Interstate 880 South - Interstate 80 to Interstate 238


Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south
Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south splits from Interstate 580 on the transition ramp from westbound Interstate 80. Photo taken 11/26/04.
Ramps fly over and around Interstate 880, lending credence to the unofficial name of this interchange (The Maze). Photo taken 11/26/04.
The first exit along Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south is Exit 44, West Grand Avenue and Seventh Street in Oakland. This picture was taken along the Cypress segment of the Nimitz Freeway, which opened in 1998 to replace the section that collapsed in the October 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. This new alignment of Interstate 880 takes the freeway further west, closer to the bayshore than the collapsed segment did. This realignment removed a physical and psychological barrier through the Cypress neighborhood of Oakland. Photo taken 11/26/04.
Southbound Interstate 880 reaches Exit 44, West Grand Avenue and Seventh Street in Oakland. This is the first reassurance overhead signage along southbound after the Maze interchange (Interstates 80 and 580). As shown on the photo, it was raining on this day. Photo taken 11/26/04.
The next three exits along Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south are: Exit 42, Broadway to California 260 south to Alameda and California 61 south; Exit 40, 16th Avenue and Embarcadero; and Exit 39B, 23rd Avenue. Photo taken 11/26/04.
Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) passes under the Bay Area Rapid Transit line, which is preparing to cross the San Francisco Bay via its transbay tube. Photo taken 11/26/04.
The next exit along southbound is Exit 42, California 260 south to Alameda. Photo taken 11/26/04.
Use Exit 42/Broadway to reach Jack London Square, downtown Oakland, Union Street, the Bay Area Rapid Transit Station, Chinatown, the U.S.S. Hornet, and College of Alameda. Photo taken 11/26/04.
There is space on this overhead sign for a California 260 or California 61 shield, but neither is listed. Photo taken 11/26/04.
This suite of photos shows the maze-like transition from southbound Interstate 880 to southbound California 260/California 61 in Oakland. Use California 260/California 61 southwest to the city of Alameda. Pay close attention to the signs! Note that California 61 (260) is not mentioned until nearly the last sign. Photos taken 04/04/04.
Still on the frontage road parallel to Interstate 880, this left exit from the frontage road takes traffic onto the Webster Street tube toward Alameda. Making a left here seems counter-intuitive when you are trying to head south , but it is necessary to allow the highway to go down enough to reach the tubes under the ship channel that separates Oakland from Alameda. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Returning to the mainline, the downtown Oakland skyline comes into view on the new viaduct. The city of Oakland is the eighth-largest city in California (2000 Census population: 399,484 people) and contains 78.2 square miles (including water). Oakland was founded in 1852, contains dozens of villages with distinct identities, and is growing in population. Photo taken 11/26/04.
The connecting ramp from Interstate 980 west to Interstate 880 comes into view next on southbound. There is no access from Interstate 880 south to Interstate 980 east. Photo taken 11/26/04.
Signage for the end of Interstate 980 can be seen from Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south. Photo taken 11/26/04.
After the Alameda exit, traffic from Interstate 980 west merges onto Interstate 880 south. There is no access from Interstate 880 south to Interstate 980 east. After the merge, this mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits, all of which serve Oakland: Exit 40, 16th Avenue/Embarcadero; Exit 39B, 23rd Avenue; and Exit 39A, 29th Avenue/Fruitvale Avenue. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Traffic from Oak Street joins Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Interstate 880 passes through the warehouse and industrial areas of Oakland. To the northeast of Interstate 880 is Laney College, and to the south is the 9th Avenue Terminal. The Union Pacific Railroad straddles Interstate 880 through here, furthering the industrial feel of this area. The bridge carries Interstate 880 south over the Lake Merritt Channel, which connects the Inner Harbor with Lake Merritt. Photos taken 07/04/06.
Traffic from 10th Avenue and the Embarcadero merge onto Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south. Oddly, no additional guide signs are posted for the pending interchange with 16th Avenue. Photo taken 07/04/06.
