Laurel Canyon Boulevard

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Laurel Canyon Boulevard is a major street in the city of Los Angeles, California. It starts off at Polk Street in Sylmar in the northern San Fernando Valley near the junction of the San Diego (Interstate 405) and the Golden State Freeways (Interstate 5). Laurel Canyon bypasses the city of San Fernando to the west, running parallel to I-5 in the vicinity of Pacoima and Arleta. The portion through Sun Valley passes through rock quarries and a great deal of open space.

From the intersection with Webb Avenue, Laurel Canyon heads due south, cutting through North Hollywood, closely following the Hollywood Freeway (CA-170). Laurel Canyon passes through the Valley Village neighborhood, one mile west of the Hollywood Split (the intersection of the Hollywood (US 101/CA-170) and Ventura Freeways (US 101/CA-134) . This would have been the start of the proposed Laurel Canyon Freeway, which would have provided a direct freeway connection from the southeastern San Fernando Valley to the Los Angeles International Airport. The proposed route was along the current routing of Laurel Canyon Blvd, but the emergence of the Laurel Canyon neighborhood as a movie star enclave doomed the project, as did local opposition.

Laurel Canyon itself found counterculture fame in the 1960s as home to many of L.A.'s top rock musicians, such as Frank Zappa. The bohemian spirit endures. Every year, residents gather for a group photograph at the country market.

Laurel Canyon Boulevard crosses the LACMTA Orange Line, at which point there is a station named Laurel Canyon.

South of Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, Laurel Canyon ascends the Santa Monica Mountains, where it maintains a width of four lanes until the intersection of Mulholland Drive. The road climbs up Lookout Mountain before descending into West Hollywood, passing through Hollywood Boulevard. Laurel Canyon Blvd's southern terminus is at Sunset Boulevard, where it becomes Crescent Heights Boulevard.

Laurel Canyon Blvd and Coldwater Canyon Blvd to the west between the southern San Fernando Valley and West Hollywood are also popular alternate routes to the Hollywood Freeway (US 101) during rush hour.

[edit] See also

• Laurel Canyon
• Laurel Canyon Freeway