Interstate 80 in California

This article is about the section of Interstate 80 in California. For the entire route, see Interstate 80.

Interstate 80 marker

Interstate 80
Route information
Defined by Streets and Highways Code § 380
Maintained by Caltrans
Length: 205.07 mi[1] (330.03 km)
History:
  • Created August 7, 1947 by FHWA[2]
  • June 26, 1956
  • Signed July 1, 1964 by Caltrans[3]
Restrictions: No flammable tank vehicles or explosives on the Bay Bridge[4]
Major junctions
West end: US 101 in San Francisco
 
East end: I80 at Nevada state line
Highway system
SR 79US 80

In the U.S. state of California, Interstate 80 (I-80), a major east–west route of the Interstate Highway System, has its western terminus (ending point) in San Francisco, California, United States. From there it heads east across the Bay Bridge to Oakland, where it turns north and crosses the Carquinez Bridge before turning back northeast through the Sacramento Valley. I-80 then goes northeast and east over the Sierra Nevada mountain range before crossing into the state of Nevada within the Truckee (River) Canyon. The speed limit is 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) instead of the state's maximum of 70 mph (110 km/h) since the road passes exclusively through urban and mountainous areas in California.

Interstate 80 has portions designated as the James Lick Freeway, Eastshore Freeway and Alan S. Hart Freeway.

Route description

I-80 is recognized as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and a Blue Star Memorial Highway for its entire length. It was part of the Lincoln Highway from Sacramento to Reno (except in vicinity of Donner Summit). I-80 is also known as the Kent D. Pursel Memorial Freeway from the Bay Bridge to the Alameda/Contra Costa County line, the Linus F. Claeys Freeway from SR 4 to the Carquinez Bridge, the Alan S. Hart Freeway from the Sacramento/Placer County line to the Nevada state line, and the Dutch Flat and Donner Lake Wagon Road from Emigrant Gap to Donner Lake (except in vicinity of Donner Summit).[5]

West end in San Francisco

The western terminus of Interstate 80 in San Francisco, viewed from northbound US 101.

According to the California State Highway system, I-80 begins at its intersection with U.S. Route 101 in San Francisco. However, the San Francisco Skyway (officially known to Caltrans as the Bayshore Viaduct), the elevated freeway that runs from this junction of the James Lick Freeway and the Central Freeway to the Western Approach of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge at 4th Street, may not be officially part of the Interstate Highway System, although it is consistently shown as I-80 on most maps of San Francisco. The Interstate designation is interpreted by some to actually beginning on the Bay Bridge approach itself, at the location of the Fremont Street off-ramp (previously known as the Terminal Separator Structure (TSS) that once connected it to the Embarcadero Freeway). Thus, the first 1.20 miles (1.93 km) of the signed Interstate may not be officially an actual Interstate, and is secretly defined as State Route 80.[6][7]

When I-80 was first approved, it was to begin at planned I-280 (CA 1) in Golden Gate Park, head east on the never-built Panhandle Freeway, then run south and southeast on the Central Freeway (US 101) to the San Francisco Skyway. A January 1968 amendment moved I-280 to its present alignment, removed Interstate 480, and truncated the origin point of I-80 to the Embarcadero Freeway (then I-280, formerly I-480).[2] These changes were made on the state level later that year, but Route 80 was only truncated to US 101. (The Central Freeway remained part of US 101, and the Panhandle Freeway became State Route 241. The Panhandle Freeway was later cancelled in the wake of the Freeway Revolts, and the State Route 241 designation has since been reassigned to an unrelated stretch of highway in Orange County) The San Francisco Skyway, which had already been signed as part of I-80, has remained a de facto section of Interstate 80 to the present day and remains listed as part of Interstate 80 in California.

