Interstate 105 (California)

Interstate 105 (California)
O · Public domain · source
Name	Interstate 105
State	California
Route number	105
Length mi	18.82
Established	1993
Direction a	West
Terminus a	near El Segundo
Direction b	East
Terminus b	in Norwalk
Counties	Los Angeles County

Interstate 105 (California) is an east–west axial highway in Los Angeles County, California linking the Los Angeles International Airport area with the Interstate 605 corridor through southern Los Angeles, the South Bay, and eastern Gateway Cities. The freeway, commonly called the Century Freeway, was planned in the mid-20th century and completed in the early 1990s; it serves as a major connector among I-405, I-110, I-710, and I-5, and interfaces with regional transit projects including the Los Angeles Metro Rail expansion and the Metrolink commuter rail network.

Route description

The route begins near Los Angeles International Airport and runs eastward through or adjacent to El Segundo, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Culver City borders, Lennox, South Los Angeles, Florence-Graham, Commerce borders, East Los Angeles fringes, and terminates near Norwalk at I-605. The corridor parallels major arterial streets such as Century Boulevard, Imperial Highway, and Florence Avenue while intersecting with I-405 at the west, I-110 near Willowbrook, and I-710 in the eastern segment, providing access to Los Angeles International Airport, Port of Long Beach, and inland communities.

History

Plans for a freeway along the Century Boulevard corridor trace back to post-World War II regional planning efforts and the Interstate Highway System discussions involving federal authorities such as the United States Department of Transportation and state agencies including the California Department of Transportation. Early proposals in the 1950s and 1960s met opposition from community groups in Inglewood, South Central Los Angeles, and surrounding neighborhoods; litigation led to the landmark Century Freeway lawsuit and a consent decree addressing housing, environmental justice, and air quality concerns raised by such organizations as the Natural Resources Defense Council and local coalitions. Construction resumed under negotiated terms in the 1980s and 1990s, culminating in the freeway's opening in 1993, amid involvement from figures like Governor Pete Wilson and officials from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Construction and engineering

Engineering for the corridor required coordination among the Federal Highway Administration, Caltrans District 7, and Los Angeles County agencies to address seismic safety, soil conditions, and right-of-way acquisition challenges in densely built neighborhoods adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport and industrial zones serving the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Major structures include the I-105/I-405 interchange, complex ramps at I-110, and the elevated median guideway built to accommodate the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's future transit line; designers consulted firms experienced with projects near airports and ports, including contractors previously engaged on projects like improvements to SR 91 and the Harbor Freeway. Environmental mitigation measures implemented during construction addressed concerns raised under the California Environmental Quality Act and involved investments in sound walls, landscaping, and community benefit programs negotiated in the consent decree with plaintiffs represented by advocacy groups.

Exit list

Exits are numbered west to east beginning near Los Angeles International Airport and proceed to the terminus at I-605. Key interchanges include: - Western terminus: connection to airport terminals and SR 1 near El Segundo and Los Angeles International Airport. - Interchange with I-405 providing access to the San Diego Freeway corridor and destinations such as Long Beach and San Diego. - Interchange with I-110 near Willowbrook for access to Downtown Los Angeles and San Pedro. - Mid-route connections to Crenshaw Boulevard, La Cienega Boulevard, and major arterial streets serving Inglewood and Hawthorne. - Eastern terminus: junction with I-605 providing north–south access toward Pasadena and Orange County.

Traffic and tolling

Traffic volumes on the corridor reflect commuting patterns between the South Bay and eastern Gateway Cities with peak congestion at interchanges with I-405 and I-110; agencies such as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority monitor volumes alongside the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans. There are no general-purpose tolls on the mainline; however, nearby tolled facilities like the SR 91 express lanes and proposed congestion pricing in other Los Angeles corridors have informed regional discussions led by the Southern California Association of Governments and the California Transportation Commission about demand management and funding for operations and maintenance.

Public transit and connections

A dedicated elevated median guideway on the freeway was constructed to carry the Metro Silver Line precursor and ultimately to serve the Los Angeles Metro Rail K Line and other bus rapid transit services; the Metro Silver Line and multiple Metro bus routes use stations integrated with freeway interchanges. The corridor connects to regional rail at hubs such as Union Station via surface transit links, and to Metrolink services providing commuter access to Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.

Future plans and improvements

Long-range plans coordinated by Metro, Caltrans, and the Southern California Association of Governments include operational upgrades, seismic retrofits, noise abatement projects, and potential managed lanes or transit enhancements to increase person throughput. Proposals referenced in regional mobility plans consider integration with the Measure R and Measure M investment programs, alignment with state climate targets under California Air Resources Board strategies, and coordination with freight initiatives serving the San Pedro Bay Ports Complex to balance goods movement with community impacts.

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