California Highway 110 Pasadena Freeway Photographs (Avenue 43 to Pasadena)
Left - Facing north along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Avenue 43 Overpass. Historically, the Pasadena Freeway was known as the Arroyo Seco Parkway, named after the river which follows most of the highway's route. As with most rivers in Los Angeles, the Arroyo Seco was diverted into an open-top concrete channel during the 1930s and 1940s in an attempt to control flooding. The Arroyo Seco Parkway was officially dedicated on December 30th, 1940, after several years of construction. The Arroyo Seco Parkway was the first freeway built in California, and among the earliest freeways ever built in North America.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Facing south along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Avenue 43 Overpass. The on/off ramps from northbound Hwy 110 can be seen in the foreground. The Pasadena Freeway was designed under extremely tight right-of-way and property constraints, which resulted in the freeway having some peculiar entrance and exit ramps and sweeping curvilinear geometry. The highway was built to provide a scenic parkway link between Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Pasadena.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Avenue 43 Overpass on the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110), as seen from the northbound on-ramp. The limited right-of-way and the proximity of the Arroyo Seco presented many highway design challenges for engineers. This is most evident in the ramp geometry. Note the extremely short acceleration taper before the ramp from Avenue 43 merges with the northbound Pasadena Freeway.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Loop ramp onto the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from Avenue 43. This loop ramp has approximately a 25-foot (8 meter) radius, a direct taper merge and is under stop control. While this is a fascinating ramp configuration from a geometric and historical engineering perspective, it is arguably one of the most substandard freeway on-ramps in California. The loop ramp is almost impossible for longer vehicles to negotiate. The constricted freeway ramp geometry along this route is one of the primary reasons why trucks are prohibited on the Pasadena Freeway.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - On and off ramps from/to the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) at the Avenue 43 Interchange. The inner loop lane (at right) makes a 180-degree bend before joining the mainline lanes of the Pasadena Freeway.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Date stamp (1939) on the Avenue 43 Overpass across the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) in Los Angeles
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Above - Freeway entrance sign for southbound Hwy 110 (Pasadena Freeway) at the Avenue 43 Interchange in Los Angeles
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing west along the on/off ramps from Avenue 43 towards the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) at the Arroyo Seco structure. This bi-directional ramp practically intersects the Pasadena Freeway at a T-junction, with only a painted splitter island at the western end of the Arroyo Seco structure to channelize traffic.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - The ramps to/from the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) intersect the freeway at a right angle after crossing the Arroyo Seco. The Avenue 43 structure can be seen crossing the Pasadena Freeway and the Arroyo Seco in the background of this photo.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Date stamp (1940) on the on/off ramp structure over the Arroyo Seco, connecting Avenue 43 to the northbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110)
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing south towards Los Angeles along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Avenue 43 Overpass
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Facing south towards Los Angeles along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Avenue 52 Overpass
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right -Facing north towards Pasadena along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Avenue 52 Overpass
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing west across the Avenue 52 Overpass on the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) in Los Angeles
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Date stamp (1939) on the Avenue 52 Overpass across the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) in Los Angeles
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Reflectorized "button copy" freeway guide sign for the northbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) at the Avenue 52 Interchange
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - On-ramp from Avenue 52 to the northbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110). Like most other on-ramps on the Pasadena Freeway, this ramp is under stop control at the merge point with the freeway due to the short acceleration taper. The Avenue 52 Interchange is likely the most compact diamond interchange ever built on a freeway.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - End of the on-ramp from Avenue 52, facing south along the northbound lanes of the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110). From this vantage point, it is almost impossible to see if any vehicles are approaching in the right-hand lane. Motorists on the Pasadena Freeway must always watch for vehicles attempting to enter the freeway at low speeds from these stop-controlled ramps.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Ramps to/from the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from Avenue 57. This ramp is under stop control, with almost no acceleration taper. Even though it has just crossed over the stop bar, the silver-colored car in the foreground is already in a live through lane on the freeway.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing north along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Via Marisol Overpass. The Via Marisol Interchange also serves Avenue 57.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - The ramps to the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from Avenue 57 are complicated by the intersection of a frontage road (Carlota Boulevard) immediately beside the freeway entrance
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - The off-ramp to Avenue 57 has a posted advisory speed of 5 mph, which given the tight ramp geometry, is certainly appropriate
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - General view of the Avenue 57 and Via Marisol Interchange on the Pasadena Freeway
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - An abrupt off-ramp from the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) to Avenue 57
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Ramps at the Avenue 57 Interchange. These ramps also serve adjacent Via Marisol.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - The southbound off-ramp from the Pasadena Freeway to Avenue 60 (Shults Street) has a posted advisory speed of only 5 mph. Note that this off-ramp is a direct taper, with almost no space for deceleration. As a result, motorists using this ramp are forced to reduce their speeds in a through lane on the mainline freeway. There is less than 5 feet between this freeway exit taper and the adjacent frontage road. The vehicle that is on the right side of the chain-link fence in this photo is parked on the frontage road.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Shults Street ramps on the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110), which indirectly serve Avenue 60. Note the extremely short distance between the freeway and the frontage road and the corresponding short lengths of the freeway ramps.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Facing north along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) towards the Avenue 60 Overpass. With its arched spans and decorative railings, the Avenue 60 Overpass is one of the Pasadena Freeway's most aesthetically pleasing structures.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing north along the frontage road (Arroyo Drive) towards the Shults Street Ramps
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Ramps from/to Avenue 60 and Shults Street from the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110)
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - A vehicle waits for a gap in traffic before entering the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Shults Street on-ramp
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing north along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) towards the Avenue 60 Overpass
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Facing north along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) towards the Marmion Way Overpass
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Exit ramp from the northbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) at Marmion Way. This exit ramp departs the freeway and then goes around a 90-degree bend, before crossing over the Arroyo Seco Bridge in the foreground.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Date stamp (1940) on the Marmion Way Overpass across the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110)
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Facing south towards Los Angeles along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Marmion Way Overpass
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Facing north towards Pasadena along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Marmion Way Overpass
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Night view of a reflectorized "button copy" freeway guide sign for Hwy 110 South
(Photograph taken on February 27, 2009 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - A midnight shot of the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) facing north towards Pasadena from the York Boulevard Viaduct
(Photograph taken on February 27, 2009 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - View of the Salonica Street ramps on the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110), as seen from the York Boulevard Viaduct
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing south along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) towards Los Angeles from the York Boulevard Viaduct. The small stand of palm trees in the freeway median approaching the York Boulevard Viaduct greatly enhances the freeway's appearance.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Facing north along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) towards Pasadena from the York Boulevard Viaduct. The York Boulevard structure is a high-level viaduct, which provides an observer with a panoramic vista of the freeway, Arroyo Seco Park and the spectacular San Gabriel Mountains north of Pasadena.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - View of the York Boulevard Viaduct on the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Salonica Street ramps. The beautiful York Boulevard Viaduct was built in 1912, nearly three decades before the opening of the Arroyo Seco Parkway.
