View source for Interstate 710 and State Route 710 (California)

{{Short description|Interstate and state highway in California}}
{{For|the once-proposed I-710 in Arizona|Interstate 710 (Arizona)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox road
|state=CA
|type=ISR
|route=710
|alternate_name=Long Beach Freeway
|section=622
|map={{maplink-road|from=Interstate 710 and State Route 710 (California).map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=I-710 highlighted in red, SR&nbsp;710 in purple
|length_mi=23<!--FHWA log says 19.66 but that doesn't reflect the extension south of SR 1-->
|length_ref={{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}
|history=1930s as highway, 1964 as a number ([[California State Route 7|SR 7]]), 1983–1984 as an Interstate (I-710)<ref name="cah 710">{{cite web |first = Daniel P. |last = Faigin |date = November 24, 2018 |url = https://cahighways.org/466-740.html#710 |work=California Highways |title = Interstate 710  |access-date= December 15, 2018 }}{{sps|certain=yes|date=December 2018}}</ref>
|allocation={{Plain list|1=
*{{jct|state=CA|I|710|nolink1=yes}} from [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] to [[Alhambra, California|Alhambra]]
*{{jct|state=CA|CA|710|nolink1=yes}} (unsigned) from California Boulevard (South Pasadena Gap) to [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] }}
|counties=[[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]]
|direction_a=South
|section1=Interstate 710
|terminus_a1={{Jct|state=CA|SR|47}} in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]]
|junction1={{Plain list|
* {{Jct|state=CA|SR|1}} in Long Beach
* {{Jct|state=CA|I|405}} in Long Beach
* {{Jct|state=CA|SR|91}} in Long Beach
* {{Jct|state=CA|I|105}} in [[Lynwood, California|Lynwood]]
* {{Jct|state=CA|I|5}} in [[Commerce, California|Commerce]]
* {{Jct|state=CA|SR|60}} in [[East Los Angeles, California|East Los Angeles]]
* {{Jct|state=CA|I|10}} in [[Monterey Park, California|Monterey Park]]
}}
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b1=[[Valley Boulevard]] in [[Alhambra, California|Alhambra]]
|section2=State Route 710
|terminus_a2=California Boulevard in [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]]
|terminus_b2={{Jct|state=CA|I|210|SR|134}} in Pasadena
|previous_type=I
|previous_route=680
|next_type=I
|next_route=780
}}
'''Route&nbsp;710''', consisting of the non-contiguous segments of '''State Route&nbsp;710''' ('''SR&nbsp;710''') and '''Interstate&nbsp;710''' ('''I-710'''), is a major north–south [[state highway]] and [[List of auxiliary Interstate Highways|auxiliary Interstate Highway]] in the [[Los Angeles metropolitan area]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]]. Also called the '''Los Angeles River Freeway''' prior to November&nbsp;18, 1954,<ref>{{cite book |author = California Department of Transportation |author-link = California Department of Transportation |url = http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hseb/products/Named_Freeways.pdf |year = 2007 |title = Named Freeways, Highways, Structures and Other Appurtenances in California |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121014034335/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hseb/products/Named_Freeways.pdf |archive-date = October 14, 2012 |location = Sacramento |publisher = California Department of Transportation }}</ref> the highway was initially planned to connect [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] and [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]], but a gap in the route exists from [[Alhambra, California|Alhambra]] to Pasadena through [[South Pasadena, California|South Pasadena]] due to community opposition to its construction.
The completed southern segment is signed as I-710 and is officially known as the '''Long Beach Freeway''', and it runs north from Long Beach to Valley Boulevard, just north of [[Interstate 10 in California|I-10]] (San Bernardino Freeway), near the boundary between the cities of [[Alhambra, California|Alhambra]] and [[El Sereno, Los Angeles|Los Angeles]]. South of [[Atlantic Boulevard (Los Angeles County)|Atlantic Boulevard]] at the [[Bell, California|Bell]]–[[Vernon, California|Vernon]] border, I-710 follows the course of the [[Los Angeles River]], rarely wandering more than a few hundred feet from the riverbed. South of [[California State Route 1|SR&nbsp;1]] in Long Beach, I-710 is officially part of the [[Seaside Freeway]].<ref name=HR144>{{cite CAstat|year=1959|HR=yes|ch=144|p=3502}} "That the California Highway Commission is requested to declare the added portion of Route 167 which will connect the Harbor Freeway and the Long Beach Freeway to be a freeway, to be known as the Seaside Freeway..."</ref>
SR&nbsp;710 is the designation of the completed portion of the proposed northern extension of the route to Pasadena. This segment runs from California Boulevard in Pasadena north to its northern terminus at [[California State Route 134|SR&nbsp;134]] and [[Interstate 210 (California)|I-210]]. It remains unsigned, except for onramps onto the stub which are signed as onramps onto I-210 instead of SR&nbsp;710. Legislation passed in 2019 authorizes its relinquishment to the City of Pasadena on or after January&nbsp;1, 2024.<ref name="southpasadenareview"/>
