I-105 (California)

I-105 (California)
State	CA
Route	105
Alternate name	Century Freeway, Glenn Anderson Freeway
Length mi	18.83
Established	1963 (designated), 1993 (completed)
Direction a	West
Terminus a	Los Angeles International Airport
Direction b	East
Terminus b	Interstate 605 in Norwalk
Counties	Los Angeles

I-105 (California) Interstate 105, commonly known as the Century Freeway or Glenn Anderson Freeway, is an east–west auxiliary Interstate Highway in the Los Angeles County region serving Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Inglewood, Downey, Norwalk, and connections to Interstate 405, Interstate 110, and Interstate 605. The route functions as a limited-access corridor linking the South Bay to the Gateway Cities and the San Gabriel Valley, and it forms part of the regional mobility network used by commuters, freight, and transit services.

Route description

I-105 begins at the elevated terminal loop serving Century Boulevard near Los Angeles International Airport and proceeds eastward as a limited-access freeway across Westchester, adjacent to Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center, past SoFi Stadium (via connecting arterials), and through Inglewood. The freeway intersects State Route 1 and Interstate 405 near El Segundo and Hawthorne, providing links toward Santa Monica and Long Beach. East of Crenshaw Boulevard the route runs parallel to the Metro C Line right-of-way through corridors adjacent to South Los Angeles neighborhoods and industrial zones, crossing major arterials including La Cienega Boulevard, Vermont Avenue, Western Avenue, Vernon Avenue, Atlantic Boulevard, and Pioneer Boulevard. The eastern terminus connects with Interstate 605 in Norwalk, near access to State Route 91 and regional freight routes serving the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

History

Early conceptual work for a route resembling I-105 appeared in regional plans tied to Los Angeles International Airport expansion and postwar freeway proposals involving planners from California Department of Transportation and County of Los Angeles Regional Planning Commission. In the 1960s the corridor was identified in Interstate Highway System auxiliary plans and designated to honor Glenn M. Anderson, a former California Lieutenant Governor and U.S. Representative. Community opposition surfaced during the 1970s and 1980s, led by coalitions including Chicana Rights activists, Black community organizations, and neighborhood groups in Watts and Huntington Park, culminating in litigation invoking housing and civil-rights provisions and involvement from entities such as the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. Settlement agreements produced the consent decree that shaped mitigation measures, affordable housing programs influenced by Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles, and workforce development tied to Los Angeles Community College District initiatives. Construction restarted in the late 1980s and the freeway opened in stages, with final completion in 1993, attended by officials from City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, and state leadership including representatives from California State Assembly.

Construction and engineering

Engineering for I-105 incorporated complex design elements including a fully grade-separated freeway, a below- and above-ground alignment in constrained urban parcels, and seismic design standards aligned with California seismic safety practices guided by United States Geological Survey. Construction methodologies involved extensive earthwork, pile-driving adjacent to existing transit corridors such as the Metrolink right-of-way, and integration with utility relocations involving Southern California Edison and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Contractors coordinated with municipal agencies like Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Southern California Regional Rail Authority. The project implemented noise-abatement barriers, retaining walls, stormwater treatment basins influenced by Clean Water Act compliance, and the incorporation of a freeway median and substructure to accommodate the later-built Metro C Line transit operations. Significant engineering milestones included completion of major interchanges at I-405, I-110, and I-605, and construction of elevated ramps near LAX, using segmental construction techniques promoted by firms and design consultants associated with the project.

Traffic and usage

I-105 serves as a primary commuter artery for workers traveling between South Bay, Los Angeles County job centers and employment clusters in the Gateway Cities and Downtown Los Angeles. Traffic volumes fluctuate with peak-hour congestion influenced by commuter patterns tied to LAX operations, events at Crypto.com Arena and SoFi Stadium, and freight movements to the Port of Long Beach. The corridor supports regional bus services operated by entities including Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Orange County Transportation Authority, and Long Beach Transit, and it interfaces with park-and-ride locations used by Metrolink passengers transferring to local transit. Traffic management strategies have been coordinated with California Highway Patrol and Caltrans District 7, employing incident response, ramp metering, and travel-information dissemination via regional platforms such as 511 California. Average daily traffic counts vary across segments, with highest loads near the I-405 and I-110 interchanges.

Exit list

The exit sequence along I-105 includes interchanges with major corridors: Century Boulevard/LAX terminal access; State Route 1; Interstate 405; La Cienega Boulevard; Crenshaw Boulevard; Western Avenue; Vermont Avenue; Interstate 110 (with connections to Interstate 10 via downtown links); Atlantic Boulevard; Pioneer Boulevard; and the eastern terminus at Interstate 605. Ramps are designed to serve local arterials such as Artesia Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, and Firestone Boulevard, providing access to municipalities including El Segundo, Hawthorne, Cerritos, and South Gate.

Public transportation and transit connections

The I-105 corridor was planned in coordination with rail and bus investments; the median eventually hosted the Metro C Line light rail alignment providing east–west service and linking to the Green Line operations. Transit connections include stations serving Aviation/LAX Station (intermodal access to LAX Automated People Mover), transfers to Metro Silver Line bus rapid transit, and bus routes operated by Los Angeles Metro, Long Beach Transit, and Norwalk Transit. Intermodal links connect with Metrolink commuter-rail stations via feeder buses and park-and-ride facilities, improving access to regional services such as Amtrak at nearby hubs and enabling connections to Union Station.

Environmental and community impact

Construction and operation of I-105 had significant environmental and social impacts in historically underserved neighborhoods including Inglewood, South Los Angeles, and parts of the Gateway Cities. Environmental reviews involved agencies such as the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency, requiring mitigation measures addressing air quality for areas impacted by California Air Resources Board regulations, noise abatement, and stormwater management to reduce pollutant loads to local watersheds including portions of the Los Angeles River basin. Community mitigation programs funded affordable housing initiatives, job-training partnerships with institutions like California State University, Dominguez Hills and El Camino College, and legal settlements that influenced later infrastructure projects. Ongoing concerns persist regarding emissions exposure, equity in transportation investments debated in forums including the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and advocacy groups such as Communities for a Better Environment and local neighborhood councils.

Category:Interstate Highways in California Category:Roads in Los Angeles County, California