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - York Boulevard is served by on and off ramps from the Pasadena Freeway, which connect to Salonica Street
(Photograph taken on June 2, 2007 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - A vehicle waits for a gap in traffic before entering the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Salonica Street on-ramp
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Salonica Street ramps from/to the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110)
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing north towards Pasadena along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Arroyo Drive Overpass
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Arroyo Drive Overpass across the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) in South Pasadena
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Date stamp (1938) on the Arroyo Drive Overpass in South Pasadena
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing south towards Los Angeles along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Arroyo Drive Overpass
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Contractor date and survey station stamp in a concrete panel on the approach to the Arroyo Drive Overpass across the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110). According to the date stamp, this concrete road was poured on July 27, 1938. Having been born and raised in Canada, I find the 70+ year longevity of a concrete pavement's life in California particularly remarkable. In Canada, concrete highways seldom last longer than 40 years before they are resurfaced due to winter frost damage.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Facing north along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) towards the Orange Grove Avenue Interchange from the Grand Avenue Overpass
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Date stamp (1938) on the Grand Avenue Overpass in South Pasadena
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Another contractor date and survey station stamp at the end of a concrete off-ramp lane on the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) at the Orange Grove Avenue Interchange. According to the date stamp, this concrete ramp lane was poured on June 14, 1939.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Facing south towards Los Angeles along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Orange Grove Avenue Overpass
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing north along Orange Grove Avenue at the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) Interchange. This diamond interchange is very compact, with ramp terminals that intersect Orange Grove Avenue in very short succession. In addition, there is an adjacent intersection in the foreground (Grevelia Street) which is under stop control. As a result, the traffic signals at this interchange are unusually complex.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - The left turn lanes across the Orange Grove Avenue structure are very short, requiring good synchronization of the two ramp terminal traffic signals to prevent a left-turn queue overload. Pavement markings on the roadway approaching the interchange instruct drivers not to block the intersections.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Facing north along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Orange Grove Avenue Interchange
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Freeway guide sign marking the entrance ramps to the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) at the Orange Grove Avenue Interchange
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - On-ramp from Orange Grove Avenue onto the northbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110). Like most other on-ramps on the Pasadena Freeway, this ramp is under stop control at the merge point with the freeway due to the short acceleration taper. The white wooden guide rail on the left-hand side of the ramp is likely original, from when the Pasadena Freeway first opened in 1940.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Off-ramp from the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) to Orange Grove Avenue. This off-ramp was originally two lanes, but it was narrowed down to one lane at some point. Presumably, this was done to stop vehicles from turning right while visibility of oncoming traffic was restricted by queued left-turning vehicles.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing south along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) towards the Orange Grove Avenue Interchange from the Prospect Avenue Overpass
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Facing north along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) towards the Meridian Avenue Overpass from the Prospect Avenue Overpass
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Date stamp (1939) on the Prospect Avenue Overpass in South Pasadena
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing north along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Meridian Avenue Overpass
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Facing south along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) towards the Prospect Avenue Overpass from the Meridian Avenue Overpass
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Meridian Avenue Overpass across the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) in South Pasadena
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Date stamp (1940) on the Meridian Avenue Overpass in South Pasadena
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - This abandoned off-ramp from the southbound Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) has sat behind a chain-link fence for decades, and is now largely forgotten. The abandoned ramp is located in the north-east quadrant of the Fair Oaks Avenue Interchange in South Pasadena.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Facing north along Fair Oaks Avenue towards the overpass across the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110)
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Date stamp (1940) on the Fair Oaks Avenue Overpass on the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) in South Pasadena. Like most of its counterparts on the Pasadena Freeway, the Fair Oaks Avenue Overpass looks almost brand new.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Facing south along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Fair Oaks Avenue Overpass in South Pasadena
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Facing north along the Pasadena Freeway (Hwy 110) from the Fair Oaks Avenue Overpass. The Fair Oaks Avenue Interchange is the final interchange along the Pasadena Freeway. This overpass is located about one-half of a mile before the end of the freeway in Pasadena.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Above - The Pasadena Freeway ends just beyond this curve at a signalized intersection with Glenarm Street. The roadway continues for another mile into Downtown Pasadena as a conventional city street known as Arroyo Parkway. The famous U.S. Route 66 followed the Pasadena Freeway between Los Angeles and Pasadena for many years.
(Photograph taken on March 22, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
