State Route 242

Home » Guides » California » State Route 242
California State Route 242

California 242 is a short freeway connecting Interstate 680 with California 4 in Concord. Until the late 1980s, California 242 was signed as an eastern continuation of California 24. With the identification of an as-yet unconstructed freeway route from Walnut Creek to Pittsburg, California 24 was removed from this route, and it was signed as California 242. At one time, California 24 was a much longer route, encompassing portions of California 242, California 4, California 160, and California 70 (U.S. 40 Alternate).

California State Route 242 North
Upon splitting from Interstate 680, northbound California 242 leaves Pleasant Hill and enters the city of Concord, which is the largest city in Contra Costa County (but is not the county seat). Home to 121,780 people as of the 2000 Census, Concord contains 31.31 square miles and was incorporated as a town in February 1905.

Upon splitting from Interstate 680, northbound California 242 leaves Pleasant Hill and enters the city of Concord, which is the largest city in Contra Costa County (but is not the county seat). Home to 121,780 people as of the 2000 Census, Concord contains 31.31 square miles and was incorporated as a town in February 1905.

07/06/06

The first exit on northbound California 242 is Exit 1, Clayton Road east to downtown Concord. There is no access to Clayton Road from southbound California 242; this is a directional interchange that connects with Market Street to the east. Note that a fourth lane forms on the left side of the freeway at this point, thus ensuring that California 242 continues north with three through lanes.

The first exit on northbound California 242 is Exit 1, Clayton Road east to downtown Concord. There is no access to Clayton Road from southbound California 242; this is a directional interchange that connects with Market Street to the east. Note that a fourth lane forms on the left side of the freeway at this point, thus ensuring that California 242 continues north with three through lanes.

07/06/06

Approaching downtown Concord, Clayton Road splits into a one-way couplet shared with Concord Boulevard near Ellis Lake Park. To the civic center, follow Clayton Road east to Port Chicago Highway north, then turn east again on Willow Pass Road.

Approaching downtown Concord, Clayton Road splits into a one-way couplet shared with Concord Boulevard near Ellis Lake Park. To the civic center, follow Clayton Road east to Port Chicago Highway north, then turn east again on Willow Pass Road.

07/06/06

The first three exits on California 242 are: Exit 1, Clayton Road to Willow Pass Road and Market Street; Exit 2, Solano Way/Grant Street; and Exit 3A, Olivera Road. After that, California 242 meets California 4 at Exits 3B-C.

The first three exits on California 242 are: Exit 1, Clayton Road to Willow Pass Road and Market Street; Exit 2, Solano Way/Grant Street; and Exit 3A, Olivera Road. After that, California 242 meets California 4 at Exits 3B-C.

07/06/06

Northbound California 242 reaches Exit 1, Clayton Road to Willow Pass Road and Market Street. Use this exit to downtown Concord.

Northbound California 242 reaches Exit 1, Clayton Road to Willow Pass Road and Market Street. Use this exit to downtown Concord.

07/06/06

The last three exits on California 242 are: Exit 2, Solano Way/Grant Street; Exit 3A, Olivera Road; and Exits 3B-C, California 4 east to Pittsburg, Antioch, and Stockton and west to Martinez and Hercules.

The last three exits on California 242 are: Exit 2, Solano Way/Grant Street; Exit 3A, Olivera Road; and Exits 3B-C, California 4 east to Pittsburg, Antioch, and Stockton and west to Martinez and Hercules.

07/06/06

The next exit on California 242 is Exit 2, Solano Way/Grant Street. At this diamond interchange, Grant Street travels southeast to Mount Diablo Medical Center and downtown Concord, while Solano Way travels northwest toward an interchange with California 4 (California Delta Highway) and the oil refineries located north of California 4.

The next exit on California 242 is Exit 2, Solano Way/Grant Street. At this diamond interchange, Grant Street travels southeast to Mount Diablo Medical Center and downtown Concord, while Solano Way travels northwest toward an interchange with California 4 (California Delta Highway) and the oil refineries located north of California 4.