Prior to 1983, the road was not an Interstate, although it was built to [[Interstate Highway standards]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}<!-- Are those tight cloverleaves really up to standards? --> Until 1964 it was '''State Route&nbsp;15''', but it was renumbered to '''State Route&nbsp;7''' in the [[1964 renumbering (California)|1964 renumbering]] because of the existence of [[Interstate 15 in California|I-15]], and to I-710 in 1983. However, the northern stub still contains [[California postmile|postmile markers]] designating such stub as both Route&nbsp;7 and Route&nbsp;710.<ref>{{cite web |author = Google |author-link = Google Maps |date = August 2017 |url = https://www.google.com/maps/@34.140462,-118.1546111,3a,15.1y,21.37h,85.87t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sAHPRw6qymtCszZbTsHecRw!2e0!5s20170801T000000!7i13312!8i6656 |title = State Hwy 710, Pasadena, California |publisher = [[Google Street View]] |access-date = December 15, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author = Google Maps |date = December 2017 |url = https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1448974,-118.1554265,3a,15y,199.38h,85.32t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sDcLtnElOkpc4tE4S4wSkww!2e0!5s20171201T000000!7i16384!8i8192 |title = Pasadena, California |publisher = Google Street View |access-date = December 15, 2018 }}</ref>
==Route description==
[[File:Los Angeles - Echangeur autoroute 710 105.JPG|thumb|left|Aerial view of the I-105/I-710 interchange]]
[[File:LA River at 710 night aerial.jpg|thumb|left|Night aerial view of the [[Los Angeles River]] where I-710 converges on it (from the right) at the [[City of Commerce]]]]
[[File:Interstate 710 East LA.jpg|thumb|left|I-710 at its junction with [[California State Route 60|SR&nbsp;60]] in East Los Angeles]]
The California Streets and Highways Code defines Route 710 as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=shc&group=00001-01000&file=300-635|title=STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE SECTION 300-635|access-date=October 5, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006110038/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=shc&group=00001-01000&file=300-635|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref> <blockquote>622. Route 710 is from [[California State Route 1|Route 1]] to [[Foothill Freeway|Route 210]] in [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]].
622.1.  Route 710 shall also include that portion of the freeway between Route 1 and the northern end of Harbor Scenic Drive, that portion of Harbor Scenic Drive to Ocean Boulevard, that portion of Ocean Boulevard west of its intersection with Harbor Scenic Drive to its junction with Seaside Boulevard, and that portion of Seaside Boulevard from the junction with Ocean Boulevard to [[California State Route 47|Route 47]].
</blockquote>
The southern terminus of the freeway presently signed as I-710 is at Ocean Boulevard in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]]. From there, the Long Beach Freeway follows the course of the [[Los Angeles River]] to [[Atlantic Boulevard (Los Angeles County)|Atlantic Boulevard]] at the [[Bell, California|Bell]]–[[Vernon, California|Vernon]] city limits. I-710 then travels roughly north, east of [[downtown Los Angeles]], to its current northern terminus at [[Valley Boulevard]] (just north of [[Interstate 10 in California|I-10]]) in [[Alhambra, California|Alhambra]] and the [[El Sereno, Los Angeles, California|El Sereno]] neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Near its southern terminus, I-710 separates into three [[Spur route|spur]] freeways. The first spur splits at the 9th&nbsp;Street interchange, with the left-branching ramps crossing the Shoemaker Bridge over [[Los Angeles River]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plummer |first=Caitlin |date=December 9, 2023 |title=Long Beach Bridge |url=https://laist.com/brief/news/transportation/the-bridge-connecting-the-710-to-long-beach-will-be-replaced-heres-a-sneak-peek-of-the-proposed-design |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=LAist |language=en}}</ref> and becoming West Shoreline Drive as they head to [[downtown Long Beach]], passing the [[Aquarium of the Pacific]] and the [[Long Beach Convention Center]] among other attractions. This spur becomes a surface arterial at the intersection with South Chestnut Place and the Pike Parking Garage. The second spur continues south as Harbor Scenic Drive, leading to the eastern piers of the [[Port of Long Beach]] and the [[RMS Queen Mary|Queen Mary]]. Meanwhile, the main segment continues south as the Seaside Freeway, keeping the I-710 designation, until the interchange with Ocean Boulevard, where offramps to Ocean Boulevard west carry both the Seaside Freeway name and I-710 designation across the [[Long Beach International Gateway Bridge]]. The I-710 designation then terminates at the interchange with SR&nbsp;47, while the Seaside Freeway designation continues west along with SR&nbsp;47 towards the [[Vincent Thomas Bridge]].
There is a part of Route&nbsp;710 in [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] that is constructed to freeway standards, extending from California Boulevard north to the [[Foothill Freeway|Foothill (I-210)]]/[[Ventura Freeway|Ventura (SR&nbsp;134)]] freeway interchange. However, the route designation on this freeway stub is unsigned, and is instead marked as if it were merely freeway entrance and exit ramps to and from I-210.