Eastshore Freeway

The Eastshore Freeway is a segment of Interstates 80 and 580 along the northeast shoreline of San Francisco Bay in northern California. It begins at the Carquinez Bridge and ends at the MacArthur Maze interchange just east of the eastern end of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. Interstate 580 joins the Eastshore Freeway at an interchange known locally as "Hoffman Split" in Albany. The section of the Eastshore Freeway between the MacArthur Maze and the 580 (Hoffman) split in Albany is a wrong-way concurrency where the northbound direction is signed as I-80 East and I-580 West, while the southbound direction is signed as westbound I-80 and eastbound I-580.

Eastshore Freeway in Berkeley

The Eastshore Freeway was created in the mid 1950s (construction commenced in 1954) by re-engineering the Eastshore Highway, a thoroughfare constructed in the 1930s (1937–39) as one of the approaches to the Bay Bridge and designated as part of U.S. Route 40.[8] The Eastshore Highway began in El Cerrito at an intersection with San Pablo Avenue at Hill Street between Potrero Avenue and Cutting Blvd., adjacent to the location today of the El Cerrito Del Norte station of BART. It was not a freeway in that access was at intersections with adjoining streets rather than by ramps. The Eastshore Highway ran from El Cerrito to the Bay Bridge along the same routing as today's freeway, although it was much narrower. A causeway was constructed for this purpose by filling in part of the mudflats along the bayshore. In the stretch from University to Ashby Avenues in Berkeley, this resulted in the creation of an artificial lagoon which was developed by the Works Progress Administration in the late 1930s as "Aquatic Park".

The frontage road along the east side of today's Eastshore Freeway between Buchanan Street in Albany and Hearst Avenue in Berkeley retains the name "Eastshore Highway". The terminal segment of the old Eastshore Highway in El Cerrito between Potrero and San Pablo Avenues is today named "Eastshore Blvd.".

Originally, the name "Eastshore Freeway" was applied to what is today known as the "Nimitz Freeway" (I-880) upon its construction in 1947. This freeway was dedicated in 1958 to Admiral Nimitz, and so for a few years in the 1950s prior, the Eastshore Freeway stretched the entire length of the east shore of San Francisco Bay. (Caltrans still shows this in its current highway name book referenced below—see p.16, p.28 of PDF) Until the late 1960s, the Eastshore Freeway was also designated as part of State Highway 17 together with the Nimitz.

The Eastshore Freeway was officially renamed the "Kent D. Pursel Memorial Freeway"[5] in 1968, but it is hardly recognized as such by the public. The maps of the California State Automobile Association (CSAA), for instance, still show the name "Eastshore Freeway".

The interchange where I-580 joins I-80 is still known locally as the "Hoffman Split", an allusion to the time before the I-580 freeway replaced Hoffman Blvd. as the highway leading to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. The same interchange today also serves the Buchanan Street exit in Albany.

The section of the Eastshore Freeway between the MacArthur Maze and the 80/580 split suffers from severe traffic congestion during rush hour due to the merger of three freeways (Interstate 80, Interstate 580, and Interstate 880) at the MacArthur Maze.

Sacramento portion

Legislative Route 242 was defined in 1957, connecting pre-1964 Legislative Route 6 west of Sacramento to pre-1964 Legislative Route 3 northeast of Sacramento.[9] Interstate 880, a bypass of I-80, was approved along Legislative Route 242 by the American Association of State Highway Officials on November 10, 1958.[2] The Route 880 designation was adopted by the state in the 1964 renumbering; the bypass was completed in 1972.

Interstate 80 has run north of Sacramento on the Beltline Freeway which was originally Interstate 880, a bypass freeway. The I-80 routing alignment was moved from a route through Sacramento, now Interstate 80 Business, after the proposed Interstate 80 replacement of the North Sacramento Freeway was cancelled. The Beltline Freeway runs northeast from the junction of I-80 and I-80 Business (U.S. Route 50 there) in West Sacramento across Interstate 5 to its junction northeast of Sacramento with I-80 Business (which is State Route 51). State Route 244 heads east as a short freeway spur from that interchange.

