Interstate 580 East - Alameda County #2


Interstate 580/Arthur H. Breed, Jr. Freeway east
After Exit 39, a reassurance sign for the Arthur H. Breed, Jr. Freeway is posted. From here, Interstate 580 begins its long descent into the San Ramon Valley. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Continuing east, a mileage sign provides the distance to the next three upcoming exits: Exit 44A, San Ramon Road; Exit 44B, Interstate 680; and Exit 45, Dougherty Road. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Traveling east on Interstate 580/Breed Freeway travelers can see beautiful San Ramon Valley and the cities of Dublin to the north and Pleasanton to the south. Photo taken 07/04/06.
San Ramon Boulevard is a major north-south arterial that parallels and predates Interstate 680 as the main route from California 84 north to Walnut Creek. This route was formerly signed as California 21 until Interstate 680 supplanted it in the 1960s and 1970s. Starting as Foothill Road in Sunol, California 21 traveled north into Pleasanton, then chanegd into San Ramon Road upon entering Dublin. From there, the old state highway served the city of San Ramon, the city of Danville, unincorporated Alamo, and then the city of Walnut Creek, where it met California 24. Much of this route does not have old state highway characteristics, primarily due to the extensive residential development that has occurred along this corridor. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Still descending through Dublin Canyon, another truck safety corridor sign is posted on Interstate 580 east. Watch for slow trucks heading downhill, especially in the right two lanes. Interstate 580 enters the Tri-Valley, which encompasses the cities of Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore, and San Ramon; the town of Danville; and as well as unincorporated Blackhawk, Sunol, and Tassajara. The Tri-Valley gets its name from the three valleys that converge in the area: Amador Valley, Livermore Valley and San Ramon Valley. Its centerpiece is the Interstate 580-680 interchange. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The next five interchanges all serve the city of Plesanton: Exit 44A, San Ramon Road/Foothill Road; Exit 44B, Interstate 680; Exit 45, Hopyard Road/Dougherty Road; Exit 46, Hacienda Drive; and Exit 47, Santa Rita Road. This sign might omit Interstate 680 from the list of four exits since it is a freeway. Interestingly, the interchanges for both San Ramon Road and Interstate 680 are wholly located within the city of Pleasanton even through Interstate 580 generally forms the city limits between Pleasanton on the south and Dublin on the north. Photo taken 07/04/06.
This graffiti-tagged sign is the first solo sign to advise of Exit 44B, Interstate 680, even though it only refers to the northbound Interstate 680 control cities of Concord and Walnut Creek. The sign does not mention the control cities of Interstate 680 south, especially since most traffic traveling east through here would be most likely to turn north rather than south. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The next six interchanges all serve the city of Dublin, too: Exit 44A, San Ramon Road/Foothill Road; Exit 44B, Interstate 680; Exit 45, Hopyard Road/Dougherty Road; Exit 46, Hacienda Drive; Exit 47, Santa Rita Road; and Exit 48, El Charro Road/Fallon Road. This sign might omit Interstate 680 from the list of five exits since it is a freeway. The city of Dublin was incorporated in 1982 and lies entirely north of Interstate 580. As of the 2000 Census, 29,973 people lived in Dublin, and that number has increased as the city has continued its build-out. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Eastbound Interstate 580 meets Exit 44A, San Ramon Road and Foothill Road and enters the city of Pleasanton. As of the 2000 Census, 63,654 people lived in Pleasanton. A much older city than Dublin, the city of Pleasanton was incorporated on June 18, 1894, and includes approximately 24 square miles. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 580 is Exit 44B, Interstate 680, one-half mile. Interstate 680 is a major north-south freeway connecting San Jose with Walnut Creek and Concord before joining Interstate 80 near Fairfield. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The interchange between Interstate 580 and San Ramon Road is a modified cloverleaf, so this sign advises of the connection to Interstate 580 east from the San Ramon Road/Foothill Road on-ramps. Once within the Exit 44A interchange complex, the first ramp connects to Foothill Road south. The second ramp (shown here) links to San Ramon Road north. The collector distributor lane then merges back onto Interstate 580 east ... just in time for the Interstate 680 interchange. Photos taken 11/24/11 and 07/04/06.
