Interstate 580 (California)

Interstate 580 (I-580) is an approximately 82-mile-long (132 km) east–west auxiliary Interstate Highway in Northern California. The heavily traveled spur route of I-80 runs from US 101 in San Rafael in the San Francisco Bay Area to I-5 near Tracy in the Central Valley. I-580 forms a concurrency with I-80 between Albany and Oakland, the latter of which is the location of the MacArthur Maze interchange immediately east of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. I-580 provides a connection from the Bay Area to the southern San Joaquin Valley and Southern California via I-5, as I-5 bypasses the Bay Area to the east.

"Interstate 180 (California)" redirects here. For the state highway in California, see California State Route 180.

Interstate 580
I-580 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-80
Defined by Streets and Highways Code § 618
Maintained by Caltrans
Length75.550 mi[1] (121.586 km)
I-580 is broken into pieces, and the length does not reflect the I-80 overlap that would be required to make the route continuous.
ExistedAugust 7, 1947[2]
July 1, 1964 by Caltrans[3]–present
Tourist
routes		 William Elton "Brownie" Brown Freeway, and the MacArthur Freeway through Oakland[4]
RestrictionsNo trucks over 4.5 tons through Oakland[5]
Major junctions
West end US 101 in San Rafael
 
East end I-5 near Tracy
Location
CountiesMarin, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Joaquin
Highway system
← I-505→ I-605

A portion of I-580 is called the MacArthur Freeway, after General Douglas MacArthur. Other portions are named the John T. Knox Freeway (after a former Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly, the Eastshore Freeway (after its location on San Francisco Bay), the Arthur H. Breed Jr. Freeway (after a former California State Assemblyman and Senator—the stretch itself lying between the cities of Castro Valley and Dublin), the William Elton "Brownie" Brown Freeway (after a Tracy resident instrumental in determining the route of Interstate 5 through the San Joaquin Valley), the Sgt. Daniel Sakai Memorial Highway (after the Castro Valley resident and Oakland SWAT officer killed in the 2009 shootings of Oakland police officers), and the John P. Miller Memorial Highway (after the Lodi resident and California Highway Patrol officer killed while chasing down a DUI driver).[3]

Route description
I-580 emerging in the Central Valley near Tracy
Eastbound I-580 at Grant Line Road about one mile away from the I-580/I-205 split.
I-580 at Palomares Road at the west end of Dublin Canyon
I-580 at the Altamont Pass Wind Farm
Westbound I-580 at Altamont Pass between Livermore and Tracy.
BART runs in the median of I-580 through Castro Valley
I-580 on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

The western terminus of I-580 is roughly 10 miles north of San Francisco in the city of San Rafael (Marin County), at the junction with U.S. Route 101 (US 101). The interchange with US 101 is incomplete, only allowing continuous travel from southbound US 101 to eastbound I-580 (via exit 451B) and from westbound I-580 to northbound US 101. Heading eastward through the light industrial portion of eastern San Rafael, I-580 provides access to San Quentin State Prison at the eastern tip of land before joining the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge to cross San Francisco Bay. I-580 enters the city of Richmond in Contra Costa County mid-span, then continues through Richmond to join Interstate 80 in Albany at the "Hoffman Split."

After joining I-80, I-580 runs directly south for several miles along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in the segment known as the Eastshore Freeway, then enters the MacArthur Maze. The segment between the Hoffman Split and the MacArthur Maze is a wrong-way concurrency, meaning I-580 east is signed as I-80 west, and vice versa. From the MacArthur Maze, I-580 is known as the MacArthur Freeway, which runs through Oakland and San Leandro to Castro Valley. About halfway to Castro Valley from the Maze, is an interchange with the Warren Freeway (State Route 13). Between this interchange and Castro Valley, I-580 runs near or along the trace of the Hayward Fault, a major branch of the San Andreas Fault.

In Castro Valley, I-580 turns eastward toward Dublin Canyon before descending into Dublin and Pleasanton. After passing through Livermore, the freeway enters the Altamont Pass. The road emerges in the Central Valley west of Tracy, where, after I-205 splits near the Altamont Speedway, it turns southeastward and terminates by merging with I-5 south of Tracy just shy of the Stanislaus County line.

I-580 through Altamont Pass is a major crossing of the Diablo Range linking the Central Valley to the Bay Area, and also a major route to Southern California. I-580 is the only freeway that crosses the Diablo Range, making it the safest route through the mountains. Prior to the construction of this route, traffic was detoured to Pacheco (SR 152) and Polonio (SR 46) passes.