Looking NE along I-80 in the Sierra Nevada from the Yuba Gap overpass 39°19′01″N 120°36′50″W / 39.317°N 120.614°W
Rest area at Donner Summit, Westbound. A matching rest area is located on the Eastbound side.

Sierra Nevada portion

Crossing the Sierra Nevada, I-80 regularly gets snow at higher elevations from fall to spring. Caltrans sometimes requires vehicles to use snow tires, snow chains or other traction devices in the mountains during and after snowstorms.[10] Checkpoints are often set up to enforce chain restrictions on vehicles bound for icy or snowy areas. When chain restrictions are in effect vehicles must have chains on the driving wheels, except 4WD vehicles with snow tires.[11] Additionally, during the winter season, trucks are required to carry chains whether or not controls are in force. When controls are in effect or possible, trucks are checked for chains in their possession at Applegate (eastbound) and Mogul, NV (westbound).

I-80 crosses the Sierra Nevada crest at Donner Summit (also known as Euer Saddle) at an elevation of 7,239 feet (2,206 m) westbound and 7,227 feet (2,203 m) eastbound.[12] The summit is located in Nevada County, California. The pass is generally open year-round; it is plowed in winter, but may temporarily close during the worst snowstorms. The older, original Lincoln Highway route (Historical US 40) over Donner Pass is about two miles (3 km) to the south; this highway was replaced as the official trans-Sierra route by I-80 in 1964. Although the current Donner Pass is lower, Euer Saddle was chosen for the interstate because of more gradual approaches.

Future

Portions of I-80 through the Sierra-Nevada mountain range are in rough condition. The concrete road surface is badly cracked and eroded due to severe weather that occurs in the area and a result of an outdated concrete paving system of the 1950s and 1960s where the concrete was poured in 40 foot sections, as compared to a monolithic pour, (as is used in today's road construction). All the older concrete highways across the nation also suffer from this. Work is underway to fix the driving lanes.[13]