This reassurance shield for Interstate 580 east is found after Exit 44A and before Exit 44B. The nascent right lane will become exit only for Interstate 680. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway meets Exit 44B, Interstate 680 (right lane exit only). Use Interstate 680 south to Fremont and San Jose; follow Interstate 680 north to Danville, Walnut Creek, and Concord. Photos taken 11/24/11 and 07/04/06.
An auxiliary roadside sign points the way to Pleasanton via Interstate 680 south and Walnut Creek and Concord via Interstate 680 north. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The ramp splits, with the left lane connecting to Interstate 680 north and the right lane connecting to Interstate 680 south. Northbound serves Dublin, San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, and Walnut Creek. Southbound serves Pleasanton, Sunol, Fremont, and Milpitas. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Interstate 680 passes over Interstate 580 (as seen from the ramp from eastbound Interstate 580 to northbound Interstate 680). The next exit on Interstate 580 east is Exit 45, Hopyard Road south to Pleasanton and Dougherty Road north to Dublin. An interchange sequence sign also provides the distance to the ensuing three exits Exit 46, Hacienda Drive; Exit 47, Santa Rita Road; and Exit 48, El Charro Road/Fallon Road. Photo taken 07/04/06.
As the loop ramp from Interstate 580 east to Interstate 680 turns, the overhead flyover ramp from Interstate 680 south to Interstate 580 east can be seen, as well as the terrestrial exit to Hopyard Road and Dougherty Road. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Eastbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 45, Hopyard Road and Dougherty Road, after the Interstate 680 interchange (Exit 44B). Note the mileage sign for the next three exits (Hacienda Drive, Santa Rita Road, and El Charro Road) that is affixed to the overpass. Photos taken 08/23/03 and 11/24/11.
There is another way to reach Exit 45: from the transition ramp from southbound Interstate 680 onto eastbound Interstate 580, as seen in this picture. Photo taken 12/01/02.
The next exit along Interstate 580/Breed Freeway east is Exit 46, Hacienda Drive, in Pleasanton/Dublin. The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station in the median marks the current eastern terminus of that light rail mass transportation system. It is being considered for extension in the Interstate 580 median all the way to Livermore. Photo taken 08/23/03.
The exit-only lanes widen from one to two. Note that the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) System comes to its eastern terminus here in Dublin/Pleasanton. A parking area for the BART is located north of Interstate 580; use Hacienda Drive north to Dublin Boulevard and Dublin Boulevard west to the parking area. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 46, Hacienda Drive, in Pleasanton/Dublin. Hacienda Crossings Center, which features movies, restaurants, and shopping, is located north of Interstate 580 in Dublin at this interchange. Photo taken 07/06/04.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Livermore, Tracy, and Stockton via Interstate 580 and Interstate 205. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next three exits along eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway are Exit 47, Santa Rita Road/Tassajara Road; Exit 48, El Charro Road/Fallon Road; and Exit 50, California 84/Airway Boulevard to Collier Canyon Road/Doolan Road. Photo taken 07/06/04.
This is the final exit to Dublin and Pleasanton. Use Santa Rita Road south to the Rose Pavilion and Valleycare Medical Center in Pleasanton. South of Del Valle Parkway/Stanley Boulevard, Santa Rita Road becomes Main Street, which in turn connects to Bernal Avenue west to the Alameda County Fairgrounds and south via Sunol Road to Interstate 680. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway reaches Exit 47, Santa Rita Road south into Pleasanton and Tassajara Road north into Dublin. Use Tassajara Road north to reach eastern Dublin (including links to east-west Dublin Boulevard and Central Parkway); from Dublin, Tassajara Road leads north into Contra Costa County, connecting to the community of Tassajara. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway is Exit 48, El Charro Road and Fallon Road, one mile. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The right lane of Interstate 580 becomes exit only for Exit 48, El Charro Road south and Fallon Road north. Fallon Road generally serves as the eastern city limits of Dublin, while El Charro Road serves as the western city limits of Livermore. Interstate 580 ceases to serve as the dividing line between Pleasanton to the south and Dublin to the north. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next three exits along eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway are Exit 48, El Charro Road and Fallon Road; Exit 50, Airway Boulevard to Collier Canyon Road/Doolan Road; and Exit 51, California 84/Isabel Avenue. Exit 52A, Junction Alameda County Route J-2/Portola Avenue was eliminated in favor of the new Exit 51 interchange. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway reaches Exit 48, El Charro Road and Fallon Road. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 580 is Exit 50, California 84/Airway Boulevard and Collier Canyon Road. Collier Canyon Road leads north from here and connects to Las Positas College. Airway Boulevard connects to the Livermore Municipal Airport south of the freeway. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next six exits along eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway serve the city of Livermore, the last Bay Area city before Interstate 580 crosses Altamont Pass into the Central Valley: Exit 50, California 84/Airway Boulevard/Collier Canyon Road/Doolan Road; Exit 52A, Junction Alameda County Route J-2/Portola Avenue; Exit 52B, Livermore Avenue; Exit 54, First Street (former California 84); Exit 55, Vasco Road; and Exit 57, North Greenville Road/Altamont Pass Road (Former U.S. 50). Photo taken 07/06/04.