I-580 provides Interstate Highway access between San Francisco and Los Angeles since I-5 runs east of the Bay Area. However, the primary control city listed on freeway signs along eastbound I-580 between I-80 and I-205 is instead Stockton, a vestige of when this segment used to be part of US 50.

I-580 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System,[6] and is part of the National Highway System,[7] a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration.[8] The route is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System,[9] and is officially designated as a scenic highway by the California Department of Transportation from the San Leandro city limits to SR 24 and from I-5 to I-205,[10] meaning that these are substantial sections of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community.[11]

Truck ban through Oakland

Trucks over 4.5 tons are prohibited through Oakland between Grand Avenue and the San Leandro border. Specifically, eastbound trucks cannot travel beyond Grand Avenue/Lakeshore Avenue (exit 21B), and those going westbound must get off at MacArthur Boulevard/Foothill Boulevard (exit 30).[5][12] They are instead instructed to take I-238 in Castro Valley and then I-880 through Oakland as an alternative route.

The truck prohibition has been in effect since the freeway was built in 1963 as part of US 50. Both the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) imposed the restriction, partly because the City of Oakland already had a truck ban through the area prior to the freeway's construction. Since then, the restriction was grandfathered in when the freeway was both renumbered and added to the Interstate Highway System.

As a result, it is the only segment of Interstate Highway in California that is not part of the National Truck Network (several other California state highways have similar truck bans such as SR 2, SR 13 and SR 85, but not any other Interstates).[5][13] With trucks normally rerouted onto I-880 instead of I-580 through Oakland, the former generally gets more traffic than the latter. For decades, the trucking industry lobbied to have the ban removed, but was unsuccessful due to local opposition. In 2000, the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 500, adding the I-580 truck restriction into the California Vehicle Code.[14] The ban is temporarily lifted by the California Highway Patrol for short periods to reduce traffic congestion when major accidents occur on I-880 or I-238.

Express lanes

High-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes along I-580 between Pleasanton and Livermore opened in February 2016.[15][16] The eastbound express lanes stretch 12 miles (19 km) between Hacienda Drive and North Greenville Road. The westbound express lanes extend an additional two miles (3.2 km) west to San Ramon Road/Foothill Road.[16]

As of October 2020, the HOT lanes' hours of operation is weekdays between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. Solo drivers are tolled using a variable pricing system based on the time of day. Carpools, motorcycles, and clean air vehicles are not charged.[17] All tolls are collected using an open road tolling system, and therefore there are no toll booths to receive cash. Each vehicle using the HOT lanes is required to carry either a FasTrak Flex or CAV (Clean Air Vehicle) transponder, with its switch set to indicate the number of the vehicle's occupants (1, 2, or 3 or more). Solo drivers may also use the FasTrak standard tag without the switch.[17]

The high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane leading to the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge requires a car with 3+ persons, unlike California's regular carpool lanes of 2+ persons.[18] See also: Richmond–San Rafael Bridge § Tolling

History

I-5W and the San Francisco Bay Area

Interstate 5W
LocationTracy–Dunnigan
Existed1957–1970

What is now I-580 from I-5 to Oakland was originally conceived as part of a loop Interstate with a directional suffix, I-5W.[19] However, I-5W and most of the other Interstates around the country with directional suffixes were eventually renumbered or eliminated, except for I-35E and I-35W in Texas and Minnesota, and more recently Interstates 69W, 69C, and 69E in Texas. The former route of I-5W now corresponds to I-580 from I-5 to Oakland, I-80 from Oakland to Vacaville, and I-505 from Vacaville to I-5 near Dunnigan.

I-5 to Castro Valley

For the most part, the I-580 freeway in this segment was constructed over or alongside the right-of-way of US 50, previously part of the old Lincoln Highway, during the course of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The segment which begins at the split with I-205 was constructed during the same period of time over a new right-of-way to a junction with I-5, running through some low hills on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley near the city of Patterson.

In the 1990s, the freeway segment from Castro Valley through Pleasanton was enlarged and otherwise re-engineered in conjunction with the construction of the Dublin/Pleasanton Line of the Bay Area Rapid Transit. The BART tracks were placed in a new median between the westbound and eastbound lanes of I-580 as was the new Dublin/Pleasantion Station. The interchange with I-238 and the Hayward exit ramps was also re-engineered at this time.