I-710 and SR&nbsp;710 are part of the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]],<ref name="cafes">{{CAFESystem}}</ref> and north of SR&nbsp;1 are part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name=fhwa-nhs>{{FHWA NHS map|region=losangeles|access-date=July 23, 2017}}</ref> a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref name=NHS-FHWA>{{FHWA NHS}}</ref>
==History==
{{infobox road small
|state=CA
|type=CA 1957
|route=15
|location=[[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] - [[Monterey Park, California|Monterey Park]]
|formed=1934
|deleted=1964
}}
{{infobox road small
|state=CA
|type=CA
|route=7
|location= [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] - [[Monterey Park, California|Monterey Park]]
|formed=1964
|deleted=1985
}}
===1930–1965===
'''Legislative Route&nbsp;167''' ('''LR&nbsp;167''') was defined in 1933 to run from [[San Pedro (CA)|San Pedro]] east to [[Long Beach (CA)|Long Beach]] and north to [[Monterey Park (CA)|Monterey Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cahighways.org/chrphas3.html |title=California Highways: Chronology of California Highways 1933-1946 |publisher=Cahighways.org |access-date=January 26, 2013}}</ref> An extension was added in 1947, taking it north to [[Pasadena (CA)|Pasadena]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cahighways.org/chrphas4.html |title=California Highways: Chronology of California Highways 1947-1962 |publisher=Cahighways.org |access-date=January 26, 2013}}</ref> '''State Route&nbsp;15''' was signed in 1934 along the section of LR&nbsp;167 from [[Pacific Coast Highway (California)|Pacific Coast Highway]] ([[State Route 3 (California 1934)|SR&nbsp;3]], later [[U.S. Route 101 Alternate (Los Angeles, California)|U.S. Route&nbsp;101 Alternate]], now [[State Route 1 (California)|SR&nbsp;1]]) in Long Beach north to [[Garvey Avenue]] ([[U.S. Route 99 (California)|U.S. Route&nbsp;99]] (US&nbsp;99), replaced by [[Interstate 10 (California)|I-10]]) in Monterey Park. The original pre-freeway alignment ran along Los Robles Avenue (Pasadena) and [[Atlantic Boulevard (Los Angeles County)|Atlantic Boulevard]].<ref name="cah 710"/><ref>[http://members.cox.net/mkpl2/hist/droz-laca42.jpg 1942 Gousha Los Angeles map] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060424144455/http://members.cox.net/mkpl2/hist/droz-laca42.jpg |date=April 24, 2006 }}</ref> The freeway replacement of SR&nbsp;15/LR&nbsp;167 was built from 1953 to 1965.<ref name="bridgelog" /> The whole route of LR&nbsp;167, including the proposed extensions west to [[San Pedro (CA)|San Pedro]] and north to [[Pasadena (CA)|Pasadena]], was renumbered '''State Route&nbsp;7''' in 1964, after it was decommissioned from portions of [[Interstate 405 (California)|the San Diego Freeway]] (which is now [[Interstate 405 (California)|I-405]]) as part of the state highway renumbering, as the number&nbsp;15 conflicted with [[Interstate 15 (California)|I-15]] (Ironically, SR&nbsp;15 still exists from I-8 to I-5 in San Diego). In 1965, the route was truncated to [[State Route 1 (California)|SR&nbsp;1]] in Long Beach; the part from SR&nbsp;1 south and west to [[State Route 47 (California)|SR&nbsp;47]] was deleted, and the rest from SR&nbsp;47 west to [[State Route 11 (California 1934)|SR&nbsp;11]] (now [[Interstate 110 (California)|I-110]]) became part of SR&nbsp;47.
===1964–present===
The Long Beach Freeway was approved as a non-chargeable Interstate in September&nbsp;1983 by the FHWA, and on May&nbsp;30, 1984, AASHTO approved the SR&nbsp;7 designations to be renumbered to '''Interstate&nbsp;710'''. In October&nbsp;1984, the FHWA approved an additional {{Convert|1.6|mi|km|adj=on}} extension from CA&nbsp;1 to Ocean Boulevard.<ref name="cah 7">{{cite web|url=http://cahighways.org/001-008.html#007 |title=California Highways: State Route 7 |publisher=Cahighways.org |access-date=January 26, 2013}}</ref> The short stub in Pasadena was built in 1975, along with the adjacent sections of [[Interstate 210 (California)|I-210]] and [[State Route 134 (California)|SR&nbsp;134]].<ref name="bridgelog" /> There are still remaining overhead street signs pointing motorists to SR&nbsp;7 on Ford Boulevard at its intersection with Floral Drive in [[Monterey Park, CA|Monterey Park]]. These are the last known signs to date.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@34.044235,-118.1692092,3a,73.1y,272.85h,99.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2SxA3aZAk-NZtGSxvEdAgQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|title=Google Street View of Floral Drive & Ford Boulevard in East Los Angeles, CA of an old overhead sign on a traffic light showing former SR 7|access-date=July 17, 2016}}</ref>
