I-5 South Overview

April 2019 Update I-5 Corridor

  • Caltrans is investing $1.9 billion dollars to improve southern segments along I-5 (Santa Ana Freeway) between the Orange County line and I-605 (San Gabriel River Freeway). Improvements will enhance safety, add traffic lanes, encourage ride sharing through new HOV lanes, decrease surface street traffic and help improve air quality. Projects include:

    • High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV or carpool) Lanes – Carpool lanes for vehicles with two or more passengers
    • Mixed-Flow Lane – Lane for all motorists
    • Interchange Modifications – Upgraded on-ramps and off-ramps, bridge widening or bridge reconstruction
    • Pedestrian Overcrossing – Bridge for pedestrians to cross over freeway
    • Frontage Road Modification – Reconstruction or improving road surfaces adjacent to freeway

    We are working to open a fourth travel lane on the southbound side of I-5 between I-605 and the Orange County line by the end of 2019.

    The Carmenita Road, Alondra Blvd., and Rosecrans Ave. interchanges are complete.

    Carmenita Road Project:
    First of six segments to break ground. Construction began in late 2011 and completed in late 2016.
    Cost: $380 million.
    Replaced and reconstructed the existing two-lane Carmenita Road overcrossing with a 10-lane structure (five lanes in each direction). Reconfigured the on and off ramps and realigned the following frontage roads: Firestone Boulevard, Freeway Drive, Carmenita Road, Arctic Circle, Molette Street and Excelsior Drive.

    Also widened I-5 from Alondra Boulevard to Shoemaker Avenue by adding one High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or car pool lane and one general purpose lane in each direction; widened the shoulder: and constructed a median barrier.
    The Imperial Highway / Pioneer Blvd. interchange is expected to be complete by the end of summer 2019. The two remaining segments are the Florence Ave. interchange on the north end of the corridor and the Valley View Ave. interchange on the south end of the corridor.

    Alondra Blvd. Project:
    Second of six segments to break ground. Construction began in April 2012 and completed in late 2015.
    Demolition of the old Alondra Blvd. Bridge was complete by June 2013. The new bridge opened August 29, 2014.
    Cost: $110 million

    Reconstructed the Alondra Blvd. Bridge overcrossing. The new bridge is longer and widened from a four to six lanes, with three lanes in each direction.

    Widened nearly one mile of I-5 from North Fork Coyote Creek to Marquardt Avenue. Added one High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or car pool lane and one general purpose lane in each direction; widened shoulders; and constructed a concrete median barrier.

    Rosecrans Ave. / Bloomfield Ave. Bridge Project:
    Third of six segments to break ground. Construction began in 2012 and completed in late 2017.
    Cost: $180 Million

    Reconstructed the Shoemaker Ave. Bridge, the Rosecrans Ave. Bridge, the Bloomfield Avenue Bridge, and the Silverbow Ave. pedestrian overcrossing.

    Widened one mile of I-5 from Shoemaker Ave. to Silverbow Ave. Added one High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane, or car pool lane, and one general purpose lane in each direction. Widened the freeway shoulders, built concrete median barriers, reconfigured the on and off ramps, and realigned Firestone Boulevard.

    When I-5 was built in the 1950’s, it blocked traffic access on Bloomfield Ave. between the cities of Santa Fe Springs and Norwalk. When we reconstructed the bridge, we elevated it 25 feet to re-open Bloomfield Ave. under I-5.

    This project also includes the construction of an Austin Vault, which filters freeway drainage and reduces pollutants.

    The remaining three segments are the Imperial Highway / Pioneer Blvd. Project, the Florence Ave. Project, and the Valley View Ave. Project. For updates on those projects, please go to the individual project pages or update pages on this website.

I-5 South Construction Projects