The MacArthur Freeway: Castro Valley to Oakland

The I-580 freeway in this segment was constructed starting in February 1960, adjacent to the city streets which were part of US 50 between Castro Valley and the large interchange along the eastern approach to the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge in Oakland now called the MacArthur Maze.[20] The freeway was named in honor of World War II General Douglas MacArthur. Prior to the construction of this freeway, the various city streets of Oakland that were designated for US 50 (principally 38th Street, Hopkins Street, Moss Avenue, Excelsior Avenue and part of Foothill Boulevard) had been re-named for the General as "MacArthur Boulevard" which, for the most part, still parallels the MacArthur Freeway. The re-naming occurred on March 26 1942, by a resolution of the Oakland City Council.[21][22]

The freeway was opened to traffic in 8 segments until its completion in May, 1966 (last segment, connecting with State Route 238 (now I-238), in Castro Valley, opened May 20, 1966).[23]

Oakland to San Rafael

The segment of I-580 running from the MacArthur Maze to San Rafael is the most recent to be signed as I-580, beginning in 1984. Before 1984, this segment was part of State Route 17 (SR 17).

From the Maze to the interchange locally known as the "Hoffman Split" in Albany, just north of the Gilman Street interchange (Hoffman Blvd. was the predecessor of I-580 in this section---see below), I-580 follows the Eastshore Freeway, a wrong-way concurrency with I-80 for its entirety: northward on the Eastshore is signed I-80 east and I-580 west; headed southward, one finds signs indicating I-80 west and I-580 east.

At the Hoffman Split, I-580 leaves the Eastshore Freeway in a northwesterly direction through the cities of Albany and Richmond. It then crosses San Francisco Bay over the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge. The freeway in this section, officially named the John T. Knox Freeway, was constructed from 1987 to 1991. It replaced a number of city streets which comprised the earlier highway leading to the San Rafael Bridge, principally, Hoffman and Cutting Boulevards.

After crossing the bridge, I-580 runs west to San Rafael, ending at an interchange with US 101. This freeway segment supplanted an earlier boulevard constructed as part of SR 17.

Interstate 180

Interstate 180
LocationSan Rafael, California
Existed1978–1983 [24]

Interstate 180 was a temporary designation used in 1978 for the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge, now part of I-580. At the time the bridge had been identified as part of SR 17 but was marked for inclusion in the Interstate Highway System.

Briefly the bridge used the number 180, despite the Fresno-area SR 180's use of the number. The California Streets and Highways Code has a policy against using one route number for multiple noncontiguous highways. Unless the existing SR 180 is renumbered, which is unlikely due to its familiarity as the road to Kings Canyon National Park, there will not be an I-180 in California.

Future

The segment of I-580 from I-680 to I-205 is undergoing significant expansion. Among the projects along this segment is the now-completed high-occupancy vehicle lanes in each direction, a westbound auxiliary lane between Fallon Road and Tassajara Road, the now-completed construction of a new interchange at Isabel Avenue in Livermore, the reconstruction of several interchanges, the construction of additional truck climbing lanes for the eastward ascent to the Altamont Pass, and plans to preserve the right-of-way to accommodate a future BART extension in the median of the freeway.[25]

