View of the Alfred Zampa Bridge, the newest suspension bridge in California. The bridge opened on November 11, 2003, as part of the newly expanded Carquinez Bridge. These photos show the original 1927 span in the center, but this span was demolished in phases by September 2007. The 1958 span is still in use for northbound (eastbound) traffic. Photos taken 04/02/04 and 11/28/04.
The new suspension bridge replaces the middle steel truss span, which could be not retrofitted for earthquake safety and will be dismantled. The eastbound truss bridge remains in use. Photo taken 04/02/04.
Interstate 80 enters Contra Costa County in the middle of the Carquinez Straits as it heads south from Solano County over the Alfred Zampa Bridge. Photos taken 04/02/04 and 11/28/04.
Views of the southern tower of the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge (Carquinez Bridge) along westbound Interstate 80. Photos taken 04/02/04 and 11/28/04.
Now at the southern end of the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge, Interstate 80 west reaches Exit 27, San Pablo Avenue/Historic U.S. 40. A new ramp connecting the freeway to the old route was constructed as part of the bridge project. The next exit is Exit 26, To California 4 East/Cummings Skyway. Note that there are no exit numbers present on these brand new signs. Photo taken 11/28/04.
The gore point for Exit 27 has flashing beacons since the exit comes immediately upon reaching the southern end of the bridge in Crockett. Photo taken 11/28/04.
Mileage sign along westbound for the next three exits: Exit 26, To California 4 East/Cummings Skyway; Exit 24, Willow Avenue; and Exit 23/California 4 West to San Pablo Avenue. Photo taken 04/02/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 at Exit 26, To California 4 East/Cummings Skyway. There is no direct connection from westbound Interstate 80 to eastbound California 4, so traffic to Martinez, Concord, Walnut Creek, and Antioch must use Cummings Skyway for the most direct connection. Photo taken 04/02/04.
Rodeo is an unincorporated community in Contra Costa County that is situated just north of the city of Hercules. Willow Avenue forms the boundary between the unincorporated county and city of Hercules. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 at Exit 24, Willow Avenue, which serves the community of Rodeo. Photo taken 04/04/04.
The next exit along westbound is Exit 23, Junction California 4/John Muir Parkway west to San Pablo Avenue/Historic U.S. 40 in Hercules. A company town founded around the old California Powder Works in 1881, Hercules became one of the largest producers of the black powder used to make TNT in the country in the first half of the 20th century. When the plant shifted production from TNT to fertilizer in the 1960s, many acres of land that were previously not developable due to proximity to the TNT production facility were made available. The city adopted a general plan two years after the conversion, and it has been growing and redeveloping ever since. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Mileage sign along westbound for the next three exits: Exit 22, Pinole Valley Road; Exit 21, Appian Way; and Exit 20, Richmond Parkway/Route 93. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Interstate 80 next enters the city of Pinole, home to 19,039 residents as of 2000. Averaging about 23 inches of precipitation per year, the city enjoys a temperate climate, with temperatures rarely leaving the range between mid-40s and mid-70s. According to the official webpage, Interstate 80 (also known as the U.S. 40 freeway until its decommissioning in 1964) entered town in 1958, an early year for freeway construction. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 at Exit 22, Pinole Valley Road. Interstate 80 briefly turns west again, but will head south by the time it reaches Richmond Parkway (Exit 20). Heading north on Pinole Valley Road, the road changes into Tennent Avenue, which serves downtown Pinole and connects with Old U.S. 40/San Pablo Avenue. Heading south, Pinole Valley Road goes to Pinole Park, then changes into Alhambra Valley Road, which heads east and then north to Martinez's Alhambra Avenue and California 4/John Muir Parkway. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Mileage sign along westbound Interstate 80 for the next three exits: Exit 21, Appian Way; Exit 20, Junction Route 93/Richmond Parkway; and Exit 19B, Hilltop Mall/Auto Plaza. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 at Exit 21, Appian Way; the next exit is Exit 20, Richmond Parkway. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Some would say that the recently completed Richmond Parkway, which arcs from Interstate 80 west and then south to Interstate 580 at the foot of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge should be added to the state highway system as California 93. The state has not taken the road over, even though call boxes refer to the Richmond Parkway as California 93 and the parkway rests on the long-proposed alignment of California 93. This picture shows westbound Interstate 80 at Exit 20, Temporary California 93/Richmond Parkway. The next exit is Exit 19B, Hilltop Mall/Auto Plaza. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Mileage sign along westbound Interstate 80 for the next three exits: Exit 19B, Hilltop Mall/Auto Plaza; Exit 19A, El Portal Drive; and Exit 18, San Pablo Dam Road. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 at Exit 19B, Hilltop Mall/Auto Plaza. The next exit is El Portal Drive (Exit 19A). Photo taken 04/04/04.
