The Santa Ana Freeway is one of the principal freeways in Southern California, connecting Los Angeles and its southeastern suburbs including the freeway's namesake, the city of Santa Ana. The freeway begins at its junction with the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405, I-405), called the El Toro Y, in Irvine, signed as I-5.

When the freeway reaches the East Los Angeles Interchange 1 mi (1.6 km) east of downtown Los Angeles, I-5 becomes the Golden State Freeway as US 101 takes over the Santa Ana Freeway designation.

Santa Ana Freeway from the El Toro Y to the East L.A. Interchange; Golden State Freeway from the East L.A. Interchange to Wheeler Ridge; Interstate 8 west terminus in Ocean Beach in San Diego, eastbound to the Arizona State Line towards Yuma. Ocean Beach Freeway from Ocean Beach to Old Town

Built over eleven years from 1950-60 and opened in several stages, the freeway ­­– signed as Interstate 5 and named the Santa Ana Freeway north of the El Toro Y and the San Diego Freeway south of it – represents the merger of two older, historic transportation corridors.

OCTA in cooperation with The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is widening the San Diego Freeway (I-405) between State Route 73 (SR-73) and Interstate 605 (I-605).The project will improve 16 miles of I-405 between the SR-73 freeway in Costa Mesa and I-605 near the L.A. County line.

The Santa Ana Area is responsible for patrolling over 225 miles of freeway including Interstate 5, 405 and State Route 55, 22, and 91. Along with the expansive freeway system, the Area is responsible for 220 miles of unincorporated roadways.

Oct 24, 2017 · The Southland's freeways hardly inspire optimism anymore. Glance at the shoulder of a slow-moving freeway and among the weeds you'll see shards of plastic and twisted metal – the accumulated detritus of a dozen high-speed crashes.

The Santa Ana Freeway is a bypass of the original state highway from Los Angeles to Santa Ana, which passed through Whittier and mostly became SR 72 in the 1964 renumbering.

In the downtown area, it is the Santa Ana Freeway, mostly constructed between 1946 and 1952. North of the Four Level Interchange, it becomes the Hollywood Freeway, constructed between 1940 and 1958. It still retains quite a few of its original bridges and railing as well.

Nov 27, 2006 · Southbound Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) reaches Exit 95, California 133 south to Laguna Beach. California 133 is a toll-free freeway from Interstate 5 south to Interstate 405, then reverts to an expressway between Interstate 405 …