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Numbering of Freeway Lanes in California

Freeway lane numbers illustrated on 101 Freeway through Downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Felicia Aparicio.


Caltrans numbers each freeway lane from left to right. The “fast” or “passing” lane is the number 1 lane. The “slow” lane (closest to freeway entrance/exits) is numbered according to the total number of lanes (anywhere from 2 to 6 in Los Angeles County).