Exit list
CountyLocationmi[26]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Marin
MRN 4.78–0.00		San Rafael0.000.001A US 101 north – San Rafael, Santa RosaWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; west end of I-580; US 101 south exit 451B
1B Francisco Boulevard south to US 101 – San FranciscoSigned as exit 1 eastbound
1.492.402A Sir Francis Drake Boulevard south to US 101Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
2.153.462BFrancisco Boulevard – San QuentinSigned as exit 2 eastbound
San Francisco Bay4.787.69Richmond–San Rafael Bridge
Contra Costa
CC 7.79–0.00		Richmond6.5610.567AStenmark Drive – Point MolateNo eastbound exit
7.4612.017B Richmond Parkway to I-80 east – Port Richmond, SacramentoSigned as exit 7 eastbound
7.9312.768Canal Boulevard, Garrard Boulevard
8.9714.449Cutting Boulevard, Harbour WaySigned as exits 9A (Cutting Boulevard, Harbour Way south) and 9B (Harbour Way north) westbound
9.6815.5810AMarina Bay Parkway, South 23rd Street
10.4816.8710BRegatta Boulevard
11.3118.2011Bayview Avenue
12.2819.7612Central Avenue
Alameda
ALA 48.04–0.00		Albany13.0120.9413Buchanan Street – AlbanySigned as exit 13A westbound
13.3121.42 I-80 east (Eastshore Freeway) – Vallejo, SacramentoWest end of I-80 overlap; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
Berkeley14.2422.9212[lower-alpha 1]Gilman Street
15.0724.2511[lower-alpha 1]University Avenue – Berkeley
16.3726.3410[lower-alpha 1] SR 13 south (Ashby Avenue) / Shellmound StreetShellmound Street accessible only from westbound I-580 / eastbound I-80
Emeryville16.9427.269[lower-alpha 1]Powell Street – Emeryville
Oakland18.0929.1119A
I-80 west (Bay Bridge) – San Francisco		East end of I-80 overlap; no exit number eastbound; I-80 east exit 8B
—San FranciscoHOV-only access via I-80 west; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
— I-880 south (Nimitz Freeway) / West Grand Avenue – Alameda, San JoseEastbound exit and westbound entrance; access to Oakland International Airport
19.0330.6319AMacArthur Boulevard, San Pablo Avenue (SR 123)Eastbound left exit and westbound entrance
19BWest Street, San Pablo Avenue (SR 123)Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
19.8932.0119C SR 24 east (Grove-Shafter Freeway) – Berkeley, Walnut CreekSigned as exit 19B eastbound; provides direct exit ramp onto Martin Luther King Jr Way/51st Street; SR 24 exit 2B
19D I-980 west (Grove-Shafter Freeway) to I-880 – Downtown OaklandSigned as exit 19C eastbound; provides direct exit ramp onto 27th Street/West Grand Avenue; I-980 exit 2A; Signed as I-880 South from 1989-1999
20.2332.5620Webster Street, Broadway-Auto RowEastbound exit only
20.7633.4121AHarrison Street, Oakland Avenue, MacArthur BoulevardEastbound signage omits MacArthur Blvd, westbound signage omits Oakland Ave
21.2934.2621BGrand Avenue
21.5634.7022ALake Shore AvenueEastbound exit is via exit 21B
22.3736.0022BPark Boulevard, 14th AvenueSigned as exit 22 eastbound; eastbound signage omits 14th Ave
23.4737.7723Fruitvale Avenue, Coolidge AvenueSigned as exit 24 westbound; eastbound signage omits Coolidge Ave
23.7538.222435th AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance
24.8239.9425AHigh StreetWestbound exit is via exit 25
24.9840.2025BMacArthur BoulevardSigned as exit 25 westbound
25.8241.5526A SR 13 north (Warren Freeway) – BerkeleyEastbound exit is via exit 26; SR 13 exits 1A-B
26.1442.0726BSeminary AvenueSigned as exit 26 eastbound
26.7543.0527AEdwards AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance
27.2643.8727BKeller Avenue, Mountain BoulevardSigned as exit 27 westbound
28.7246.2229AGolf Links Road, 98th AvenueSigned as exit 29 westbound
30.0148.3029B106th Avenue, Foothill BoulevardEastbound exit and westbound entrance
Oakland–San Leandro line30MacArthur Boulevard, Foothill BoulevardWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
30.5849.2131ADutton Avenue, Estudillo Avenue – Downtown San LeandroSigned as exit 31 westbound; westbound signage omits Dutton Ave
San Leandro31.1250.0831BGrand Avenue – Downtown San LeandroEastbound exit and westbound entrance
31.6350.9032ABenedict DriveWestbound exit only
32.2151.8432B150th Avenue, Fairmont DriveSigned as exit 32 eastbound
33.3453.6633164th Avenue, Miramar Avenue, Carolyn StreetEastbound signage omits Carolyn St, westbound signage omits Miramar Ave
Castro Valley34.2555.1234 SR 238 south – HaywardNo westbound exit
I-238 north to I-880Left exit westbound; I-238 exit 14
34.7255.8835Strobridge Avenue
35.5857.2636ARedwood Road – Castro Valley
36.5358.7936BGrove Way – Castro Valley
38.7162.3039Eden Canyon Road, Palomares Road
Pleasanton–Dublin line44.6171.7944ASan Ramon Road, Foothill Road – Dublin
44.2171.15—I-580 Express Lanes westWest end of westbound Express Lanes
44B I-680 – Sacramento, San JoseI-680 exits 30A-B
45.0872.5545Hopyard Road, Dougherty Road
46.1274.2246Hacienda Drive, Dublin BoulevardEastbound signage omits Dublin Blvd
—I-580 Express Lanes eastWest end of eastbound Express Lanes
46.9975.6247Santa Rita Road, Tassajara Road
Dublin48.2477.6348El Charro Road, Fallon Road
Livermore49.9780.4250Airway Boulevard, Collier Canyon Road
50.8481.8251 SR 84 (Isabel Avenue) / Portola Avenue
51.7883.3352APortola Avenue (CR J2)Closed; former eastbound exit and westbound entrance
52.4184.3552North Livermore Avenue (CR J2) – Downtown LivermoreFormerly signed as exit 52B eastbound
54.2587.3154First Street, Springtown BoulevardFormer SR 84
55.2688.9355Vasco Road – Brentwood
55.8089.80—I-580 Express LanesEast end of Express Lanes
56.6891.2257North Greenville Road, Altamont Pass Road, Laughlin RoadEastbound signage omits Laughlin Road, westbound signage omits Altamont Pass Rd
​58.9994.9459North Flynn Road
​63.49102.1863Grant Line Road – Byron
​64.84104.3565 I-205 east to I-5 north – Tracy, StocktonEastbound left exit and westbound entrance
San Joaquin
SJ 15.31–0.00		​66.99107.8167International Parkway, Patterson Pass Road
Tracy72.38116.4872Corral Hollow Road (CR J2)
​76.01122.3376 SR 132 east – Modesto
​Chrisman Road – TracyWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
​81.12130.55 I-5 south – Fresno, Los AngelesEastbound exit and westbound entrance; east end of I-580; I-5 north exit 446
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  1. Exit numbers follow I-80 rather than I-580.
  • I-580 features prominently throughout the Sons of Anarchy series. The backstory of the series establishes that "First 9" (SAMCRO co-founder) John Teller died in a collision on November 13, 1993, 15 years before the pilot episode takes place, and SAMCRO establishes a roadside memorial to Teller near the crash site.[27][28] In the final scenes of the series finale, Jax rides his father's restored classic motorcycle to visit that memorial,[29] before taking a last ride on I-580.[30]
  • I-580 through the Altamont Pass is a stage in the 2011 racing video game Need for Speed: The Run.

