In the Bay Area, it seems as though Tesla Road is the only other way to get to the valley from Livermore but it has no development around it. I noticed the new Tracy Hills development is on the I-5 end of the road, but I'm curious if Caltrans has ever studied widening/making it a freeway since 580 is about at its brink on the Altamont. It doesn't seem too curvy or impassible either.
Quote from: thsftw on November 16, 2023, 04:54:49 PM
In the Bay Area, it seems as though Tesla Road is the only other way to get to the valley from Livermore but it has no development around it. I noticed the new Tracy Hills development is on the I-5 end of the road, but I'm curious if Caltrans has ever studied widening/making it a freeway since 580 is about at its brink on the Altamont. It doesn't seem too curvy or impassible either.
I"m not aware of any such study. They do have unconstructed Route 130 to the S.
Quote from: cahwyguy on November 16, 2023, 05:03:59 PM
Quote from: thsftw on November 16, 2023, 04:54:49 PM
In the Bay Area, it seems as though Tesla Road is the only other way to get to the valley from Livermore but it has no development around it. I noticed the new Tracy Hills development is on the I-5 end of the road, but I'm curious if Caltrans has ever studied widening/making it a freeway since 580 is about at its brink on the Altamont. It doesn't seem too curvy or impassible either.
I"m not aware of any such study. They do have unconstructed Route 130 to the S.
When we say "unconstructed," are we referring to road that doesn't actually exist, or an actual drivable road that exists but isn't yet state maintained?
No.
Quote from: Quillz on November 16, 2023, 05:26:40 PM
Quote from: cahwyguy on November 16, 2023, 05:03:59 PM
Quote from: thsftw on November 16, 2023, 04:54:49 PM
In the Bay Area, it seems as though Tesla Road is the only other way to get to the valley from Livermore but it has no development around it. I noticed the new Tracy Hills development is on the I-5 end of the road, but I'm curious if Caltrans has ever studied widening/making it a freeway since 580 is about at its brink on the Altamont. It doesn't seem too curvy or impassible either.
I"m not aware of any such study. They do have unconstructed Route 130 to the S.
When we say "unconstructed," are we referring to road that doesn't actually exist, or an actual drivable road that exists but isn't yet state maintained?
The road goes all the way through the mountains, and the county has put up some route 130 signs, even though it's not a state highway east of Mt. Hamilton. (Lovely 3hr drive, by the way.) But those mountains would be a lot harder to cut a freeway through than the Tesla Rd route. We can dream, though.
580/old US 50 was easier to construct as a freeway because for the most part, it runs close to the railroad alignment over Altamont Pass. Neither Tesla/Corral Hollow nor Patterson Pass Road do that.
Tesla Road/Corral Hollow Road has never been part of the state highway system, even conceptually. Corral Hollow Pass notably was used by El Camino Viejo and functionally is the oldest highway corridor in the area. Considering how many speed humps are on the Tesla Road portion it tends to make me favor Patterson Pass Road as the alternate to I-580.
Quote from: Quillz on November 16, 2023, 05:26:40 PM
Quote from: cahwyguy on November 16, 2023, 05:03:59 PM
Quote from: thsftw on November 16, 2023, 04:54:49 PM
In the Bay Area, it seems as though Tesla Road is the only other way to get to the valley from Livermore but it has no development around it. I noticed the new Tracy Hills development is on the I-5 end of the road, but I'm curious if Caltrans has ever studied widening/making it a freeway since 580 is about at its brink on the Altamont. It doesn't seem too curvy or impassible either.
I"m not aware of any such study. They do have unconstructed Route 130 to the S.
When we say "unconstructed," are we referring to road that doesn't actually exist, or an actual drivable road that exists but isn't yet state maintained?
From the point of view of the state, that portion of Route 130 is unconstructed as a state highway. There is a traversable road, but it is not part of the state highway system and there are no plans for the state to take over maintenance of that segment.
Just because there is a road from A to B, and a state highway designated from A to B, doesn't mean the road is a state highway, or even planned to be upgraded to a state highway. The state could always choose to construct an entirely new alignment.
Which of course doesn't mean anything to Santa Clara County. They have their own unique brand of CA 130 signs they placed on San Antonio Valley Road and Del Puerto Canyon Road east from Mount Hamilton to the Stanislaus County line.
https://flic.kr/p/EfLnnF
https://flic.kr/p/FLXoGA
https://flic.kr/p/FLXqN9
https://flic.kr/p/RSVaes
https://flic.kr/p/T6Puxq
https://flic.kr/p/T6PuR1