After the on-ramp from 10th Avenue and the Embarcadero, a reassurance shield for Interstate 880 south is posted. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Southbound Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) reaches Exit 40, 16th Avenue. To connect with 16th Avenue east, one must exit here onto southbound Embarcadero, then proceed to the sharp left turn to 16th Avenue - which is the overpass over Interstate 880 ahead. Only a substandard exit sign remains here, so an eventual sign replacement is likely at this location in the future. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Continuing south, Interstate 880 passes under the 16th Avenue overcrossing. Use Exit 39B to Coast Guard Island, a small island in the Inner Harbor that is used by the United States Coast Guard. Access is achieved via Dennison Street west to the Coast Guard Island gate. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Under the 16th Avenue overcrossing, an advance guide sign for Oakland International Airport advises that either Exit 36 (Hegenberger Road) or Exit 35 (98th Avenue) may be used for the connection to the airport. The airport is four miles south of here. This sign is unusual for three reasons: first because it showcases an exit number for exits that are four miles distant, second because it shows two exit numbers, and third because neither Hegenberger Road nor 98th Avenue are mentioned on this advance sign. It might be more effective to convert this sign to an overhead and mention both street names. Photo taken 07/04/06.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits on Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south: Exit 39B, 23rd Avenue; Exit 39A, 29th Avenue/Fruitvale Avenue; and Exit 38, California 77/42nd Avenue freeway to California 185 (International Boulevard) and High Street west to Alameda. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Continuing south, Interstate 880 barely passes between these two aging industrial buildings with four lanes in each direction. The freeway has no shoulders and limited sight distance due to the proximity of these buildings. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Southbound Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) reaches Exit 39B, 23rd Avenue. Photo taken 07/04/06.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits on Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south: Exit 39A, 29th Avenue/Fruitvale Avenue; Exit 38, California 77/42nd Avenue freeway to California 185 (International Boulevard) and High Street west to Alameda; and Exit 37, 66th Avenue. Photo taken 07/04/06.
A pair of steel girder bridges cross Interstate 880. The first (shown in the previous photo) is for 23rd Avenue south, and this one is for 23rd Avenue north. Photo taken 07/04/06.
To Patten University, use Exit 39A and follow the signs to Fruitvale Avenue northeast. The small Christian college sits on the east side of Fruitvale Avenue between 23rd Street and Logan Street. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Southbound Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) reaches Exit 39A, 29th Avenue/Fruitvale Avenue. The next exit is Exit 38, California 77/42nd Street northeast to California 185 (International Boulevard) and High Street west to Alameda. Direct ramps at Exit 38 connect to California 77 and to High Street. Photo taken 07/04/06.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits on Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south: Exit 38, California 77/42nd Avenue freeway to California 185 (International Boulevard) and High Street west to Alameda; Exit 37, 66th Avenue/Zhone Way; and Exit 36, Hegenberger Road (first Oakland International Airport exit). Photo taken 07/04/06.
Southbound Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) reaches Exit 38, California 77/42nd Avenue freeway to California 185 (International Boulevard) and High Street west to Alameda. This exit is only signed for High Street because that is the most logical connection for southbound traffic; however, there is a ramp that connects to California 77 for local Oakland traffic. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Looking at the transition ramp, the left lane of the ramp connects to unsigned California 77/42nd Avenue freeway northeast to California 185 (International Boulevard). The right lane connects to High Street west to Alameda. Despite what the sign says, the short California 77 freeway connector is not High Street and is part of a much longer proposed freeway that would have crossed Oakland northeast past Interstate 580 via an alignment roughly parallel to High Street, then cross the hills into Redwood Regional Park and Contra Costa County. The proposed route of California 77 is still on the books, but it is unlikely to ever be constructed beyond the short section between Interstate 880 and California 185. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Continuing south, the next two exits along Interstate 880 south (Exit 37, 66th Avenue and Exit 36, Hegenberger Road) serve Oakland Coliseum, which is currently known as McAfee Coliseum. Look for the coliseum on the left. The Oakland Coliseum contains an arena for the National Basketball League's Golden State Warriors and a stadium for the Major League Baseball Oakland Athletics (A's) and the National Football League's Oakland Raiders. Photo taken 07/04/06.