The existing freeway from SR&nbsp;1 south to Ocean Boulevard was taken over by the state on August&nbsp;25, 2000, in a trade with the City of Long Beach for former [[State Route 103 (California)|SR&nbsp;103]] north of SR&nbsp;1.<ref>[[Caltrans]] - [http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/aboutdist7/pubs/00achieve/2000%20Achievements.pdf District 7: A Closer Look At 2000 Achievements] ([[PDF]]) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051228101334/http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/aboutdist7/pubs/00achieve/2000%20Achievements.pdf |date=December 28, 2005 }}</ref> In 2013, Caltrans adopted the remainder of the Seaside Freeway from Ocean Boulevard to [[California State Route 47|SR&nbsp;47]] over the [[Gerald Desmond Bridge (1968–2020)|Gerald Desmond Bridge]] as part of Route&nbsp;710. Caltrans and the Port of Long Beach completed the replacement for the old Gerald Desmond Bridge in October&nbsp;2020; it was named the [[Long Beach International Gateway Bridge]] in May&nbsp;2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newgdbridge.com|title=Gerald Desmond Bridge - Home|access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref><ref name=LongBechIntlGatewayBr>
{{cite news
| author       =<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.-->
| title        =New Port Bridge Gets A Name: Long Beach International Gateway
| url          =https://kfiam640.iheart.com/content/2021-05-24-new-port-bridge-gets-a-name-long-beach-international-gateway/
| work         =City News Service
| location     =Long Beach
| date         =May 24, 2021
| access-date  =June 30, 2021
}}</ref>
==Future==
===I-710 corridor project===
The significant growth of cargo volumes handled at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach has added a large amount of truck traffic to the Long Beach Freeway, since it is the most direct route between the port complex and the railyards in [[Vernon, California|Vernon]] and [[East Los Angeles, California|East Los Angeles]], as well as the [[Pomona Freeway|Pomona]] and [[San Bernardino Freeway|San Bernardino]] freeways that connect Los Angeles to railyards in [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]] and [[Colton, California|Colton]]. The freeway's pavement has been badly damaged as a result since it was not designed to carry nearly as large of a load of truck traffic. It has also become a major source of [[air pollution]], emanating from [[Diesel fuel|diesel]]-fueled trucks idling in rush-hour [[traffic congestion]] and giving cities along its route some of the worst air quality in already [[smog]]gy Southern California.<ref>[http://laforum.org/forum_issue_0/the_life_and_death_of_great_american_freeways_the_710_case_study The Life and Death of Great American Freeways: The 710 Case Study] by John Dutton {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060517025738/http://laforum.org/forum_issue_0/the_life_and_death_of_great_american_freeways_the_710_case_study |date=May 17, 2006 }}</ref> In response, as of 2011 an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report is being conducted to analyze possible significant improvements to I-710 between the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and the Pomona Freeway (SR&nbsp;60).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.metro.net/projects/i-710-corridor-project/ | title=I-710 Corridor Project Overview | publisher=Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority | access-date=July 16, 2011 | archive-date=March 8, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308052952/http://www.metro.net/projects/i-710-corridor-project/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
In March&nbsp;2018, Caltrans considered plans to expand I-710, which would have entailed adding lanes for trucks and demolishing homes. However, this would have exacerbated the problem of air pollution around the freeway, by enabling more diesel-power trucks to travel on it. The area around the freeway is already described as a "diesel death zone" due to the pollution.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Laura |date=2018-03-01 |title=710 Freeway is a 'diesel death zone' to neighbors — can vital commerce route be fixed?|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-710-freeway-expansion-20180301-story.html |access-date=2020-12-03|website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> These plans were indefinitely shelved due to public opposition.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-03-12 |title=Widen the Freeway? This Time, L.A. Says No. |language=en |publisher=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-12/why-l-a-s-710-freeway-won-t-get-wider-after-all |access-date=2020-12-03}}</ref>
Another potential solution to the problem is shifting freight to the [[Alameda Corridor]]. This is a freight railroad that runs parallel to I-710. Right now, 33% of freight moving to and from the Port of L.A. goes by rail.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-23|title=Is the Alameda Corridor in Trouble?|url=https://www.railwayage.com/intermodal/is-the-alameda-corridor-in-trouble/ |access-date=2020-12-11 |website=Railway Age |language=en-US}}</ref>
===The South Pasadena gap===
[[File:Interstate 710 Pasadena Gap.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Southern onramp,<ref>{{cite web |title=34°08'24.2"N, 118°09'16.2"W, CA-710, Pasadena, California |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/34%C2%B008'24.2%22N+118%C2%B009'16.2%22W/@34.140235,-118.1545419,17z/ |website=Google Maps |access-date=7 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref> I-710 northern stub, near downtown [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]]. Note dormant construction equipment lining the median, and the [[Gantry (road sign)|road sign structures]] installed on the overpass without any signs posted.]]