07/06/06

Northbound California 242 reaches Exit 2, Solano Way/Grant Street. The next exit is Exit 3A, Olivera Road, followed by Exits 3B-C, California 4. Note the pull-through sign, which at one time showed California 24 but was replaced with a California 242 shield when California 24 was retracted to its current configuration.

Northbound California 242 reaches Exit 2, Solano Way/Grant Street. The next exit is Exit 3A, Olivera Road, followed by Exits 3B-C, California 4. Note the pull-through sign, which at one time showed California 24 but was replaced with a California 242 shield when California 24 was retracted to its current configuration.

07/06/06

The last two exits on California 242 are: Exit 3A, Olivera Road and Exits 3B-C, California 4 east to Pittsburg, Antioch, and Stockton and west to Martinez and Hercules. On the ramp to California 4westis a secondary ramp to Port Chicago Highway, which interchanges with California 4eastof the California 242 interchange near Diablo Creek Golf Course.

The last two exits on California 242 are: Exit 3A, Olivera Road and Exits 3B-C, California 4 east to Pittsburg, Antioch, and Stockton and west to Martinez and Hercules. On the ramp to California 4westis a secondary ramp to Port Chicago Highway, which interchanges with California 4eastof the California 242 interchange near Diablo Creek Golf Course.

07/06/06

Northbound California 242 reaches Exit 3A, Olivera Road. The left three lanes connect to Exit 3C, California 4 east to Pittsburg, Antioch, and Stockton, while the right lane becomes exit only for Exit 3B, California 4 west to Martinez and Hercules. Use California 4 west to Port Chicago Highway (this is counterintuitive because Port Chicago Highway parallels California 242 to the east of here.

Northbound California 242 reaches Exit 3A, Olivera Road. The left three lanes connect to Exit 3C, California 4 east to Pittsburg, Antioch, and Stockton, while the right lane becomes exit only for Exit 3B, California 4 west to Martinez and Hercules. Use California 4 west to Port Chicago Highway (this is counterintuitive because Port Chicago Highway parallels California 242 to the east of here.

07/06/06

Northbound California 242 ends as the freeway splits. The left three lanes connect to Exit 3C, California 4 east to Pittsburg, Antioch, and Stockton, while the right lane becomes exit only for Exit 3B, California 4 west to Martinez and Hercules. Exit 3B also connects to Port Chicago Highway and also functions as a collector distributor lane for California 4 east.

Northbound California 242 ends as the freeway splits. The left three lanes connect to Exit 3C, California 4 east to Pittsburg, Antioch, and Stockton, while the right lane becomes exit only for Exit 3B, California 4 west to Martinez and Hercules. Exit 3B also connects to Port Chicago Highway and also functions as a collector distributor lane for California 4 east.

07/06/06

The exit ramp for Exit 3B, California 4 west splits with Port Chicago Highway immediately, and the ramp to California 4 west flies over California 242. Straight ahead, the three lanes continue to merge with California 4 east.

The exit ramp for Exit 3B, California 4 west splits with Port Chicago Highway immediately, and the ramp to California 4 west flies over California 242. Straight ahead, the three lanes continue to merge with California 4 east.

07/06/06

The flyover ramp for Exit 3B, California 4 west to Martinez and Hercules crosses over the three-lane transition ramp to California 4 east.

The flyover ramp for Exit 3B, California 4 west to Martinez and Hercules crosses over the three-lane transition ramp to California 4 east.

07/06/06

The three-lane transition ramp merges onto California 4 east, and a California 4 reassurance shield is posted there. No end California 242 shield assembly is posted here.

The three-lane transition ramp merges onto California 4 east, and a California 4 reassurance shield is posted there. No end California 242 shield assembly is posted here.

07/06/06

Photo Credits:

Connect with:

Interstate 680Interstate 680
California State Route 4State Route 4

Page Updated Saturday September 08, 2007.