An Interstate 880 south reassurance shield assembly is posted after the on-ramp from 42nd Avenue and High Street. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The left four lanes will continue south on Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) through Oakland, while the right lane will have an optional exit to Exit 37, 66th Avenue/Zhone Way. Although most of these signs are only a few years old, none of them feature exit numbers. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Use Exit 37 to Zhone Way, which travels west to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline and San Leandro Bay, which is formed between Alameda to the west, Oakland to the east, and Oakland International Airport to the south. Water streams into the bay from the Inner Harbor to the north, San Leandro Channel to San Francisco Bay to the west, and San Leandro Creek from the south. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Air and road traffic delays are possible at Oakland International Airport, including limited parking. Turn to AM 1700 to find out the conditions before entering the airport property. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Southbound Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) reaches Exit 37, Zhone Way west and 66th Avenue east. Note that the number five lane is exit only, while the number four lane is optional for the exit. Use 66th Avenue east to the McAfee (Oakland) Coliseum complex and to the Melrose and Seminary communities of the city of Oakland. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Prior to passing under Zhone Way and 66th Avenue, another advance guide sign for Oakland International Airport. Similar to the one posted at the 16th Avenue interchange, this sign advises that either Exit 36, Hegenberger Road or Exit 35, 98th Avenue may be used for access to Oakland's busy international airport. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The Oakland (McAfee) Coliseum complex comes into view on the east side of the Nimitz Freeway. The arena (home of the Golden State Warriors) is located immediately adjacent to the freeway and is visible here. Photo taken 07/04/06.
An Interstate 880 south reassurance shield assembly is posted after the 66th Avenue/Zhone Way interchange on-ramp. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Use Exit 35, Hegenberger Road to the Oakland Coliseum (McAfee Coliseum) complex and to Oakland International Airport. The airport is located to the southwest of Interstate 880, while the coliseum is found to the east of Interstate 880. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 36, Hegenberger Road. Follow Hegenberger Road southwest to Oakland International Airport and northeast to the coliseum and the Eastmont community of the city of Oakland. Hegenberger Road is a major arterial and has an expressway section from here south to the airport and also northeast to its junction with California 185 (International Boulevard). At International Boulevard, Hegenberger Road ends and changes into 73rd Street. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Southbound Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) reaches Exit 36, Hegenberger Road. While there is no direct access from the Hegenberger Road/73rd Street corridor to Interstate 580/MacArthur Freeway or California 13 (Warren Freeway), there is a long-standing plan for California 13 to be extended southwest from its current terminus at Interstate 580 to Oakland International Airport, perhaps using part of Hegenberger Road. Such a connection appears unlikely to be built at this time, but the sections of Hegenberger Road southwest of California 185 could easily be incorporated into any state highway given its construction to expressway levels along the route. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The next exit on Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south is Exit 35, 98th Avenue west to Ron Cowan Parkway and Oakland International Airport and east to the Brookfield Village and Elmhurst communities of the city of Oakland. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The right lane of Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south becomes exit only for Exit 35, 98th Avenue to Ron Cowan Parkway. An exit number was pasted onto the existing non-reflective button copy sign. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Southbound Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) reaches Exit 35, 98th Avenue west to Oakland International Airport (Ron Cowan Parkway) and east to the Brookfield Village and Elmhurst communities of the city of Oakland. Follow 98th Avenue west to the ferry to the city of San Francisco. Photo taken 07/04/06.
At the top of the ramp from Interstate 880 south to Exit 35, 98th Avenue (east to Ron Cowan Parkway and Oakland International Airport) is this traffic signal. Photo taken 07/04/06.
An Interstate 880 south reassurance shield is posted shortly after the on-ramp from 98th Avenue. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The next exit on Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south is Exit 34, California 112/Davis Street to San Leandro. This sign refers to "San Leandro" as "Downtown" even though no sign has yet mentioned that Interstate 880 is entering a new city. Signed as California 61, east-west California 112 connects to California 185/14th Street to the east and California 61 (Doolittle Drive) to the west. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Shortly thereafter, Interstate 880 leaves Oakland and enters the city of San Leandro. Home to 79,452 people per the 2000 Census, San Leandro is a southern suburb of Oakland, located between Oakland and unincorporated San Lorenzo. Incorporated as a town on March 21, 1872, San Leandro functioned briefly as the county seat of Alameda County prior to the 1868 Earthquake (when the courthouse at the intersection of Clarke Street and Davis Street was destroyed, and the county seat moved to Oakland). Photo taken 07/04/06.