Mileage sign along westbound Interstate 80 for the next three exits: Exit 19A, El Portal Drive; Exit 18, San Pablo Dam Road; and Exit 17, McBryde Avenue. El Portal Drive is the first exit to serve the city of San Pablo, the "City of New Directions." San Pablo is home to 30,215 residents as of 2000. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 at Exit 19A, El Portal Drive, which leads south to San Pablo Dam Road. Use this route to head east toward eastern sections of Richmond and the San Pablo Reservoir recreational area. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Mileage sign along westbound Interstate 80 for the next three exits: Exit 18, San Pablo Dam Road; Exit 17, McBryde Avenue; and Exit 16, Junction California 123 South/San Pablo Avenue/Barrett Avenue. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 at Exit 18, San Pablo Dam Road. Photo taken 04/04/04.
At the time this photo was taken, Exit 17/McBryde Avenue was the last exit number to be found along westbound. Interstate 80 now enters the city of Richmond, has 99,216 residents per the 2000 U.S. Census. The city will celebrate its centennial in 2005. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 at Exit 17, McBryde Avenue. The next exit is Exit 16, Junction California 123 south/San Pablo Avenue/Barrett Avenue. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Mileage sign along westbound Interstate 80 for the next three exits: Exit 16, Junction California 123 South/San Pablo Avenue/Barrett Avenue; Exit 15, Cutting Boulevard; Exit 14B, Carlson Boulevard; and Exit 14A, Central Avenue. Photo taken 04/04/04.
As is the case for several non-freeway state highways in the Bay Area (such as California 61, California 262, and others), California 123 is not signed on the approach guide signs along the freeway. San Pablo Avenue follows Historic U.S. 40 from Interstate 80 in Richmond south through El Cerrito, Berkeley, and Emeryville before entering Oakland. The state highway culminates at a point where San Pablo Avenue crosses Interstate 580 just west of Market Street and the California 24 stack interchange. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 approaching Exit 16, Junction California 123/San Pablo Avenue south and Barrett Avenue. Barrett Avenue heads west into Richmond and east into El Cerrito, culminating at Arlington Boulevard near the Mira Vista Country Club and Golf Course. Photo taken 04/04/04.
This mileage sign along westbound Interstate 80 provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 15, Cutting Boulevard; Exit 14B, Carlson Boulevard; and Exit 14A, Central Avenue. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Cutting Boulevard, which heads west into Richmond, intersects Interstate 580 just east of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Heading east, Cutting Boulevard connects to California 123/San Pablo Avenue/Old U.S. 40 in El Cerrito. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 at Exit 15, Cutting Boulevard. Note the special left exit for high occupancy vehicles. Between here and the Potrero Avenue crossing, Interstate 80 briefly enters the city of El Cerrito, with an estimated 23,596 population. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Mileage sign along westbound Interstate 80 for the next three exits: Exit 14B, Carlson Boulevard; Exit 14A, Central Avenue; and Exit 13, Cleveland Avenue/Buchanan Street. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 14B, Carlson Boulevard. Carlson Boulevard heads northwest into downtown Richmond and southeast into El Cerrito. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Mileage sign along westbound Interstate 80 for the next three exits: Exit 14A, Central Avenue; Exit 13, Cleveland Avenue/Buchanan Street; and Exit 12, Gilman Street. Photo taken 04/04/04.
Westbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 14A, Central Avenue. Central Avenue is the final exit along westbound in Contra Costa County/city of Richmond. After this exit, Interstate 80 merges with eastbound Interstate 580, even though both routes are now headed due south. The next exit is Exit 13, Cleveland Avenue/Buchanan Street in Alameda County. Exit 13 is situated on top of the merge point between Interstate 80 and Interstate 580. Photo taken 04/04/04.
