Give me a shortcut to bypass the three lanes congested part of the 5 north freeway around Artesia (Long Beach: home)

[jackie100]

Anyone know any shortcuts...

Ragnakar posted this short cut but it didn't work for me. I didn't know if I should make a LEFT or RIGHT after exiting Artesia... I didn't see Auto Center Dr anywhere... I saw Knott though and got back on the fwy and I'm dumb and went on the 5 S instead of N so I actually backtracked!!!! Know of a good shortcut??

Originally Posted by ragnarkar
DO NOT take 405 to LA from OC, at least until the Long Beach CA-22 bridge is complete.. the traffic there is horrendous.

Here's a little shortcut I've found to bypass part of the 3-lane segment of I-5..

Heading northbound I-5...

Exit Artesia Blvd..
Go straight on Auto Center Dr.
Turn right onto Trojan.
Turn left onto Alondra, keep right or in the middle lane.
Turn right onto Freeway Dr right before the I-5 overpass.
When you pass Bloomfield Ave, take the ramp back onto I-5. This puts you close to the I-605 interchange.

This is helpful esp if you need to take 605 north since you'll only need to deal with congestion on the I-5 for only 3 miles on the 3-lane segment.

[BirchBarlow]

I-5 N to US-101 N - Google Maps

[harhar]

It's Firestone and NOT Auto Center Dr... That was the only mistake. You need to go STRAIGHT past the light at Artesia off the ramp. This is the quickest shortcut because for the most part you are running parallel to the freeway.

However I've lived in this area my whole life and really the only thing to do if you're going through this area, especially if it's on Fridays is to wait it out and leave later.

I commuted from Anaheim to Los Feliz for over 2 years but was in this area around 3:30-4:00pm. Most days were tolerable but for Fridays I stayed with family (right off Valley View) until 6:30-7:00.

I don't know where you're coming from or going to, but I've also taken the, 91 to 605 to the 5, 91 to the 710 to the 5, or the 91 to 110 to the 5.

I've only taken the aforementioned shortcut a few times, but ultimately decided that it wasn't worth the few minutes I'd save.

[jackie100]

Originally Posted by harhar

It's Firestone and NOT Auto Center Dr... That was the only mistake. You need to go STRAIGHT past the light at Artesia off the ramp. This is the quickest shortcut because for the most part you are running parallel to the freeway.

However I've lived in this area my whole life and really the only thing to do if you're going through this area, especially if it's on Fridays is to wait it out and leave later.

I commuted from Anaheim to Los Feliz for over 2 years but was in this area around 3:30-4:00pm. Most days were tolerable but for Fridays I stayed with family (right off Valley View) until 6:30-7:00.

I don't know where you're coming from or going to, but I've also taken the, 91 to 605 to the 5, 91 to the 710 to the 5, or the 91 to 110 to the 5.

I've only taken the aforementioned shortcut a few times, but ultimately decided that it wasn't worth the few minutes I'd save.

Coming from Lake Forest.... lol

Do you think it's possible to come from Lake Forest (or Irvine) and make it to the La Brea exit on the 10W at 7:30 PM if I leave at 4:00 PM? Or should I leave at 4:00 PM??? Just give me an estimate of what you think... This will be on weekdays like Monday-Thurs btw.

thank you Birchlaw, I will look into that short cut. It seems so complicated though, so many twists and turns. Im scared I will get lost.

Harharh, what's the best route if I'm coming from South OC and need to get to the 10W?

[harhar]

I also used to take off Crenshaw off the 10 (1 or two exits before La Brea) and it'd take me about 40 min from Anaheim to get there. Traffic at that time on the 10 isn't that bad.

The longest it ever took me to get home was 2h30min. But usually it'd take about 1h - 1h15m.

Coming from Irvine I'd say add another 20-30mins.

I'd leave around 4:45 and that should give you time to find parking and all that.

[Fontucky]

I can't think of a worse candidate for taking circuitous shortcuts than jackie100.

[jackie100]

Originally Posted by harhar

I also used to take off Crenshaw off the 10 (1 or two exits before La Brea) and it'd take me about 40 min from Anaheim to get there. Traffic at that time on the 10 isn't that bad.

The longest it ever took me to get home was 2h30min. But usually it'd take about 1h - 1h15m.

Coming from Irvine I'd say add another 20-30mins.

I'd leave around 4:45 and that should give you time to find parking and all that.

When I go from Lake Forest to La Brea on the 10W on Saturday mornings generally takes me an hour and a half when I start driving around 11:30 AM and that's arriving just in a nick of time. I imagine on weekdays it will be 10x worse!! I'm amazed that L.A has traffic jams on the 5 on late Saturday mornings. OC traffic is much better in general.

It seems like it takes forever just to get around Anaheim from Lake Forest on the 5....

[BRinSM]

the 5 freeway between the 91 and downtown LA should be avoided at all costs no matter the time of day or direction you are headed. i've sat in bumper to bumper traffic at 5am as well as 10pm on that stretch of freeway