Westbound Interstate 580 prepares to merge with Interstate 205 (Exit 65 - no access to eastbound Interstate 205). Between here and Junction Interstate 238, Interstate 580 heads due west. After the merge, the William Elton "Brownie" Brown Freeway will shift directly onto the Arthur H. Breed, Jr. Freeway. Photo taken 11/28/02.
Interstate 580/Arthur H. Breed, Jr. Freeway west
Interstate 580 west and Interstate 205 west merge together, with Interstate 580 merging into Interstate 205 from the right. Now Interstate 580 will begin its gradual climb to Altamont Pass. At this point, Interstate 580 passes under the Path 15 power lines, which carry two circuits of 500kV power from north to south in the state of California. Photo taken 06/28/06.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 580 is Exit 63, Byron/Grant Line Road, one mile. This exit connects to Altamont Pass Road, which parallels the freeway to the north as Historic U.S. 50, back from when Interstate 580 was part of transcontinental U.S. 50. In 1964, the route of U.S. 50 was recommissioned as Interstate 205 around Tracy and Interstate 580 from Oakland to Tracy. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 63, Byron/Grant Line Road. From here, Interstate 580 climbs from the floor of the Central Valley to Altamont Pass. Photo taken 11/25/04.
This centerline view of Interstate 580 west at the Grant Line Road interchange shows Altamont Pass and the distant wind turbines that dominate the view. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The last rays of sun crest over the Altamont Pass as Interstate 580/Arthur Breed, Jr. Freeway proceeds west toward Livermore and the San Ramon Valley. Photo taken 06/28/06.
Giant wind turbines, which constantly generate electricity, dominate the grass-covered hills of Altamont Pass. The turbines take advantage of frequent windy days on top of these hills. Power lines dot the landscape in between the turbines, carrying electricity generated by the turbines to the state's electrical grid. Photo taken 06/28/06.
Westbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 59, North Flynn Road. This is the height of the Altamont Pass. The windmills on the horizon generate wind-powered electricity. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The highest point along Interstate 580 is Altamont Pass, elevation 1,009 feet. The freeway reaches this height at the North Flynn Road interchange; afterward, Interstate 580 descends into Livermore. Photo taken 06/28/06.
This reassurance shield for Interstate 580 west is posted after Exit 59, North Flynn Road. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 580 is Exit 57, North Greenville Road/Altamont Pass Road/Laughlin Road/Historic U.S. 50 east, one mile. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The cities of Livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton spread on the valley floor as Interstate 580 descends from Altamont Pass. Photo taken 07/03/04.
Interstate 580 enters the city of Livermore. Founded in 1869 (incorporated on April 15, 1876), Livermore is home to 80,723 people as of the 2000 Census and encompasses 23.9 square miles. Surrounding Livermore are multiple wineries, which dominate the landscape especially south of the city. A major employment center that has national research significance -- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory -- is located in Livermore. The next five exits all serve the city of Livermore. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 57, North Greenville Road/Altamont Pass Road/Laughlin Road/Historic U.S. 50 east. From here west to San Leandro, Interstate 580 follows the general alignment of U.S. 50. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 580 is Exit 55, Vasco Road/Brentwood. These light green sign bridges are common along Interstate 580 between Tracy and Dublin. Photo taken 07/03/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 55, Vasco Road/Brentwood. These light green sign bridges are common along Interstate 580 between Tracy and Dublin. Photo taken 07/03/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 approaches Exit 54, Junction Westbound California 84, First Street. This marks the eastern terminus of the western segment of California 84. (The "eastern" California 84 is a north-south highway that begins at California 12 in Rio Vista and continues north to end at Interstate 80 in Sacramento via River Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard.) Plans call for these two segments of California 84 to be connected, but there is no timetable for constructing such a roadway. Photos taken 11/28/02 and 11/25/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 54, (former California 84 west) First Street and Springtown Boulevard. Due to the demands of traffic that uses westbound California 84 (Vallecitos Road) as a short-cut between Livermore and southbound Interstate 680 near Sunol, the state highway was relocated to the Airway Boulevard interchange (Exit 50) in 2003. Springtown is a community of Livermore located north of the freeway. Photos taken 11/28/02 and 07/03/04.
