Centinela Avenue is a major thoroughfare in
Culver City,
Inglewood,
Ladera Heights,
Mar Vista,
Santa Monica, and
West Los Angeles. It is named after the 19th century
Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela, whose site of former ranchlands it passes through. Bundy Drive is named for
Tom Bundy, tennis player and developer of the
Miracle Mile.
Route The street runs primarily north–south, with a southern east–west section. Centinela Avenue is not a continuous street but is separated into northern and southern sections, with a jog connected by Ocean Park Boulevard.
Northern section The northern section of Centinela Avenue is a minor two lane street. It begins near the Brentwood Country Club in
Brentwood, Los Angeles. It proceeds south, ending at Ocean Park Boulevard and the
Santa Monica Airport, a block west of the southern section of Centinela Avenue. It is the official dividing line between the cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles. This section of Centinela has two discontinuities. Going north, staying on Centinela requires a half-block jog west at
Olympic Boulevard, and another half-block jog northeast at
Wilshire Boulevard.
Southern section The southern section of Centinela Avenue is a four-lane major thoroughfare. It starts off as Bundy Drive at
Sunset Boulevard in Brentwood, passing through
West Los Angeles to the
Santa Monica Airport, where at Stanwood Drive its name changes to Centinela Avenue. Centinela crosses and offers entry points to the following bike paths:
Expo Bike Path (see
Expo/Bundy station),
Culver Boulevard Median Bike Path and
Ballona Creek Bike Path. At its intersection with
Jefferson Boulevard, Centinela Avenue angles southeastward to become an east–west street. It runs parallel to/on the south of
Slauson Avenue. Centinela Avenue ends at the intersection with
Florence Avenue in
Inglewood.
Centinela Park and
Centinela Hospital Medical Center are located within here. ==History==