This shot probably won’t mean much to non-Angelenos but this one caused my jaw to drop. This is from the early 1960s and shows where the San Diego freeway (the 405 north) meets the Hollywood freeway (the 101). I can’t believe how pastoral it was there back in the late 50s. Nowadays, the light-colored freeway is 5 or 6 lanes, and dark lane veering off to the left toward Hollywood is two lanes, and they are always bumper-to-bumper. And all that empty land around them? It’s now completely filled in. When I worked down near LAX in the ‘90s, I passed through this intersection twice a day, five days a week—it never occurred to me that it ever looked like this. Below is a 2015 Google map shot so you can see how it looks now:
I love this pic. Pretty sure it’s the southbound lanes, tho. The 405 was previously California State Route 7, and you can see the sign says South 7. Also, the exit to the 101 says Ventura North. (Instead of Hollywood South). The hills in the distance is the Sepulveda pass. I think this segment was the extension that opened in 1961, and since it was renumbered to the 405 in 1964, this photo is probably between those years (guessing near opening in 1961 for promotion or news article)
This shot probably won’t mean much to non-Angelenos but this one caused my jaw to drop. This is from the early 1960s and shows where the San Diego freeway (the 405 north) meets the Hollywood freeway (the 101). I can’t believe how pastoral it was there back in the late 50s. Nowadays, the light-colored freeway is 5 or 6 lanes, and dark lane veering off to the left toward Hollywood is two lanes, and they are always bumper-to-bumper. And all that empty land around them? It’s now completely filled in. When I worked down near LAX in the ‘90s, I passed through this intersection twice a day, five days a week—it never occurred to me that it ever looked like this. Below is a 2015 Google map shot so you can see how it looks now:
Hi – I remember it well. This is progress? Love always, L
I love this pic. Pretty sure it’s the southbound lanes, tho. The 405 was previously California State Route 7, and you can see the sign says South 7. Also, the exit to the 101 says Ventura North. (Instead of Hollywood South). The hills in the distance is the Sepulveda pass. I think this segment was the extension that opened in 1961, and since it was renumbered to the 405 in 1964, this photo is probably between those years (guessing near opening in 1961 for promotion or news article)