605, but strong community opposition means that it is unlikely that the alignment will ever be built.<ref name="CAHwys" />

In 2020, there was a proposal to widen I-605, which would have added four new lanes to {{Convert|12|mi|km|abbr=on}} of I-605 between [[Norwalk, California|Norwalk]] and [[El Monte, 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]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-22|title=Metro Board Unanimously Approves Motion to Delay 605/5 Freeway Widening and Instead Study Alternatives|url=https://la.streetsblog.org/2020/10/22/metro-board-unanimously-approves-motion-to-delay-605-5-freeway-widening-and-instead-study-alternatives/|access-date=2020-12-08|website=Streetsblog Los Angeles|language=en-US}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==Exit list==
{{CAinttop|exit
|length_ref=<ref name=calnexus/><ref>{{cite web |title=California Log of Bridges on State Highways: District 12 |url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/structur/strmaint/brlog/logpdf/logd12.pdf |website=[[Caltrans]] |publisher=California Department of Transportation |access-date=September 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220074533/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/structur/strmaint/brlog/logpdf/logd12.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 20, 2007 |date=October 2006}}</ref>
|exit_ref=<ref name=calnexus>{{cite web |date=April 18, 2008 |first=KS |last=Warring |publisher=[[California Department of Transportation]] |work=[[California Numbered Exit Uniform System]] |url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/605.pdf |title=Interstate 605 Freeway Interchanges |access-date=September 1, 2014 }}</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Orange
|cspan=3
|location=Seal Beach
|mile=0.00
|exit=1A
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|22|dir1=west|name1=7th Street|city1=Long Beach}}
|notes=Southern terminus; SR&nbsp;22 east exit 2; I-405 north exit 24; I-405 south/SR&nbsp;22 east is former [[California State Route 7 (1934-1964)|SR&nbsp;7]] south
|nspan=3
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Seal Beach
|location2=Los Alamitos
|lspan=2
|mile=0.41
|mspan=3
|exit=1B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|405|dir1=south|name1=[[San Diego Freeway]]|SR|22|dir2=east|name2=[[Garden Grove Freeway]]|city1=Garden Grove}}
|notes=none 
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=etc
|mile=none
|exit=—
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I-Express|405|to2=to|SR|22|dir1=south|dir2=east}}
|notes=none
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county1=Orange
|county2=Los Angeles
|location1=Seal Beach
|location2=Los Alamitos
|location3=Long Beach
|mile=none
|exit=1C
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|405|dir1=north|name1=[[San Diego Freeway]]|city1=Santa Monica}}
|notes=Signed as exit 1A northbound; former [[California State Route 7 (1934-1964)|SR&nbsp;7]] north; I-405 south exit 24A
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Orange
|location=Los Alamitos
|mile=1.41
|exit=1D
|road=Katella Avenue / Willow Street
|notes=Signed as exit 1B northbound; southbound access to Willow Street is via exit 2A
}}
{{jctbridge|exit
|county1=Orange
|county2=Los Angeles
|location1=Los Alamitos
|location2=Long Beach
|river=[[Coyote Creek (San Gabriel River tributary)|Coyote Creek]]
|mile=1.60
|bridge=Bridge
}}
{{CAint|exit
|county=Los Angeles
|cspan=29
|location=Long Beach
|lspan=2
|type=incomplete
|mile=1.69
|exit=2A
|road=Willow Street
|notes=Southbound exit only
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=1.93
|exit=2B
|road=Spring Street / Cerritos Avenue
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Long Beach
|location2=Lakewood
|mile=3.38
|exit=3
|road=[[Carson Street (Los Angeles)|Carson Street]] / Lincoln Avenue
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 91 in California|US&nbsp;91]] and [[California State Route 18 (1964)|SR&nbsp;18]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Lakewood
|location2=Cerritos
|mile=4.51
|exit=5A
|road=[[Del Amo Boulevard]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Cerritos
|lspan=2
|mile=5.39
|exit=5B
|road=South Street
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=6.69
|exit=7A
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|91|name1=[[Artesia Freeway]]}}
|notes=SR 91 east exit 17, west exit 17B
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Cerritos
|location2=Norwalk
|mile=7.45
|exit=7B
|road=[[Alondra Boulevard]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Norwalk
|lspan=3
|mile=8.50
|exit=9A
|road=[[Rosecrans Avenue]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=9.29
|exit=9B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|105|dir1=west|name1=[[Century Freeway]]|road|[[Imperial Highway]]}}
|notes=Signed as exits 9B (I-105) and 9C (Imperial Highway) northbound; I-105 east exits 18A-B; Imperial Highway is former [[California State Route 90|SR&nbsp;90]].
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=9.53
|exit=10
|road=[[Firestone Boulevard]]