Exit list

CountyLocationmi[1]kmExit[1]DestinationsNotes
City and County of San Francisco0.00–
0.91
0.00–
1.46
1 US 101 San Jose, Golden Gate BridgeWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; signed as exits 1A (south) and 1B (north); west end of I-80
1CNinth Street – San Francisco Civic CenterSigned as exit 433C on US 101 northbound
1Seventh StreetEastbound exit and westbound entrance
1.91–
2.02
3.07–
3.25
2AFifth StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
2BFourth Street, EmbarcaderoEastbound exit and westbound entrance
2CHarrison Street, EmbarcaderoWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; former Fremont Street exit
2DFremont Street, Folsom StreetWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; former Main Street / SR 480 exit; west end of I-80; east end of SR 80
San Francisco BaySan Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge (west span)
City and County of San Francisco4.186.734ATreasure Island, Yerba Buena IslandEastbound exit and westbound entrance only; westbound exit and eastbound entrance are via exit 4/4B
4BYerba Buena IslandSigned as exit 4 westbound; eastbound exit and westbound entrance currently closed due to construction of new eastern span and the removal of the old span
San Francisco Bay5.318.55San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge (east span)
AlamedaOakland7.8112.578AWest Grand Avenue, Maritime Street
8.1113.05 I880 south (Nimitz Freeway) Alameda, San JoseWestbound exit is part of exit 8B
8.1113.058B I580 east (MacArthur Freeway) to SR 24 – Downtown Oakland, Hayward, StocktonWest end of I-580 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Emeryville9.1014.659Powell Street EmeryvilleNo eastbound exit from I-880 north
Berkeley9.8915.9210 SR 13 (Ashby Avenue) / Shellmound StreetShellmound Street accessible eastbound only
11.1317.9111University Avenue BerkeleyServes UC Berkeley
11.9119.1712Gilman Street
Albany12.6120.2913ABuchanan Street AlbanySigned as exit 13 westbound
12.9120.7813B I580 west – Point Richmond, San RafaelEastbound exit and westbound entrance; east end of I-580 overlap
 Pierce StreetFormer eastbound exit and entrance; demolished as part of reconstruction of I-80 / I-580 interchange in Albany
Contra CostaRichmond13.5721.8414ACentral Avenue – El Cerrito
14.3523.0914BCarlson Boulevard
El Cerrito15.0224.1715Potrero AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance
Richmond SR 123 (Cutting Boulevard)Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
15.9725.7016AMacDonald AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance
16.3126.2516BSan Pablo Avenue, Barrett AvenueSigned as exit 16 westbound; Barrett Avenue formerly signed as Central Richmond
16.7626.9717Solano AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance
McBryde AvenueWestbound exit only
San Pablo17.6928.4718San Pablo Dam Road
 18.6029.9319AEl Portal Drive
Richmond19.3331.1119BHilltop Mall, Auto PlazaFormerly signed as Hilltop Drive
Pinole19.9532.1120 Richmond Parkway, Fitzgerald Drive to I-580 westUnconstructed SR 93
20.9533.7221Appian Way
21.8635.1822Pinole Valley Road
Hercules23.4137.6723 SR 4 east Hercules, StocktonNo westbound exit
Hercules
24.0438.6924Willow Avenue Rodeo
 26.1042.0026 Cummings Skyway to SR 4 east Martinez, Concord
 26.8443.1927Pomona Street Crockett, Port Costa
Carquinez Strait27.4944.24Carquinez Bridge
SolanoVallejo28.63–
28.79
46.08–
46.33
29A SR 29 (Sonoma Boulevard)Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
29AMaritime Academy DriveWestbound exit and entrance
29BSequoia AvenueEastbound exit only
29.2747.1129CMagazine StreetSigned as exit 29B westbound
29.7147.8130A I780 to I680 / Curtola Parkway Benicia, MartinezFormer I-680 south
29.9348.1730BFrontage Road (to Benicia Road)Eastbound exit only; former SR 141
30.3748.8830CGeorgia Street – Central VallejoSigned as exit 30B westbound
30.7249.4431ASprings Road, Solano Avenue
30.9849.8631BTennessee Street Mare Island
31.9251.3732Redwood Parkway, Redwood StreetSigned as exits 32A (east) and 32B (west) eastbound
33.1253.3033 SR 37 west / Auto Mall Columbus Parkway Napa, San Rafael, NovatoSigned as exits 33A (Auto Mall Columbus Parkway) and 33B (SR 37) westbound
 34.1254.91Hunter Hill Rest Area (Westbound only)