See also
  •  California Roads portal

References
  1. California Department of Transportation, State Truck Route List (XLS file), accessed February 2008
  2. "California Highways: Interstate Highway Types and the History of California's Interstates". Cahighways.org. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  3. "California Highways: Interstate 580". Cahighways.org. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  4. California Department of Transportation (August 2019). "Officially Designated State Scenic Highways and Historic Parkways" (XLSX). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  5. "Special Route Restriction History: Route 580". California Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  6. "Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Division 1". California Streets and Highways Code. Sacramento: California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  7. Federal Highway Administration (March 25, 2015). National Highway System: California (North) (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  8. Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderly, Kevin (June 20, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  9. "Article 2.5 of Chapter 2 of Division 1". California Streets & Highways Code. Sacramento: California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  10. California Department of Transportation (August 2019). "Officially Designated State Scenic Highways and Historic Parkways" (XLSX). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  11. California Department of Transportation (2012). Scenic Highway Guidelines (PDF). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. p. 5. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  12. California Department of Transportation (July 2007). "Log of Bridges on State Highways". Sacramento: California Department of Transportation.
  13. "Special Route Restrictions". Caltrans. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  14. Corbett. "California Assembly Bill 500". Leginfo.ca.gov. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  15. "New I-580 Express Lanes Now Open In East Bay". KGO-TV. February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  16. "I-580 Express Lanes". Alameda County Transportation Commission. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  17. "I-580 Express Lanes". www.bayareafastrak.org. CalTrans. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  18. "High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) & Express Lanes Northern California Region" (PDF). HOV_NorCal.pdf. CalTrans. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  19. "California Highways-Routes 1-8". California Highways. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  20. Peterson, L.M. (March–April 1960). "US 50 Freeway: State Begins Construction on MacArthur Freeway in Oakland". California Highways and Public Works. 39 (3–4): 8. ISSN 0008-1159 – via Archive.org.
  21. ["Naming Our City Streets", Albert E. Norman, Oakland Tribune, October 23, 1960]
  22. Peterson, Gary (June 13, 2013). "Bay Area Roadways: Where'd the Names Come From?". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  23. [California Highways and Public Works, March-April, pp.12-15]
  24. "Interstate 180".
  25. "I-580 Corridor Improvements: Project List". Archived from the original on January 11, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  26. Chand, A.S (October 14, 2016). "Interstate 580 Freeway Interchanges" (PDF). Cal-NExUS. Caltrans. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  27. Fitzpatrick, Kevin (November 5, 2013). "Sons of Anarchy Review: 'John 8:32'". ScreenCrush.
  28. Hinckley, David Hinckley (October 28, 2014). "Sons of Anarchy Season 7, Episode 8 recap: Jax and his SAMCRO crew are revved up for revenge in 'The Separation of Crows'". New York Daily News.
  29. Keveney, Bill (December 10, 2014). "The 6 biggest moments from the Sons of Anarchy finale". USA Today.
  30. Barney, Chuck (December 10, 2014). "Sons of Anarchy finale recap: The way it had to end". Contra Costa Times.

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