|notes=Former [[California State Route 42|SR&nbsp;42]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Downey
|mile=11.25
|exit=11
|road=[[Florence Avenue]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Downey
|location2=Santa Fe Springs
|mile=11.25
|exit=11
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|5|name1=[[Santa Ana Freeway]]|city1=Los Angeles|city2=Santa Ana}}
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 101 Bypass (Los Angeles, California)|US&nbsp;101 Byp.]] south; I-5 exit 124
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Santa Fe Springs
|mile=11.89
|exit=12
|road=Telegraph Road
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 101 Bypass (Los Angeles, California)|US&nbsp;101 Byp.]] north; former [[California State Route 26 (1964)|SR&nbsp;26]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=West Whittier-Los Nietos
|lspan=2
|mile=13.18
|exit=13
|road=[[Slauson Avenue]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=13.69
|exit=14
|road=[[Washington Boulevard (Los Angeles)|Washington Boulevard]]
|notes=Signed as exits 14A (west) and 14B (east) southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=West Whittier-Los Nietos
|location2=Whittier
|mile=15.21
|exit=15
|road={{jctname|state=CA|SR|72|noshield=yes|name1=[[Whittier Boulevard]]}}
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 101 in California|US&nbsp;101]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Whittier
|location2=Pico Rivera
|mile=16.05
|exit=16
|road=[[Beverly Boulevard]]
|notes=Southbound access to Beverly Boulevard west is via exit 17
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Pico Rivera
|location2=Industry
|mile=17.21
|exit=17
|road=Rose Hills Road
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Industry
|mile=18.29
|exit=18
|road=Peck Road
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Industry
|mile=19.05
|exit=19
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|60|name1=[[Pomona Freeway]]|city1=Los Angeles|city2=Pomona}}
|notes=SR&nbsp;60 exit 12
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Avocado Heights
|location2=Industry
|mile=21.03
|exit=21
|road=[[Valley Boulevard]]
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 60 in California|US&nbsp;60]] and [[California State Route 212|SR&nbsp;212]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Baldwin Park
|mile=21.83
|exit=22
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|10|name1=[[San Bernardino Freeway]]|city1=Los Angeles|city2=San Bernardino}}
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 99 in California|US&nbsp;99]] / [[U.S. Route 70 in California|US&nbsp;70]] / [[U.S. Route 60 in California|US&nbsp;60]]; I-10 east exits 31A-B, west exit 31A
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Baldwin Park
|location2=Irwindale
|mile=22.71
|exit=23
|road=[[Ramona Boulevard]]&nbsp;– [[Baldwin Park, California|Baldwin Park]], [[El Monte, California|El Monte]]
|notes=Former [[U.S. Route 99 in California|US&nbsp;99]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Irwindale
|lspan=5
|mile=23.79
|exit=24
|road=Lower Azusa Road / Los Angeles Street
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=25.16
|exit=25
|road=Live Oak Avenue
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=26.60
|exit=26
|road=[[Arrow Highway]]
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=27.40
|exit={{nowrap|27A}}
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|210|name1=[[Foothill Freeway]]|dir1=east|city1=San Bernardino}}
|notes=I-210 exits 36A-B (exit 36B signed as Mount Olive Drive)
|nspan=2
}}
{{CAint|exit
|mile=27.40
|exit={{nowrap|27B}}
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|210|name1=[[Foothill Freeway]]|dir1=west|city1=Pasadena}}
|notes=none
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Irwindale
|location2=Duarte
|lspan=2
|mile=27.54
|mspan=2
|exit=27C
|road={{jctname|state=CA|US-Hist|66|noshield=yes|name1=[[Huntington Drive]]|city1=Duarte}}
|notes=Northern terminus; [[at-grade intersection]]; former [[U.S. Route 66 in California|US&nbsp;66]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=none
|mile=none
|exit=
|road=Mount Olive Drive
|notes=Continuation beyond Huntington Drive
}}
{{jctbtm|col=7|keys=incomplete,etc}}

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

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

==External links==
{{commons category|Interstate 605 (California)}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{CASR external links|I|605}}
*[http://www.aaroads.com/california/i-605_ca.html California @ AARoads.com - I-605]
*[http://www.cahighways.org/466-740.html#605 California Highways: I-605]

{{3di|5}}

[[Category:Southern California freeways|605]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in California|05-6]]
[[Category:Interstate 5|6 California]]
[[Category:Roads in Los Angeles County, California|Interstate 05-6]]
[[Category:Roads in Orange County, California|Interstate 05-6]]
[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways|05-6]]
[[Category:San Gabriel River (California)]]
[[Category:San Gabriel Valley]]
[[Category:Irwindale, California]]
[[Category:Lakewood, California]]