====Overview====
The planned segment from [[Alhambra, California|Alhambra]] to [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] through [[South Pasadena, California|South Pasadena]] has been subject to legal battles which have stopped construction.<ref name=LATimesSouthPasTunnelMayAdvance>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-mar-22-me-tunnel22-story.html |title=South Pasadena tunnel plan may advance |access-date=December 18, 2011 |date=March 22, 2007 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Because of these legal disputes, the freeway's northern terminus has been [[Valley Boulevard]] since the 1960s. However, a short unsigned freeway does exist in [[Pasadena (CA)|Pasadena]], heading south from the [[interchange (road)|interchange]] of [[Interstate 210 (California)|I-210]] and [[State Route 134 (California)|SR&nbsp;134]] to California Boulevard.<ref>{{cite web |title=3201 W Valley Blvd to Pasadena Avenue & West California Boulevard |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/3201+W+Valley+Blvd,+Alhambra,+CA+91803/W+California+Blvd+%26+S+Pasadena+Ave,+Pasadena,+CA+91105/@34.0947533,-118.2207704,13z/am=t/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c2c5a7740ce197:0x103f98c17946d84f!2m2!1d-118.160267!2d34.0756564!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c2c37eb068a44b:0xf4e7bf453d0d8d64!2m2!1d-118.1541227!2d34.1357727!3e0 |website=Google Maps |access-date=7 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
As a result of the route's incomplete condition, freeway signs are inconsistent in their identification of the northbound Long Beach Freeway's destination, with some indicating Pasadena as a [[control city]] and others identifying Valley Boulevard as the freeway's terminus. For example, approaching I-710 from [[State Route 60 (California)|SR&nbsp;60]] ([[Pomona Freeway]]) in [[East Los Angeles, California|East Los Angeles]], westbound traffic is given Valley Boulevard as the destination for northbound I-710, while eastbound traffic is given a destination of Pasadena. Signs at the interchange with [[Interstate 105 (California)|I-105]], [[State Route 91 (California)| SR 91]], and [[Interstate 405 (California)|I-405]] show Pasadena as the destination for northbound I-710.
Currently, traffic headed for Pasadena on I-710 is redirected to [[Interstate 10 (California)|I-10]] ([[San Bernardino Freeway]]) eastbound by signs at the interchange between the two routes in [[Monterey Park (CA)|Monterey Park]]. These signs identify both Pasadena and [[San Bernardino (CA)|San Bernardino]] as control cities for the eastbound San Bernardino Freeway, although it does not actually pass through Pasadena. Rather, traffic to the city is directed to take [[California State Route 19|SR&nbsp;19]] (Rosemead Boulevard) northbound from its junction with I-10 (about {{convert|6|mi|km}} east of the Long Beach Freeway) to reach Pasadena.  Traffic from northbound I-710 is routed onto Fremont Avenue in Alhambra and South Pasadena, and the [[Pasadena Freeway]] ([[California State Route 110|SR&nbsp;110]]).
The areas around I-710, northeastern Los Angeles and the northwestern [[San Gabriel Valley]] are subject to [[traffic congestion]]. There are no completed north&ndash;south freeways in the {{Convert|12|mi|km|adj=on}} area between [[Interstate 5 (California)|I-5]] ([[Golden State Freeway]]) and [[Interstate 605 (California)|I-605]] ([[San Gabriel River Freeway]]). Pro– and anti–I-710 lobbies have debated whether finishing I-710 would alleviate any of the San Gabriel Valley's traffic congestion, or merely displace it from surface streets to the freeway.
====2009–2012 corridor studies====
Caltrans and its local partner, the [[Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] (Metro), researched the possibility of extending the Long Beach Freeway from [[Valley Boulevard]] to Pasadena by building a bored tunnel under Alhambra, El Sereno, and South Pasadena. The premise was that a tunnel would allow Caltrans to extend the freeway without disturbing the [[residential]] neighborhoods on the surface, similar to other tunnels throughout the world.<ref name="LATimesSouthPasTunnelMayAdvance"/> The proposed twin {{Convert|4.5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} tunnels would have been the longest in the United States, but were small compared with [[List of long tunnels by type#Road|others around the world]]. Between January and May&nbsp;2009, Caltrans conducted soil samples for the tunneling project in the Pasadena area and completed a combined environmental impact statement (EIS) and environmental impact report (EIR), in which the tunnel was one option.<ref>{{cite web | title=Metro: SR 710 Conversations Notices and Meeting Materials | url=http://www.metro.net/projects/sr-710-conversations/sr710-scoping/ }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In August&nbsp;2012, Metro narrowed down the list of potential alternatives to study in the EIR/EIS process. The alternatives included: (1) a no-build alternative, where no additional infrastructure would be built to address the gap in the freeway plan between Valley Boulevard and I-210; (2) a roadway tunnel without exits to connect the northern terminus of the freeway at Valley Boulevard to Pasadena; (3) a light rail line connecting [[East Los Angeles, California|East L.A.]] with Pasadena using a route that travels along the I-710 right of way until Valley Boulevard where it would become a subway until connecting with the [[L Line (Los Angeles Metro)|Metro Gold Line]] at the Fillmore Metro station in Pasadena; (4) a bus rapid transit line from Montebello to Pasadena; and (5) [[Transportation Systems Management|Transportation System Management]]/Transportation Demand Management (TSM/TDM).<ref>{{cite web | title=Metro: An Important Announcement Regarding the SR 710 Study | url=http://www.metro.net/projects_studies/sr_710/images/SR710_Announcement_Aug_2012.pdf }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Maps of the alternative routes for the roadway tunnel, light rail, and bus rapid transit alternatives |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/103847884/710-Freeway-Extension}}</ref>
====Termination====
In February&nbsp;2017, California Assemblyman [[Chris Holden]] (D-Pasadena) sponsored a bill to block the completion of the I-710/I-210 gap by tunnel or other means, and his position was supported by South Pasadena and Pasadena.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://la.curbed.com/2017/2/10/14580430/new-state-bill-would-block-a-710-freeway-tunnel.|title = New state bill would block a 710 Freeway tunnel|date = February 10, 2017}}</ref> This unanimously led to a decision by the Los Angeles Metro authorities in May to completely defund the completion of the I-710 freeway gap between the northernmost terminus at Valley Blvd in Alhambra, to the I-210 interchange in Pasadena.
