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Anyone have vintage photos of the Central Freeway (US 101) in SF?

Started by TheStranger, January 01, 2012, 10:01:56 PM

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TheStranger

At its furthest extent, the Central Freeway extended northward from its current ending at Market Street (as of 2005) to a north terminus at Turk Street/Golden Gate Avenue and Franklin Street.  From the late 1950s to 1989, US 101 bypassed Van Ness between today's Exit 434A (Duboce Avenue/Mission Street) and Turk/Golden Gate (and from ca. 1958 to 1968, I-80 was at least implied to be concurrent with 101 to Fell Street, in anticipation for the highly controversial unbuilt Western Freeway).

After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the north segment from Fell Street to Turk was never reopened and demolished ca. 1996, and 101 restored to Van Ness south of Turk as had been part of the 1930s alignment.  The portion of freeway from Van Ness Avenue to Fell Street was reopened westbound for several years, only to be demolished and replaced in 2005 with a new Octavia Boulevard on the right of way north of Market, and a single-deck freeway from Market to the Duboce/Van Ness interchange.

Here's one photo from the Chronicle showing the furthest extent of the freeway, along with the stub ramps for what would've been the I-80 west extension:
http://articles.sfgate.com/2004-10-20/news/17449924_1_ramps-freeway-decks-freeway-opponents&imgurl=http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2004/10/20/mn_octavia_cntrlfwy_chronfile.jpg&w=608&h=432&sig=110357474579400945827&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAESEgnqhrpA8YWk9CHF9IYjiC3gMg&sa=X&ei=QA0BT4y4EMqZiQKru6WmDg&ved=0CAQQ0gU

A 1950s photo of the freeway as seen from Valencia Street:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4720240834_09b6e41578.jpg

What I have never really seen, but am most curious about: photos of signage along that north segment of the 101 freeway that was closed in 1989.  Does that exist at all?  It seems the existing sign gantries at the Van Ness/Duboce ramps have room for way more information than is present.



Chris Sampang



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