Use Airway Boulevard north via Exit 50 to reach Canyons Parkway. At Canyons Parkway, turn left (west) to reach Doolan Road north into Doolan Canyon. Turn right (east) on Canyons Parkway to reach Collier Canyon Road north into Collier Canyon. While Doolan Road is not improved for its entire length, Collier Canyon Road extends into Contra Costa County, connecting with Highland Road east of Tassajara. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next three exits along eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway are Exit 50, Airway Boulevard; Exit 51, California 84/Isabel Avenue to Alameda County Route J-2/Portola Avenue; and Exit 52B, Livermore Avenue. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 50, Airway Boulevard southwest to Las Positas Golf Course, Livermore Municipal Airport, Pleasanton, and the South Bay via Vallecitos Road. California 84/Vallecitos Road is not a recommended through route to Interstate 680 due to the winding road and curves. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next three exits along eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway are Exit 51, California 84/Isabel Avenue to Junction Alameda County Route J-2/Portola Avenue; Exit 52B, Livermore Avenue; and Exit 54, First Street (former California 84). We need to return here to obtain more updated pictures of this reconfigured segment of Interstate 580. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Use Exit 51 (former Exit 52A) to reach Alameda County Route J-2/Portola Avenue, which heads southeast into downtown Livermore, turns south on Livermore Avenue, then heads southeast out of Livermore via Livermore Avenue and Tesla Road. Believe it or not, Alameda County Route J-2 is an alternate route to Interstate 580, as it crosses the ridge that separates Livermore from the Central Valley via Corral Hollow rather than via Altamont Pass or Patterson Pass. Changing into San Joaquin County J-2 (Corral Hollow Road) upon crossing the county line, J-2 meets Interstate 580 again at Exit 72/Corral Hollow Road Interchange just northwest of the California 132 interchange. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 580 is Exit 52B, Livermore Avenue. This is the best route into downtown Livermore. It connects with Alameda County Route J-2 (Portola Avenue) in downtown. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway reaches Exit 52B, Livermore Avenue. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next three exits along eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway are Exit 54, First Street (former California 84); Exit 55, Vasco Road; and Exit 57, Greenville Road/Altamont Pass Road. Note that the California 84 shield is again covered. This is the last of the urban-style mileage signs along eastbound; from here, the remaining mileage signs are for long-range destinations such as Modesto, Fresno, and Los Angeles. Photo taken 07/06/04.
In 2003, California 84 was realigned out of downtown Livermore as a result of a realignment and widening of Airway Boulevard west of town. As a result, the eastern terminus of the western/southern California 84 is at Interstate 580 Exit 51 rather than at Exit 54. The old alignment of California 84, which Vallecitos Road, Holmes Street, and First Street from Pleasanton (Ruby Hill community) through Livermore to Interstate 580, is now maintained by the city of Livermore. Now California 84 extends due north from near the Vallecitos/Isabel Avenue intersection to meet Interstate 580 near the Livermore Municipal Airport. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway reaches Exit 54, First Street (former California 84). Note the placement of the exit number over the original state route shield on this exit sign. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 580 is Exit 55, Vasco Road, three-quarters of a mile. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Use Vasco Road south to reach the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. These facilities are located southeast of the intersection of Vasco Road and Patterson Pass Road. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Vasco Road north of Interstate 580/Arthur Breed Freeway may become part of California 84 once the connection between the western and eastern sections is constructed and signed. With the recent realignment of California 84 onto Airway Boulevard, the connection between existing California 84 and Vasco Road would be achieved with a duplex with Interstate 580. California 84 would then connect to its orphaned segment in Solano and Yolo Counties via a duplex with California 160 between Antioch and Rio Vista. A toll road proposal to connect the two segments of California 84 (called the Mid State Tollway) was scrapped in 2001, so Vasco Road and California 160 serve as the current connection between the two extant, signed segments of California 84. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 55, Vasco Road. This interchange is almost a cloverleaf, but its southwestern loop is missing. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 580 is Exit 57, North Greenville Road and Altamont Pass Road. This exit leads to the route of former U.S. 50 over the Altamont Pass, which features some vintage highway segments and some old Lincoln Highway bridges/subways associated with the railroad. Photo taken 07/06/04.