The $780&nbsp;million allocated through Measure R for the intended project of closing of the gap will now be allocated to improvement of certain local surface street projects, improved traffic signal synchronizations, and other "mobility improvement projects".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://la.curbed.com/2017/5/25/15692892/710-freeway-tunnel-dead-metro-board-vote|title=Metro board squashes 710 freeway tunnel|first=Elijah|last=Chiland|date=May 25, 2017|website=Curbed LA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-ol-le-710-freeway-tunnel-20170525-story.html|title=Opinion: Don't let NIMBYs prevent construction of the 710 tunnel|date=May 25, 2017|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2017/05/26/57028/what-the-death-of-the-710-freeway-extension-means/|title=End of an era: Why new freeways are history|first=Southern California Public|last=Radio|date=May 26, 2017|website=Southern California Public Radio}}</ref> Holden, along with State Senator [[Anthony Portantino]] introduced similar legislation, Assembly Bill&nbsp;29 and Senate Bill&nbsp;7 respectively, to officially delete this segment of Route&nbsp;710 from the highway grid. Signed by governor [[Gavin Newsom]] in October&nbsp;2019, they will take effect on January&nbsp;1, 2024. Among others, the new laws authorize the maintenance of the existing portion of Route&nbsp;710 between California Boulevard and the I-210/SR&nbsp;134 interchange to be transferred to the City of Pasadena, and remove that segment from the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]].<ref name="southpasadenareview">{{cite news|title=Newsom's Pen Puts 'Final Nail' in 710 Plan|newspaper=South Pasadena Review|first=Kevin|last=Kenny|date=October 15, 2019|url=https://southpasadenareview.com/newsoms-pen-puts-final-nail-in-710-plan|access-date=October 20, 2019|archive-date=October 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021011824/https://southpasadenareview.com/newsoms-pen-puts-final-nail-in-710-plan/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=AB 29, Holden. State Highway Route 710.|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB29|website=California State Legislature |date=October 12, 2021|access-date=August 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SB-7 Surplus nonresidential property and State Highway Route 710. |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB7 |website=California State Legislature |date=October 12, 2021|access-date=August 3, 2021}}</ref>
==Exit list==
{{CAinttop|exit|county=Los Angeles|post_ref=<br><ref name=trucklist /><ref name=bridgelog>{{Caltrans bridgelog|date=July 2007}}</ref><ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/ All Traffic Volumes on CSHS], 2005 and 2006</ref>|exit_ref=<ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [[California Numbered Exit Uniform System]], [http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/seventennorth.pdf I-710 Northbound] and [http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/seventensouth.pdf I-710 Southbound], accessed February 2008</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Long Beach
|lspan=18
|postmile=none
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=CA|SR|47|dir1=south|city1=San Pedro}}
|notes=South end of I-710
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=CA|SR|47|dir1=north|to2=1|SR|103|dir2=north|location1=Piers A S-T}}
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=none
|exit=
|road=Pier T Avenue – Piers S T
|notes=Northbound entrance only; southbound exit is via the SR 47 north exit with access provided through a [[Texas U-turn]]<ref>{{cite news |title=California's first 'Texas U-turn' set to open this weekend as part of the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project |url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2019/07/17/californias-first-texas-u-turn-set-to-open-this-weekend-as-part-of-the-gerald-desmond-bridge-replacement-project/ |work=Long Beach Press-Telegram |date=2019-07-17 |access-date=2021-06-20}}</ref>}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|bridge=[[Long Beach International Gateway Bridge]]<ref name=LongBechIntlGatewayBr>
{{cite news
| author       =<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.-->
| title        =New Port Bridge Gets A Name: Long Beach International Gateway
| url          =https://kfiam640.iheart.com/content/2021-05-24-new-port-bridge-gets-a-name-long-beach-international-gateway/
| work         =City News Service
| location     =Long Beach
| date         =May 24, 2021
| access-date  =June 30, 2021
}}</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=none
|exit=
|road=Pico Avenue, [[Downtown Long Beach]], Piers A-J
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=4.96
|exit=
|road=[[Port of Long Beach]], Piers A-J
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=5.46
|exit=1A
|road=[[RMS Queen Mary|Queen Mary]] (Harbor Scenic Drive) – Piers F-J
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=5.98
|exit=1B
|road=Pico Avenue – Piers B-E
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=6.06
|exit=1C
|road=[[Downtown Long Beach]], [[Aquarium (Long Beach)|Aquarium]] (Long Beach Freeway, Shoreline Drive)
|notes=Southbound left exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=6.38
|exit=1D
|road=Anaheim Street
|notes=Signed as exit 1 northbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=6.88
|exit=2
