County Route G21 (California)

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County Route G21

Capitol Expressway
Maintained by Santa Clara County Expressway System

Length:

9.5 mi (15 km)

Formed:

1978

West end:

CR G8

Major
junctions:

SR 87

US 101

East end:

I-680

State highways in California (list - pre-1964)
County routes in California (list)
History - Unconstructed - Deleted - Freeway - Scenic

Santa Clara County Route G21, more commonly known as Capitol Expressway for the majority of its length is a 9.5 mile (15 km) long east-west expressway completely in San Jose, California, USA along the eastern side of the Silicon Valley. Capitol Expressway is part of the Santa Clara County Expressway System.

1 Route summary
2 History and legislative status
3 Landmarks and points of interest
4 Major cities
5 See also

[edit] Route summary

G21 begins as Capitol Expressway Auto Mall in the west at its separated grade junction with Almaden Expressway as a continuation of Hillsdale Avenue. It travels east along Capitol Expressway Auto Mall as an unsigned city maintained street until the road reaches State Route 87. Along this section Capitol Expressway is lined with many car dealerships with multiple driveways and turnoffs in addition to at grade crossings with smaller roads. At the interchange with SR 87 the road becomes Capitol Expressway and takes on a more traditional expressway appearance with limited turnoffs and most entrances being solely at large intersections.

Capitol Expressway continues south east to a junction with Highway 101 and then into East San Jose. In East San Jose Capitol Expressway intersects with I-680 and officially ends at Jackson Avenue, changing names into E. San Antonio Street.

A common misconception is that Capitol Expressway makes an abrupt turn to the northeast toward Alum Rock. This road is actually called Capitol Avenue and continues on towards Milpitas and serves as a major corridor through the North Valley. Capitol Avenue reaches its northern terminus in Milpitas at the intersection of Montague Expressway.

[edit] History and legislative status

Capitol Expressway was designated in 1978 from Almaden Expressway to US 101. Construction on the eastern portion from US 101 to I-680 was not completed until 1997.

In the late 1990s the portion of the Expressway from Almaden Expressway to SR 87 was transferred from Santa Clara County to the city of San Jose. The road was then renamed Capitol Expressway Auto Mall.

Capitol Expressway is currently unsigned from Almaden Expressway to SR 87 however it is signed east of SR 87.