I-280

[TheStranger]

I think Interstate 280 should have completed to Interstate 80 in San Francisco. I know how anti-freeway the city was then, and still is now, but the 80/280 connection should have been made in my opinion. I know that probably would have been impossible, for more reasons than one, but it seemed like a needed connection to me.

I get why it won't happen, but IMO something like the modern I-80 west/I-880 south connector along Grand Avenue in West Oakland, or IIRC a proposed connector from I-710 north to I-5 south along Atlantic Boulevard in Commerce...I could see that being useful connecting the 6th Street offramps from 280 with the 5th Street offramp from I-80.  If anything, that actually would take up much less right of way than the originally proposed 280 connection to 480/80 at Fremont Street.

[bing101]

[sparker]

I think Interstate 280 should have completed to Interstate 80 in San Francisco. I know how anti-freeway the city was then, and still is now, but the 80/280 connection should have been made in my opinion. I know that probably would have been impossible, for more reasons than one, but it seemed like a needed connection to me.

If it is in reality up to Interstate standards, the simplest solution would be to sign I-280 multiplexed with US 101 north to the west (signed) terminus of I-80 and alter the BGS's to reflect this.  The current 280 "spur" could conceivably be a reassignation of the longstanding Candlestick-area future route CA 230.  Would require some paperwork and certainly some formal designation change, but it would resolve a connectivity issue that's been going on for 60+ years as of now. 

[TheStranger]

If it is in reality up to Interstate standards, the simplest solution would be to sign I-280 multiplexed with US 101 north to the west (signed) terminus of I-80 and alter the BGS's to reflect this.  The current 280 "spur" could conceivably be a reassignation of the longstanding Candlestick-area future route CA 230.  Would require some paperwork and certainly some formal designation change, but it would resolve a connectivity issue that's been going on for 60+ years as of now. 

Notwithstanding the obvious (Caltrans inertia to do anything regarding route numbering in California other than following through with relinquishments), I don't know if 101 between 280 and the Central Freeway has ever been Interstate standard, due to Hospital Curve's geometry (and the narrow left shoulder along that stretch).  The 1973-era flyovers at Cesar Chavez (Army) Street also are extremely tight.

For that matter, no signage along I-80 west has ever identified the 5th Street exit as a way to get to 280; there used to be a sign for 80 East/Bay Bridge on 280 north between Mariposa and 6th that I vaguely remember from years ago, but that's no longer there.  In general, other than existing 1950s/1960s sign gantries on surface streets, any signage pointing the way to the freeways or numbered surface routes is basically street-sign quality and not really designed to be super helpful to through travelers.

280 itself has been on the Southern Freeway and the route to Dogpatch/Mission Bay since 1968, with the last route numbering change in the Bay Area occurring in 1989 with the switchover from Route 24 to Route 242 for the Concord freeway spur.  So I don't see anything like this ever being floated officially.