| Interstate 580 east
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| As the bridge returns traffic to land, the lower deck opens up, allowing the eastbound lanes to return to the same grade as the westbound lanes. There is no toll along eastbound; westbound travelers pay $4.00. Photo taken 11/28/03.
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| After exiting the bridge, westbound Interstate 580 reaches the first exit, which is Exit 7 for the Richmond Parkway. This divided highway provides a bypass to the northwest of Richmond and San Pablo, offering an alternate route to eastbound Interstate 80. This corridor has been proposed as California 93, but since the route is maintained locally, it is not signed as California 93. Photos taken 11/28/03 and 08/16/03.
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| Eastbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 7, Richmond Parkway (Junction California 93) to Interstate 80 East. Don't be fooled; Interstate 80 is still many miles from this exit, and while California 93 offers a shorter route to Interstate 80 northeast, it is still a good distance away. Photo taken 11/28/03.
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| Continuing east, Interstate 580 meets Canal Boulevard and Garrard Boulevard at Exit 8. Interstate 580 enters the city of Richmond, which was incorporated in 1905. The commerical hub of the city was in Point Richmond, but that moved toward today's downtown Richmond as the city grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s. Per the 2000 Census, 99,216 people called Richmond home; that figure has since increased to 103,464 people as of a 2005 estimate. The city is approximately 56.1 square miles. To the south of the freeway is a road tunnel that connects to the old ferry terminal via Garrard Boulevard. Known as the Point Richmond Tunnel, the Municipal Tunnel, or the Ferry Point Tunnel, it was built in 1899 as a rail tunnel and passes under Miller-Knox Regional Park. Tunnel bonds from the 1920s brought construction of the vehicular tunnel along Garrard Boulevard (which changes to Dornan Drive at the south end of the tunnel). At the end of the tunnel is the Golden State Railroad Museum, the U.S.S. Red Oak Victory, Keller Beach, Ferry Point (and old ferry launching point), fishing pier, old brickyards, and plenty of shoreline. An adjacent railroad passes alongside the tunnel, and the railroad features an operational, upside-down "wigwag" grade crossing signals. This used to be the western terminus of the Santa Fe Railroad before taking a ferry the rest of the way to San Francisco. Photo taken 11/28/03.
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 580 is Exit 9, Harbor Way/Cutting Boulevard. Most of this area is port and industrial oriented, and there is substantial increase in truck traffic compared to what was experienced in Marin County. Photo taken 11/28/03.
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| Eastbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 9, Harbour Way/Cutting Boulevard. Interstate 580 follows the path of former California 17, which was upgraded to Interstate standards as part of the 580 upgrade in the early 1990s. Photo taken 11/28/03.
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| The next exit along eastbound Interstate 580 is Exit 11, Bayview Avenue. Photo taken 11/28/03.
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| Continuing east, Interstate 580 approaches Exit 12, Central Avenue, which leads east into El Cerrito and junction California 123/San Pablo Avenue (Old U.S. 40). Photo taken 11/28/03.
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| Eastbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 12, Central Avenue. Interstate 580 now leaves Contra Costa County/city of Richmond and enters Alameda County/city of Albany. Photo taken 11/28/03.
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Continue east on Interstate 580 to Oakland.
Page Updated December 13, 2007.
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