Napa
No major junctions
Solano 35.5957.2836American Canyon Road, Hiddenbrooke Parkway
Fairfield38.8862.5739ARed Top RoadSigned as exit 39 eastbound
39B SR 12 west Napa, SonomaWest end of SR 12 overlap; eastbound exit is via exit 39
40.34–
40.99
64.92–
65.97
40Green Valley RoadWestbound exit is part of exit 41
I680 south Benicia, Martinez, San JoseFormer SR 21
41Suisun Valley Road, Pittman Road
43.3269.7243 SR 12 east Suisun City, Rio VistaEast end of SR 12 overlap; westbound exit is via exit 43
43.6470.2344AAbernathy Road, Suisun ParkwaySigned as exit 43 westbound
44.2271.1744BWest Texas Street, Rockville Road FairfieldSigned as exit 44 westbound
45.4273.1045Travis Boulevard
46.6875.1247Waterman Boulevard, Air Base Parkway – Travis AFBSigned as exits 47A (Air Base Parkway) and 47B (Waterman Boulevard) westbound
48.3077.7348North Texas Street, Manuel Campos Parkway Fairfield
 50.6281.4651ALagoon Valley Road, Cherry Glen Road
Vacaville51.1682.3351BPeña Adobe Road
 52Cherry Glen RoadWestbound exit only
52.8184.9953Alamo Drive, Merchant Street
53.5186.1254ADavis Street
53.9786.8654BPeabody Road, Mason Street Elmira
54.7488.1055Monte Vista Avenue, Allison Drive, Nut Tree Parkway
55.8689.9056 I505 north Winters, Redding
57.2992.2057Leisure Town Road, Vaca Valley Parkway
58.8094.6359Meridian Road, Weber Road
 60.1296.7560Midway Road, Lewis Road
Dixon64.04103.0663Dixon Avenue, West A Street Dixon
64.38103.6164Pitt School Road
65.70105.7366A SR 113 south (First Street) / Currey Road DixonWest end of SR 113 overlap; signed as exit 66 eastbound
 66BMilk Farm RoadWestbound exit only
 67.22108.1867Pedrick Road (CR E7)
 68.74110.6369Kidwell Road
 70.16112.9170 SR 113 north (Vic Fazio Highway) WoodlandEast end of SR 113 overlap
 70.50113.4671UC Davis (Old Davis Road)
YoloDavis72.44116.5872Richards Boulevard – Downtown DavisSigned as exits 72A (south) and 72B (north) westbound
73.05117.5673Olive DriveWestbound exit only; former US 40 west / US 99W north
74.89120.5275Mace Boulevard (CR E6)
 77.99125.5178Road 32A, East Chiles Road
Yolo BypassYolo Causeway
West Sacramento81.39130.9881West Capitol Avenue, Enterprise Boulevard West SacramentoWest Capitol Avenue was former US 40 east / US 99W south
82.12132.1682 I80 Bus. east (Capital City Freeway) / US 50 east (El Dorado Freeway) Sacramento, South Lake TahoeFormer US 40 east / US 99W south / I-80 east
83.46134.3283Reed Avenue (SR 84) West Sacramento
SacramentoSacramento85.29137.2685West El Camino Avenue
86.48139.1886 I5 to SR 99 Sacramento, Los Angeles, Redding
87.58140.9588Truxel RoadServes Sleep Train Arena
88.91143.0989Northgate Boulevard
90.05144.9290Norwood Avenue
91.56147.3591Raley Boulevard, Marysville Boulevard Del Paso Heights
92.60149.0392Winters Street
93.33150.2093Longview Drive
 94.29–
94.83
151.75–
152.61
94Light Rail Stations (Roseville Road, Watt/I-80 West, and Watt/I-80)Westbound left exit and eastbound left entrance; also accessible as part of exit 93 westbound
 94AWatt AvenueWestbound exit is part of exit 95
 94BAuburn Boulevard (SR 244)Westbound exit is part of exit 95
 94.94152.7995 I80 Bus. west (Capital City Freeway) to SR 99 south SacramentoWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; eastbound exit is part of exit 94A; former I-80 west
 96.41155.1696Madison Avenue
 98.38158.3398Greenback Lane, Elkhorn Boulevard (CR E14)
Citrus Heights100.62161.93100Antelope Road
PlacerRoseville102.20164.47102Riverside Avenue, Auburn Boulevard Roseville, Citrus HeightsFormer US 40 / SR 65
103.91167.23103Douglas Boulevard, Sunrise Avenue (CR E2)Signed as exits 103A (east) and 103B (west) eastbound
105.00168.98105AAtlantic Street, Eureka RoadSigned as exits 105A (Eureka Road) and 105B (Atlantic Street) westbound
105.59169.93105BTaylor Road, Pacific StreetWestbound exit is via exit 105A
106.09170.74106 SR 65 north Lincoln, Marysville
Rocklin107.99173.79108Rocklin Road
109.35175.98109Sierra College Boulevard (CR E3)
Loomis110.65178.07110Horseshoe Bar Road Loomis
 112.28180.70112Penryn Road Penryn
 115.74186.27115Newcastle Road Newcastle
Lincoln116.23187.05116 SR 193 west LincolnWest end of SR 193 overlap
Auburn118.84191.25118Ophir RoadWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
119.22191.87119AMaple Street, Nevada Street Auburn