The next three exits along westbound are Exit 52, North Livermore Avenue (south to Alameda County Route J-2/Tesla Road eastbound via Corral Hollow); Exit 50, Junction California 84 West/Airway Boulevard; Exit 48, Fallon Road/El Charro Road. Photo taken 11/25/04.
A one-mile advance sign is posted for Exit 52, North Livermore Avenue (south to Alameda County Route J-2/Tesla Road eastbound via Corral Hollow) on westbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 52, North Livermore Avenue south to Junction Alameda County Route J-2/Tesla Road southeast. Use this exit to downtown Livermore. Photo taken 07/03/04.
The next three exits along westbound are Exit 50, Junction California 84 West/Airway Boulevard; Exit 48, Fallon Road/El Charro Road; and Exit 47, Santa Rita Road/Tassajara Road. Photo taken 11/25/04.
After traffic from North Livermore Avenue merges onto Interstate 580, this reassurance shield is posted. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 580 is Exit 50, Junction California 84 West/Airway Boulevard, one mile. From this interchange, California 84 extends southwest, skirting between Livermore and Pleasanton via Vallecitos Road to Interstate 680 at Sunol, then onward west via Niles Canyon Road into Fremont, where it meets California 238 and Interstate 880/Nimitz Freeway. Photo taken 07/03/04.
Use Exit 50 to Doolan Road and Las Positas College. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 approaches Exit 50, Junction California 84/Airway Boulevard and Collier Canyon Road. This exit serves the Livermore Regional Airport, which is located just south of Interstate 580. First photo taken 11/28/02; second photo taken 11/25/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 50, Junction California 84 West/Airway Boulevard to Collier Canyon Road north. The next exit is Exit 48, Fallon Road; there is a bit of open space between Livermore and Dublin/Pleasanton. First photo taken 11/28/02; second photo taken 07/03/04.
The next three exits along Interstate 580/Arthur H. Breed, Jr. Freeway west are Exit 48, Fallon Road/El Charro Road; Exit 47, Santa Rita Road/Tassajara Road; and Exit 46, Hacienda Drive. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The next five exits from Interstate 580 serve the city of Dublin, which is home to approximately 45,000 people per state estimates in 2007 and was incorporated in February 1982. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 580 is Exit 47, Santa Rita Road/Tassajara Road, one mile. Photo taken 11/25/04.
While the city of Dublin lies entirely north of Interstate 580/Breed Freeway, the city of Pleasanton lies entirely south of Interstate 580. The freeway serves as the city limits between the two. Exit 47 is the first interchange to serve the city of Pleasanton. Incorporated in 1894, Pleasanton has 63,654 people as of 2000 Census and is located at the crossroads of Interstate 680 and Interstate 580. It is also the headquarters of Safeway, the grocery store chain. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Use Exit 47 to Tassajara Road north to Blackhawk and Danville. This is a back route to those areas while avoiding Interstate 680. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The next three exits along westbound Interstate 580 are: Exit 47, Santa Rita Road/Tassajara Road; Exit 46, Hacienda Drive/Dublin Boulevard; and Exit 45, Hopyard Road. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The two right lanes connect to Exit 47, Santa Rita Road/Tassajara Road, with the right lane becoming exit only. Tassajara Road leads north from Interstate 580 into Dublin, then continues north to Tassajara before turning west into Blackhawk and ultimately Danville as Sycamore Valley Road. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 47, Santa Rita Road/Tassajara Road, the first Pleasanton/Dublin exit. Santa Rita Road leads south into Pleasanton, connecting with Interstate 680 south of town. Photo taken 11/25/04.