The next four exits all serve the city of San Leandro: Exit 34, California 112/Davis Street; Exits 33B-A, Marina Boulevard west and east; and Exit 31, Interstate 238 south (east) to Castro Valley and Stockton, with a connection to north-south Washington Avenue afforded via Exit 31. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Southbound Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) reaches Exit 34, California 112/Davis Street. California 112 is signed as California 61 since it is a continuation of the signed route. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The Interstate 880/California 112 Separation is a steel deck girder bridge. Davis Street crosses over Interstate 880. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The next exits along southbound Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) are Exits 33B-A, Marina Boulevard. Use Marina Boulevard west (Exit 33B) to the Mulford Gardens community of San Leandro. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The next exits along southbound Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) are Exits 33B-A, Marina Boulevard. Use Marina Boulevard west to the Mulford Gardens community of San Leandro. To the east, Marina Boulevard connects to Washington Avenue and California 185/14th Street. Photo taken 07/04/06.
An exit number sign is posted for Exit 33A, Marina Boulevard east to the auto mall. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Marina Boulevard (Exit 33B) travels west to San Leandro Marina. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The next four exits are: Exit 33B, Marina Boulevard west; Exit 33A, Marina Boulevard east; Exit 31, Interstate 238 south (east) to Castro Valley and Stockton (and Washington Avenue); Exit 30, Lewelling Boulevard; and Exit 29, A Street. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Southbound Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) reaches Exit 33B, Marina Boulevard west. This sign is posted on the Williams Street overcrossing. Photo taken 07/04/06.
A pair of porcelain enamel signs grace the Marina Boulevard overcrossing as Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south splits with Exit 33A, Marina Boulevard east (loop ramp). The next four exits on southbound are Exit 33A, Marina Boulevard east (not shown on the interchange sequence sign); Exit 31, Interstate 238 south (east) to Castro Valley, Interstate 580 east to Stockton, and Washington Avenue; and Exit 30, Lewelling Boulevard. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 880 is Exit 31, Interstate 238. This is a major interchange for a variety of reasons. First, Interstate 238 is the only freeway connector between Interstate 880 and Interstate 580 before Interstate 580 turns to the east toward Altamont Pass and the Central Valley. Second, Interstate 238 is part of the through truck route for trucks prohibited from using Interstate 580 in Oakland. Third, Interstate 238 is part of the freeway connection from California 92/San Mateo Bridge to Interstate 580. Finally, this interchange provides a local connection to Washington Avenue and provides a connection to California 185 (Mission Boulevard) via Interstate 238 south (east). Even though Interstate 238 is signed north-south, the freeway portion travels due east-west. Photo taken 07/04/06.
This reassurance shield for Interstate 880 south is posted shortly after the Marina Boulevard interchange and prior to the junction with Interstate 238. Photo taken 07/04/06.
The right two lanes connect to Interstate 238 east, while the left four lanes continue south on Interstate 880. After this interchange, Interstate 880 will depart San Leandro and enter unincorporated San Lorenzo, then enter Hayward at Exit 29/A Street. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Southbound Interstate 880 reaches Exit 31, Interstate 238. Use this ramp to Washington Avenue as well. Interstate 238 is an unusual Interstate Highway because it possesses a number that does not follow the numbering rules, since there is no Interstate 38. However, given that all x80 routes were used (including California 180 in Fresno and California 480 in San Francisco), the decision was made to let this important connecting route keep the same number as its prior state route designation. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Now on the transition (collector distributor) ramp from Interstate 880 south to Interstate 238 east, a short exit ramp is provided for the connection to Washington Avenue. Use Washington Avenue north to San Leandro and south to San Lorenzo. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Incoming traffic from Washington Avenue joins the collector distributor lanes. An overhead for the mainline advises of the pending interchange with Exit 31, Lewelling Boulevard to San Lorenzo. Photo taken 07/04/06.
Through traffic on Interstate 880 south should merge right. The left two lanes pass under Interstate 880 and follow Interstate 238 east to unincorporated Castro Valley, Stockton, and Fresno. Notably, Interstate 238 does not even come close to entering either of these cities, and neither does Interstate 580. However, Interstate 580 offers connections to California 99 north to Stockton and south to Fresno. Interstate 238 is signed "south" because it changes into California 238 after the interchange with Interstate 580; California 238 follows Mission Boulevard south to a junction with Interstate 680. Photo taken 07/04/06.


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Page Updated February 24, 2008.

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