119.47192.27119B SR 49 (SR 193 east) Grass Valley, PlacervilleEast end of SR 193 overlap
119.76192.74119CElm Avenue
120.87194.52120Lincoln Way, Russell RoadNo eastbound entrance
 121.40195.37121Auburn Ravine Road Foresthill
 122.06196.44122Bowman
 123.06198.05123Bell Road
 124.14199.78124Dry Creek Road
 125.36201.75125Clipper Gap, Meadow Vista (Placer Hills Road)
 128.14206.22128Applegate
 129.32208.12129Heather Glen
 130.52210.05130West Paoli Lane
 131.25211.23131Weimar Cross Road
Colfax133.72215.20133Canyon Way, Placer Hills Road
135.06217.36135 SR 174 Colfax, Grass Valley
 140.28225.76139Rollins Lake Road, Magra RoadWestbound exit and entrance
 140Secret Town Road, Magra Road
 143.30230.62143Magra Road Gold Run
 144.13231.95144Gold RunWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
 143.68231.23Gold Run Rest Area
 145.10233.52145Dutch Flat
 146.68236.06146Alta
 148.24238.57148ACrystal Springs
 148.87239.58148BBaxter
 150.93242.90150Drum Forebay Road
 155.29249.92155Blue Canyon
 156.74252.25156Nyack Road
 157.99254.26158AEmigrant GapSigned as exit 158 westbound
 158.79255.55158BLaing RoadEastbound exit only
Nevada 160.77258.73160Yuba Gap
 161.47259.86161 SR 20 west Nevada City, Grass Valley
 163.96263.87164Eagle Lakes Road
Placer 165.45266.27165Cisco Grove (Cisco Road)
 166.73268.33166Big BendEastbound exit only
 168.13270.58168Rainbow Road Big Bend
 171.16275.46171Kingvale
Nevada 174.18280.32174Soda Springs, Norden
 176.77284.48176Boreal Ridge Road – Castle Peak
 177.22285.21Donner Summit Rest Area
 180.09289.83180Donner Lake (Donner Lake Road)
 184.91297.58184Donner Pass Road
 185.86299.11185 SR 89 south Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe, Squaw ValleyWest end of SR 89 overlap
Truckee186.67300.42186Central TruckeeNo eastbound entrance
187.99302.54188ATruckeeEastbound exit and westbound entrance
188.30303.04188B SR 89 north / SR 267 south Sierraville, Lake TahoeEast end of SR 89 overlap; signed as exit 188 westbound
 189.98305.74190Overland Trail
 190.96307.32Agricultural InspectionWestbound only
 194.11312.39194Hirschdale Road
 198.99320.24199Floriston
 201.19323.78201Farad
Sierra 205.07330.03 I80 east RenoContinuation into Nevada
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Warring, KS (April 18, 2008). "Interstate 80 Freeway Interchanges" (PDF). California Numbered Exit Uniform System. California Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 23, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Faigin, Daniel P. (April 28, 2014). "Interstate Highway Types and the History of California's Interstates". California Highways. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  3. Faigin, Daniel P. "Routes 73 through 80: Interstate 80". California Highways. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  4. California Code of Regulations, Title 21, Division 2, Chapter 1, Article 2 § 1402.1
  5. 5.0 5.1 Staff (January 2014). 2013 Named Freeways, Highways, Structures and Other Appurtenances in California (PDF). California Department of Transportation. pp. 42–44. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  6. National Highway System: San Francisco–Oakland CA (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. April 2004.
  7. Staff. "California Road System (CRS) Maps". California Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 2007.
  8. Staff. "Emeryville Comes of Age: 1930s to 1960s". Official Website. City of Emeryville, CA. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  9. "California Highways: Legislative Route 242". Cahighways.org. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  10. Staff (2007). "Chain Controls". California Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  11. District 3 (2007). "Winter Operations". California Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  12. Staff. "Elevation and Location of Summits and Passes in California" (XLS). California Department of Transportation.
  13. Staff. "Get Across I-80". California Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 3, 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Interstate 80 in California.

Route map: Bing


Interstate 80
Previous state:
Terminus
California Next state:
Nevada