This mileage sign along westbound Interstate 580 provides the distance to the next three intechanges: Exit 46, Hacienda Drive; Exit 45, Hopyard Road; and Exit 44B, Junction Interstate 680 north to Walnut Creek/Concord and south to San Jose. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The right lane of westbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway becomes exit only for Exit 46, Hacienda Drive/Dublin Boulevard. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 46, Hacienda Drive/Dublin Boulevard. A huge shopping complex featuring many large retailers and a movie theater is located at this exit. Note that the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is located in the median of the freeway starting at the Hacienda Drive overpass ahead. Photo taken 11/25/04.
This mileage sign is found along westbound Interstate 580 as the freeway approaches Exit 45, Hopyard Road, three-quarters of a mile. This is the eastern terminus of the Bay Area Rapid Tranist (BART) in the East Bay, but an extension to Livermore is under consideration. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The city limits between Dublin and Pleasanton are defined by Interstate 580, and so many exits through this area have two names: one for the Dublin city street and the other for the Pleasanton city street. Hopyard Road travels south to Pleasanton, while Dougherty Road travels north to Dublin. The right lane of Interstate 580 becomes exit only for Exit 45. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Use Dougherty Road travels north to the Dublin Civic Center. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 45, Hopyard Road south and Dougherty Road north. Photo taken 11/25/04.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 580 is Exit 44B, Junction Interstate 680, three-quarters of a mile. This major north-south freeway corridor travels south to San Jose and north to Walnut Creek and Concord. The control city for northbound is Sacramento, since Interstate 680 merges onto Interstate 80 east near Fairfield. Photo taken 11/25/04.
This particular interchange (with Interstate 680) was originally a cloverleaf, which resulted in frequent delays and traffic back-ups. Ramp reconfigurations have made the interchange function better, including a recent installation of a flyover ramp from Interstate 680 south to Interstate 580 east. However, traffic delays are somewhat common during commuting hours. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Westbound Interstate 580/Arthur Breed, Jr. Freeway reaches Exit 44B, Junction Interstate 680. The new flyover ramp from southbound Interstate 680 to eastbound Interstate 580 is visible at the top of the interchange stack. The next exit is Exit 44A, San Ramon Road/Foothill Road (Former California 21). Photo taken 11/25/04.
This transition ramp connects Interstate 580 west onto Interstate 680 north. Northbound Interstate 680 is signed for Sacramento, but it passes through San Ramon, Danville, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, and Benicia en route to meeting Interstate 80. Southbound Interstate 680 leads to the South Bay communities of Fremont and Milpitas before culminating its journey in San Jose. Photo taken 11/25/04.
Trailblazer signage for northbound Interstate 680 as seen on the transition from westbound Interstate 580 onto northbound Interstate 680. Photo taken 11/28/02.
After the Interstate 680 interchange, an Interstate 580 west reassurance shield is posted (prior to Exit 44A/San Ramon Road-Foothill Road interchange). Photo taken 11/26/04.
The next exit along Interstate 580/Arthur H. Breed, Jr. Freeway is Exit 44A, San Ramon Road north into Dublin and Foothill Boulevard south to Pleasanton. Use Foothill Boulevard south to Stoneridge Mall. This interchange is a modified cloverleaf, so through traffic may pass through Exit 44A without exiting the freeway. The first ramp connects to San Ramon Road north, and the second ramp connects to Foothill Boulevard south. Photo taken 11/26/04.
After the San Ramon Road/Foothill Road interchange, westbound Interstate 580 climbs out of the San Ramon Valley and enters Dublin Canyon. The next three exits along westbound are: Exit 39, Eden Canyon Road; Exit 37, Castro Valley Boulevard; and Exit 35, Strobridge Avenue. Photo taken 11/26/04.
The next exit along westbound Interstate 580/Breed Freeway is Exit 39, Eden Canyon Road. Use this exit to Eden Canyon Road into Eden Canyon and Palomares Road south California 84 in Niles Canyon. In addition, this exit provides access to Dublin Canyon Road, which parallels Interstate 580 on the south side of the freeway and follows the old U.S. 50 alignment through Dublin Canyon. Photo taken 11/26/04.
Westbound Interstate 580 reaches Exit 39, Eden Canyon Road and Palomares Road to Dublin Canyon Road. Photo taken 11/26/04.