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|1|name1=[[Pacific Coast Highway (California)|Pacific Coast Highway]]|city1=Huntington Beach|city2=Santa Monica}}
|notes=Former US 101 Alternate / [[U.S. Route 6 in California|US 6]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=7.89
|exit=3
|road=Willow Street
|notes=Signed as exits 3A (east) and 3B (west)
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=9.07
|exit=4
|road=Wardlow Road
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=9.41
|exit=4
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|405|name1=[[Interstate 405 (California)|San Diego Freeway]]|city1=San Diego|city2=Santa Monica}}
|notes=Former [[California State Route 7 (1934–1964)|SR 7]]; I-405 north exits 32A-B; south exits 32B-C
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=10.82
|exit=6
|road=Del Amo Boulevard
|notes=Signed as exits 6A (east) and 6B (west) northbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=12.01
|exit=7
|road=[[Long Beach Boulevard (California)|Long Beach Boulevard]]
|notes=Signed as exits 7A (south) and 7B (north) southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=12.89
|exit=8A
|road=[[Artesia Boulevard]]
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=12.97
|exit=8
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|91|name1=[[Artesia Freeway]], [[Gardena Freeway]]|city1=Riverside|city2=Redondo Beach}}
|notes=Signed as exits 8A (east) and 8B (west) northbound and the opposite southbound; SR 91 east exits 12A-B, west exit 12A
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Compton
|postmile=13.95
|exit=9
|road=Alondra Boulevard
|notes=Signed as exits 9A (east) and 9B (west) southbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Paramount
|postmile=R14.98
|exit=10
|road=[[Rosecrans Avenue]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Lynwood
|lspan=2
|postmile=R15.69
|exit=11A
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|105|name1=[[Century Freeway]]|city1=Norwalk|city2=El Segundo}}
|notes=Signed as exits 11A (east) and 11B (west) northbound; I-105 exit 13
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=none
|exit=11B
|road=Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
|notes=Southbound exit and entrance; formerly [[Century Boulevard]]<ref name="Lynwood">{{cite news |title=Lynwood Centennial Celebrates Black History Month Original Text |url=https://patch.com/california/southgate-lynwood/lynwood-centennial-celebrates-black-history-month-original-text |work=City of Lynwood |via=patch.com |date=2021-02-16 |access-date=2021-06-20}}</ref>
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=South Gate
|lspan=2
|postmile=16.99
|exit=12
|road=[[Imperial Highway]] – [[Lynwood, California|Lynwood]]
|notes=Signed as exits 12A (east) and 12B (west) southbound; Former [[California State Route 90|SR 90]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=18.44
|exit=13
|road=[[Firestone Boulevard]]
|notes=Former [[California State Route 42|SR 42]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Bell
|postmile=19.73
|exit=15
|road=[[Florence Avenue]]
|notes=
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Bell
|location2=Vernon
|postmile=21.92
|exit=17A
|road=[[Atlantic Boulevard (Los Angeles County)|Atlantic Boulevard]], Bandini Boulevard
|notes=Signed as exits 17A (north/east) and 17B (south/west) northbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Commerce
|lspan=3
|postmile=22.45
|exit=17B
|road=[[Washington Boulevard (Los Angeles)|Washington Boulevard]]
|notes=Signed as exit 17C northbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=23.28
|exit=18A
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|5|dir1=north|city1=Los Angeles|name1=[[Santa Ana Freeway]]}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; I-5 south exit 130B
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=23.28
|exit=18
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|5|dir1=south|city1=Santa Ana|name1=[[Santa Ana Freeway]]}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; I-5 north exit 130C
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=East Los Angeles
|lspan=4
|postmile=23.77
|exit=19
|road=[[Whittier Boulevard]], [[Olympic Boulevard (Los Angeles)|Olympic Boulevard]]
|notes=Signed as exit 18B northbound; Whittier Boulevard is former [[U.S. Route 101 in California|US 101]] / [[California State Route 72|SR 72]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=24.47
|exit=20A
|road=3rd Street
|notes=Signed as exit 20B northbound
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=24.63
|exit=20B
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|60|name1=[[Pomona Freeway]]|city1=Pomona|city2=Los Angeles}}
|notes=Signed as exit 20A northbound; SR 60 exit 3B
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=24.97
|exit=20C
|road=[[Cesar Chavez Avenue]]
|notes=Formerly Brooklyn Avenue
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|location=Monterey Park
|postmile=26.38
|exit=21
|road=[[Ramona Boulevard]]
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance; former [[U.S. Route 99|US 99]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Monterey Park
|location2=Alhambra
|lspan=2
|postmile=26.50
|pmspan=2
|exit=22
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|10|name1=[[San Bernardino Freeway]]|city1=Los Angeles|city2=San Bernardino|city3=Pasadena}}
|notes=Signed as exits 22A (west) and 22B (east) southbound; I-10 exit 21
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=none
|exit=—
