Interstate 680 California

Historical Realignments

Interstate 680 used to serve Vallejo as well, as it used to follow the current Interstate 780 corridor between Benicia and Vallejo. However, in 1976, Interstate 680 was extended northeast along former California 21 to meet Interstate 80 in Fairfield; Interstate 780 was created in that same year to replace Interstate 680 between Benicia and Vallejo.

Prior to the construction of the freeway, the corridor now served by Interstate 680 was previously part of California 21. With the completion of the Interstate 680 freeway in stages between San Jose and Fairfield in the 1960s and 1970s, California 21 was slowly decommissioned, with the last vestiges of California 21 removed by 1976.

Planned Improvements

The 1.2-mile long, deck-truss Benicia-Martinez Bridge over the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is currently being expanded to include a second bridge. This project involves the replacement of approaches for northbound traffic along with a new bridge structure to be located east of the existing structure. The existing 1962 bridge has been retrofitted to meet state seismic standards and will carry southbound traffic over the river after the new bridge is completed. With the completion of this bridge, the regular congestion that occurs as part of the reduced lanes, toll plazas, and Interstate 680/780 interchange will be diminished. For a great deal more information, please visit Caltrans District 4's Benicia-Martinez Bridge page.

Highway Guides

• Interstate 680 California

	Southern Terminus - Interstate 280 and U.S. 101 - San Jose, California Perspective from Interstate 280 South Interstate 280 southbound (actually east at this point) approaching the stack interchange with Interstate 680 and U.S. 101 (#1). Photo taken by Andy Field (12/27/01). Interstate 280 southbound (actually east at this point) approaching McLaughlin Avenue and the stack interchange with Interstate 680 and U.S. 101. The overhead signage now reads Interstate 680 rather than 280, but 280 does not end until the interchange itself. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/27/01). Interstate 280 southbound (actually east at this point) at McLaughlin Avenue approaching the U.S. 101 interchange. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/27/01). Interstate 280 southbound ends at this point under the U.S. 101 stack interchange. Northbound Interstate 680 begins here. No END Interstate 280 signage is present. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/27/01). Perspective from Interstate 680 South The first sign of the pending interchange between Interstate 680 and U.S. 101 is this mileage sign found in the center median. There is no mention of Interstate 680 southbound becoming Interstate 280 northbound. Photo taken by AARoads (11/29/04). Southbound Interstate 680 approaches Exit 1C, King Road. The next exit is Exit 1B, Junction U.S. 101 (north to San Francisco and south to Los Angeles) and Exit 1A, Junction Interstate 280 north to downtown San Jose. Photo taken by AARoads (11/29/04). Interstate 680 ends here at the junction with U.S. 101. The right three lanes connect with U.S. 101/Bayshore Freeway, while the four left lanes directly transition onto Interstate 280 northbound to downtown San Jose (Exit 1A). Photo taken by AARoads (11/29/04). The stack interchange between Interstate 680, Interstate 280, and U.S. 101 is a multi-level stack, with flyover ramps handling most of the movements. The ramp from southbound Interstate 680 to southbound U.S. 101 is visible here. The reassurance shield here is the first one for northbound Interstate 280. There is no END Interstate 680 shield assembly here. Photo taken by AARoads (11/29/04). Perspective from U.S. 101 North This mileage sign provides the first indication of the pending interchange between northbound U.S. 101 and Exit 384, Junction Interstate 280 north to downtown San Jose and Interstate 680 north to Fremont and Walnut Creek. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/23/04). Northbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 383, Tully Road in San Jose. The next exit is Exit 384, Junction Interstate 280 north to downtown San Jose and Interstate 680 north to Fremont and Walnut Creek. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/23/04). The next three exits along northbound U.S. 101 are Exit 384, Junction Interstate 280 north and Interstate 680 north; Exit 385, Story Road; and Exit 386A, Junction California 130/Alum Rock Road. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/23/04). The two right lanes of northbound U.S. 101 become exit only for northbound Interstate 280 and Interstate 680, with a third optional lane also available. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/23/04). Northbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 384, Junction Interstate 280 and Interstate 680 north. Interstate 280 north actually heads west toward downtown San Jose, then north to Daly City and San Francisco. Interstate 680 north travels to Fremont, then angles northeast via the Sunol Grade to Pleasanton/Dublin and onward to the San Ramon Valley. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/23/04). About a mile after the gore point for the Interstate 280/Interstate 680 offramp, northbound U.S. 101 passes under the massive stack interchange for the freeway to freeway connection. This interchange is much more impressive from this direction than from southbound U.S. 101 as a result of the gradual upslope that the transition ramps take from northbound U.S. 101 to northbound Interstate 280 and Interstate 680. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/23/04). Perspective from U.S. 101 South This mileage sign provides the distance to Exit 385B, Junction Interstate 280 north to downtown San Jose and Interstate 680 north to Fremont and Walnut Creek. Photo taken by AARoads (11/29/04). Prior to reaching Interstate 280 and Interstate 680, U.S. 101 southbound first reaches Exit 386A, Junction California 130/Alum Rock Avenue. California 130 is planned as an potential freeway route between San Jose and the Central Valley, but for now California 130 is a twisty road to Mount Hamilton that does not meet Interstate 5. Photo taken by AARoads (11/29/04). Southbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 386A, Junction California 130/Alum Rock Avenue. The next exit is Exit 385B, Junction Interstate 280 and Interstate 680. Photo taken by AARoads (11/29/04). Southbound U.S. 101 approaches Exit 385B, Junction Interstate 280 and Interstate 680. Although marked as north, Interstate 280 actually travels west through Silicon Valley briefly before it turns north toward San Francisco. Interstate 680 is signed with Sacramento as its control city, but it passes through several major cities including Plesanton, Walnut Creek, and Concord along the way. Photo taken by AARoads (11/29/04). The right two lanes of southbound U.S. 101 connect to Interstate 280 north and Interstate 680 north. The left four lanes continue south on U.S. 101, which is signed with a control city of Los Angeles. Photo taken by AARoads (11/29/04). Southbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 385B, Junction Interstate 280 and Interstate 680. This is one of the rare instances where a three-digit Interstate route with an even first number ends at a non-Interstate. Other examples include Interstate 264 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Interstate 635 northwest of Dallas, Texas. Photo taken by AARoads (11/29/04). View of the Interstate 280/Interstate 680 stack interchange as seen along southbound U.S. 101 in San Jose. Photo taken by AARoads (11/29/04). Northern Terminus - Interstate 80 and California 12 - Fairfield, California Perspective from Interstate 680 North Green Valley Road (Exit 70) serves the community of Cordelia and accesses old U.S. 40 and an antique mall. Photo taken 04/02/04. The final three exits along northbound Interstate 680 are Exit 70, Green Valley Road/Cordelia; Exit 71A, Junction California 12/Interstate 80 West and Exit 71B, Junction California 12/Interstate 80 East. Photo taken 10/20/00. Northbound Interstate 680 at Exit 70, Green Valley Road/Cordelia. Photo taken 04/02/04. Northbound Interstate 680 approaches Exits 71A-B, Junction Interstate 80 and California 12. This interchange marks the northern terminus of Interstate 680. Photo taken 04/02/04. Northbound Interstate 680 at Exits 71A-B, Junction Interstate 80 and California 12. Eastbound Interstate 80/California 12 lead to Fairfield; the routes divide at Fairfield, with California 12 continuing east to Lodi, while Interstate 80 leads northeast to Sacramento. Westbound Interstate 80/California 12 remain merged briefly, and California 12 splits northwest toward Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Rosa. Interstate 80 turns southwest toward Vallejo, Berkeley, Oakland, and ultimately San Francisco. Note that the sign panel on the right erroneously omitted the California 12 eastbound shield. Photo taken 04/02/04. Perspective from Interstate 80/California 12 West The next two major exits along westbound Interstate 80/California 12 are for Southbound Interstate 680 to Contra Costa County and San Jose and Westbound California 12 to Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Rosa. Photo taken by Andy Field (08/23/03). Westbound Interstate 80/California 12 at Suisun Valley Road/Green Valley Road, one half mile before its junction with southbound Interstate 680. The City of Fairfield is mostly east of the freeway interchange, and this area has more of a rural feel to it. Photo taken by Andy Field (08/23/03). Westbound Interstate 80/California 12 approaching Junction Southbound Interstate 680, next right. Photo taken by Andy Field (08/23/03). Westbound Interstate 80/California 12 at Junction Southbound Interstate 680. This is also the former northern end of California 21 before it was decommissioned. Interstate 680 skirts the lowlands of the California Delta before meeting Interstate 780 in Benicia and entering congested Contra Costa County, home of cities such as Martinez, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, and Danville. Photo taken by Andy Field (08/23/03). Perspective from Interstate 80/California 12 East Eastbound Interstate 80/California 12 approaches Interstate 680 and Green Valley Road near Fairfield. Photo taken by AARoads (11/28/04). Use the right lane to connect from eastbound Interstate 80/California 12 to southbound Interstate 680. This ramp also leads to an exit for Green Valley Road, as both exits are separated by a collector-distributor lane configuration. Photo taken by AARoads (11/28/04). Use the Interstate 680 exit to connect to Green Valley Road, which serves Cordelia. A few universities have branches near the interchange. Photo taken by AARoads (11/28/04). Eastbound Interstate 80/California 12 reaches the offramp to Green Valley Road/Cordelia and Interstate 680 southbound. Photo taken by AARoads (11/28/04). Now on the collector/distributor lanes, the first exit ramp is to Green Valley Road, which serves Cordelia. The left lane continues straight ahead to connect to the transition ramp to Interstate 680 southbound. Photo taken by AARoads (11/28/04). After the onramp from Green Valley Road, the exit ramp is again two lanes. The left lane will return to eastbound Interstate 80, so traffic to southbound Interstate 680 must merge to the right lane. Photo taken by AARoads (11/28/04). The collector-distributor lane reaches the transition ramp to southbound Interstate 680. The left lane will return to Interstate 80. Photo taken by AARoads (11/28/04). Perspective from Interstate 680 south This is the first reassurance shield along southbound Interstate 680, which is found immediately after traffic from eastbound Interstate 80 merges onto southbound Interstate 680. Interstate 680 in Solano County (between here and Interstate 780) is known as the Luther Gibson Freeway. Photo taken by AARoads (11/28/04).

Page Updated January 13, 2007.