All trucks must use the right lane for the weigh station, which is located near Exit 57. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 57, North Greenville Road and Altamont Pass Road. This is the last exit before the freeway ascends the Altamont Pass. Altamont Pass Road is old U.S. 50, and it can be a good alternate route over the pass. Photo taken 07/06/04.
This eastbound Interstate 580 reassurance shield is located after Exit 57/North Greenville Road and Altamont Pass Road interchange. Photo taken 07/06/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 580 is Exit 59, North Flynn Road. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Truckers may wish to use the brake check area before making the descent from the Altamont Pass to the floor of the Central Valley. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580 at Exit 59, North Flynn Road, which is the Altamont Pass (el. 1,009 feet). Photo taken 07/06/04.
View of the descent from the Altamont Pass into the Central Valley along eastbound Interstate 580 after Exit 59, North Flynn Road. Due to the high wind energy here, a large wind energy farm is situated around Altamont Pass. On this day, there was not much wind, but on some days, most turbines are producing vast amounts of wind-generated electricity. Several power substations are located near the Altamont Pass, especially between here and Tracy, that add the wind power onto the state's power grid. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Views along eastbound Interstate 580 as it descends from Altamont Pass into the Central Valley. Note the large arch bridge that serves as a railroad overcrossing along eastbound; there is no corresponding overcrossing for westbound because the westbound lanes are at a much higher elevation than the eastbound lanes on the eastern slope of the Altamont Pass. Photos taken 07/06/04.
The next exit along eastbound Interstate 580 is Exit 63, Byron/Grant Line Road, one mile. Photo taken 12/01/02.
Eastbound Interstate 580 at Exit 63, Byron/Grant Line Road. The next exit is Exit 65, eastbound Interstate 205. Photo taken 12/01/02.
This sign along eastbound indicates that eastbound Interstate 205 and California 120 is a better choice than Interstate 580 and California 132 to reach Modesto. This is due to the high traffic volumes on California 132, which is only two lanes wide east of Interstate 5. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580 approaches Exit 65, eastbound Interstate 205. Interestingly, this sign makes it seem as is Interstate 580 is exiting off its own freeway rather than Interstate 205 left exiting from the freeway. The large power lines in the background are the backbone of the state power grid, connecting Northern and Southern California. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580 at the split with Interstate 205. Interstate 205 leads east to Tracy, then connects to Interstate 5 and California 99 to serve Manteca, Stockton, Lodi, and Sacramento as well as Modesto. Interstate 580 turns southeast here, leading to Southbound Interstate 5. Southbound Interstate 5 provides indirect connections to most San Joaquin Valley communities, such as Fresno and Bakersfield, and it also heads directly into Los Angeles and San Diego. Interstate 5 is the transportation backbone of the state of California. Photos taken 07/06/04 and 08/23/03.
View of the transition "ramp" (left exit) from Interstate 580 east to Interstate 205 east. Photo taken 12/01/02.
As noted earlier, Altamont Pass is a very windy area, and some of that wind is harnessed by wind turbine electrical generators. Therefore, wind gusts are common as Interstate 580 turns southeast along the toe of the slope below Altamont Pass and Patterson Pass. Photo taken 07/06/04.
Interstate 580/William Elton Brown Freeway east
Eastbound Interstate 580 reassurance shield after the Interstate 205 split. Photo taken 07/06/04.
This mileage sign along eastbound Interstate 580 provides the distance to Modesto (via California 132) and Los Angeles (via Interstate 5). Photo taken 07/06/04.
Eastbound Interstate 580 departs Alameda County and enters San Joaquin County after the split with Interstate 205. Photo taken 07/06/04.


Continue east on I-580 to I-5 and Los Angeles  Return to the Interstate 580 Guide  Return to the California Gateway

Page Updated November 30, 2011.

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