|road=[[El Monte Busway]] west
|notes=Buses only; southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|location1=Alhambra
|location2=Los Angeles
|postmile=T27.48
|exit=23
|road=[[Valley Boulevard]]
|notes=[[At-grade intersection]]; former [[California State Route 60|US 60]]; north end of I-710
}}
{{jctgap}}
{{CAint|exit
|location=Pasadena
|lspan=7
|postmile=T30.95
|exit=
|road=Columbia Street
|notes=[[At-grade intersection]]; south end of unsigned SR 710
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=T31.76
|exit=
|road=California Boulevard
|notes=[[At-grade intersection]]
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=none
|place=South end of freeway
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=T32.11
|exit=
|road=Del Mar Boulevard
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=incomplete
|postmile=T32.45
|exit=
|road=[[Colorado Boulevard]] – [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]]
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; former [[U.S. Route 66 Alternate (Los Angeles, California)|US 66 Alt.]] / SR 11
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R32.72
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|134|dir1=west|name1=[[Ventura Freeway]]|city1=Ventura}}
|notes=SR 134 exit 13B; northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint|exit
|postmile=R32.72
|exit=
|road={{Jct|state=CA|I|210|name1=[[Foothill Freeway]]|city1=San Fernando|city2=San Bernardino}}
|notes=I-210 exit 25A eastbound; northbound exit and southbound entrance; north end of unsigned SR 710
}}
{{jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete}}
===South Harbor Scenic Drive spur (exit 1A)===
{{CAinttop|county=Los Angeles|location=Long Beach}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=[[RMS Queen Mary|Queen Mary]]
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=Harbor Scenic Drive, Harbor Plaza – Piers H-J
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=Harbor Plaza – [[Port of Long Beach]], Piers F-G
|notes=Southbound exit only
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=[[Downtown Long Beach]] ([[Queensway Bridge]])
|notes=Northbound exit and entrance
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=Queensway Drive
|notes=Northbound exit and entrance
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=Pico Avenue – Piers F-G
|notes=No northbound exit
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=[[Downtown Long Beach]] (Ocean Boulevard)
|notes=Northbound exit only
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road={{jct|state=CA|I|710|dir1=north|name1=N. Harbor Scenic Drive|city1=Pasadena|nolink1=yes}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{jctbtm}}
===Shoreline Drive spur (exit 1C)===
{{CAinttop|county=Los Angeles|location=Long Beach}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=Pine Avenue (Shoreline Drive) – [[Convention Center (Long Beach)|Convention Center]], [[Shoreline Village]]
|notes=Continuation beyond Queensway Bridge
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=[[RMS Queen Mary|Queen Mary]], Events Park, Cruise Ships ([[Queensway Bridge]])
|notes=[[At-grade intersection]]
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=Golden Shore, Catalina Landing
|notes=Southbound exit and entrance
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=Ocean Boulevard
|notes=Northbound exit and entrance
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=Shoreline Drive
|notes=Northbound U-turn
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=Pine Avenue, Broadway – [[Long Beach Civic Center]]
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=6th Street east – [[Downtown Long Beach]]
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road=9th Street, Anaheim Street – [[Port of Long Beach]]
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{CAint
|mile=
|road={{jct|state=CA|I|710|dir1=north|name1=Long Beach Freeway|city1=Pasadena|nolink1=yes}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance
}}
{{jctbtm}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Interstate 710 (California)}}
{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}
{{CASR external links|I|710}}
*[http://www.no710.com/ No 710 Action Committee]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160212102023/http://www.fixtraffic.org/ Friends of Southern California's Highways]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060517025738/http://laforum.org/forum_issue_0/the_life_and_death_of_great_american_freeways_the_710_case_study The Life and Death of Great American Freeways: The 710 Case Study] by John Dutton
*[http://www.socalregion.com/highways/la_highways/route_710_freeway_stub_ends/ Long Beach Freeway Gap and Stubs]
*[http://www.aaroads.com/california/i-710_ca.html AARoads: Interstate 710]
*[http://www.cahighways.org/466-740.html#710 California Highways - Interstate 710]
{{3di|10}}
{{portal bar|California Roads|Greater Los Angeles}}
[[Category:Interstate Highways in California|10-7]]
[[Category:Roads in Los Angeles County, California|Interstate 710]]
[[Category:Transportation in Long Beach, California|Interstate 710]]
[[Category:Southern California freeways|710]]
[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways|10-7]]
[[Category:Interstate 10|7]]
[[Category:Unfinished buildings and structures in the United States]]
[[Category:Alhambra, California]]
[[Category:El Sereno, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:State highways in California|710]]