Cummings Skyway

[Max Rockatansky]

I stumbled upon an article regarding the Cummings Skyway in Contra Costa County in the Sep/Oct 1961 CHPW.  Turns out this was part of FAS 1256 and was envisioned as a four-lane expressway between CA 4 and I-80.  I always thought that this was a little overbuilt for a two-lane road and turns out it was supposed to have been more significant than it turns out to be:

https://www.gribblenation.org/2022/01/cummings-skyway.html

[bing101]

Dang I never knew Cummings skyway was originally going to be a local expressway like Vasco Rd and Richmond Parkway are and yes if that happened Contra Costa County would have been the second county in the Bay Area to have a locally maintained county expressway system after Santa Clara County.

[Max Rockatansky]

Dang I never knew Cummings skyway was originally going to be a local expressway like Vasco Rd and Richmond Parkway are and yes if that happened Contra Costa County would have been the second county in the Bay Area to have a locally maintained county expressway system after Santa Clara County.

I would argue it is a two lane expressway as currently configured.  It isn't like you can pull into a local business or a home anywhere on it.  It definitely meets the purpose of getting vehicles from two major highways on a smooth gradient. 

[jdbx]

Dang I never knew Cummings skyway was originally going to be a local expressway like Vasco Rd and Richmond Parkway are and yes if that happened Contra Costa County would have been the second county in the Bay Area to have a locally maintained county expressway system after Santa Clara County.

I would argue it is a two lane expressway as currently configured.  It isn't like you can pull into a local business or a home anywhere on it.  It definitely meets the purpose of getting vehicles from two major highways on a smooth gradient. 

Agreed.  I use this road frequently, and it is a terrific shortcut between CA-4 and the Carquinez Bridge or Crockett.  There is only one traffic light at Crockett Blvd, and it offers a climbing lane for trucks headed eastbound.  Most people move at 60-70 MPH for the entire length.

One oddity that I find to be slightly unsafe is that traffic exiting westbound I-80 does not have to stop.  I am not sure why that is the case, it's pretty rare to see a freeway offramp to a surface street with absolutely no traffic control.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0453467,-122.2394012,3a,75y,74.31h,81.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEbUcaMlidkNyPndhJZjnRg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[Max Rockatansky]

Dang I never knew Cummings skyway was originally going to be a local expressway like Vasco Rd and Richmond Parkway are and yes if that happened Contra Costa County would have been the second county in the Bay Area to have a locally maintained county expressway system after Santa Clara County.

I would argue it is a two lane expressway as currently configured.  It isn't like you can pull into a local business or a home anywhere on it.  It definitely meets the purpose of getting vehicles from two major highways on a smooth gradient. 

Agreed.  I use this road frequently, and it is a terrific shortcut between CA-4 and the Carquinez Bridge or Crockett.  There is only one traffic light at Crockett Blvd, and it offers a climbing lane for trucks headed eastbound.  Most people move at 60-70 MPH for the entire length.

One oddity that I find to be slightly unsafe is that traffic exiting westbound I-80 does not have to stop.  I am not sure why that is the case, it's pretty rare to see a freeway offramp to a surface street with absolutely no traffic control.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0453467,-122.2394012,3a,75y,74.31h,81.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEbUcaMlidkNyPndhJZjnRg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Interestingly I did capture the lack of a stop sign in my own photos. 

https://flic.kr/p/2mXBmJK

What I find odd is that traffic departing westbound I-80 is directed to take Cummings Skyway to Port Costa but isn't given any additional signage indicating how to reach it.  I-80 eastbound and Crockett Boulevard would make (for non-freight vehicles) since but my thought I-80 west would be better server exiting at Pomona Street/San Pablo Avenue in Crockett to reach Port Costa.

[jdbx]

Dang I never knew Cummings skyway was originally going to be a local expressway like Vasco Rd and Richmond Parkway are and yes if that happened Contra Costa County would have been the second county in the Bay Area to have a locally maintained county expressway system after Santa Clara County.

I would argue it is a two lane expressway as currently configured.  It isn't like you can pull into a local business or a home anywhere on it.  It definitely meets the purpose of getting vehicles from two major highways on a smooth gradient. 

Agreed.  I use this road frequently, and it is a terrific shortcut between CA-4 and the Carquinez Bridge or Crockett.  There is only one traffic light at Crockett Blvd, and it offers a climbing lane for trucks headed eastbound.  Most people move at 60-70 MPH for the entire length.

One oddity that I find to be slightly unsafe is that traffic exiting westbound I-80 does not have to stop.  I am not sure why that is the case, it's pretty rare to see a freeway offramp to a surface street with absolutely no traffic control.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0453467,-122.2394012,3a,75y,74.31h,81.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEbUcaMlidkNyPndhJZjnRg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Interestingly I did capture the lack of a stop sign in my own photos. 

https://flic.kr/p/2mXBmJK

What I find odd is that traffic departing westbound I-80 is directed to take Cummings Skyway to Port Costa but isn't given any additional signage indicating how to reach it.  I-80 eastbound and Crockett Boulevard would make (for non-freight vehicles) since but my thought I-80 west would be better server exiting at Pomona Street/San Pablo Avenue in Crockett to reach Port Costa.

Yes, using Cummings Skyway to get to Port Costa is a strange routing.  McEwen Road may be a bit easier for a truck to traverse due to fewer switchbacks, but it is still a very narrow and winding road.

Crockett Blvd has a very long grade heading down into Crockett from Cummings Skyway, so the restriction on trucks is not surprising.  There used to be a lot of truck traffic servicing the C&H refinery when they were still actually producing sugar.