Interstate 238 California

Interstate 238 California
Hayward, CA ↔ San Leandro, CA•2.23 miles•0 Branch Routes

Overview

Interstate 238 is a short connector between I-880 and I-580 in the East Bay Area of San Francisco Bay. Signed as a north/south route in conjunction with California State Route 238, the freeway portion travels from west to east. The cardinal directions allude to the original Mission Freeway plans, which called for SR 238 to continue southeast as a bypass of Hayward, then extend to Interstate 680 just southwest of the Sunol Grade.

Interstate 238 provides part of a truck route between I-580 at Castro Valley and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (I-80) in conjunction with the Nimitz Freeway (I-880) through Oakland. This is due to a weight restriction along Interstate 580 (MacArthur Freeway) south of Grand Avenue in Oakland.

Mileage by State

California2.23 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

History

Unlike all other three-digit routes within the Interstate Highway System, I-238 has no parent route. The numbering of Interstate 238 was due to the timing of its acceptance into the system; at that time, all "branch" routes of Interstate 80 (180 through 980) were reserved for other routes. Approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on June 20, 1983, I-238 overlaid a preexisting stretch of State Route 238 between San Leandro and Hayward. The same meeting included the renumbering of Interstate 180 across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge as an extension of I-580. Renumbering SR 238 as I-180 however was not an option as California does not duplicate its state routes (SR 180 is assigned to a long state route through Fresno).

Interstate 238 was designated in 1984 as a result of California State Assembly Bill 2741, which modified the route numbering for SR 17 and Interstate 580 in the state highway system. This legislation introduced I-238 and I-980 in Oakland, provided for an extension of I-580 to Marin County, and designated SR 17 as I-880 between San Jose and Oakland. Sign changes due to AB 2741 were implemented along all affected routes by 1985.

Originally SR 238 was to continue as a freeway south from Interstate 580 through Hayward. Those plans were shelved indefinitely due to residential opposition and environmental concerns. A court decision in 2003 ended the plans for the recommended Mission Freeway along the green route, with subsequent plans calling instead for the upgrade of Mission Boulevard into an expressway, with potential interchanges at key locations. Stub ramps, since demolished, were previously located along I-680 west of Exit 15 / Washington Boulevard for the unconstructed freeway.

North End Interstate 880 ‐ San Leandro, CA

Interstate 238 North at Interstate 880

I-238 north at I-880

Sound walls separate Interstate 238 from residential areas west of the Mission Boulevard (SR 185) ramps. The freeway continues west 0.75 miles to the flyover (Exit 16 A) for Interstate 880 south. 07/11/18

I-238 north at I-880 I-238 north at I-880 I-238 north at I-880 I-238 north at I-880 I-238 north at I-880

Interstate 880 North at Interstate 238

I-880 north at I-238 - 2006

One mile south of the full-Y interchange (Exit 31 A) with Interstate 238 south on I-880 north. 03/18/06

I-880 north at I-238 - 2006 I-880 north at I-238 - 2006

Interstate 880 South at Interstate 238

I-880 south at I-238 - San Leandro, CA

Exit 31 departs Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) south in 0.4 miles for Interstate 238 south. I-238 provides a connection to I-580 south for Stockton and Fresno in the Central Valley. 03/27/16

I-880 south at I-238 - San Leandro, CA I-880 south at I-238 - San Leandro, CA I-880 south at I-238 - San Leandro, CA

North End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 238 North at Interstate 880

I-238 north at I-880 - 2001

This scene looked at the original four lane freeway of I-238 over Ashland Avenue. The forthcoming exit for I-880 was expanded to two lanes by 2009. 12/27/01

I-238 north at I-880 - 2001 I-238 north at I-880 - 2001 I-238 north at I-880 - 2001 I-238 north at I-880 - 2001

South End Interstate 580 California State Route 238 ‐ Hayward, CA

Interstate 238 South Interstate 580

I-238 south at SR 238 / Foothill Blvd

Interstate 238 south defaults onto I-580 east beyond the southbound off-ramp to SR 238 (Foothill Boulevard). The cloverstack interchange between the two freeways includes wide grassy areas originally reserved for the freeway continuation south to Hayward. 07/11/18

I-238 south at SR 238 / Foothill Blvd I-238 south at I-580 I-238 south at I-580

Interstate 580 West at Interstate 238

I-580 west at I-238

Interchange sequence sign displaying I-238 to I-880 on westbound Interstate 580. The left lanes of I-580 west default onto I-238 north at Exit 34 in 1.75 miles. I-238 and I-880 provide an alternate route to I-580 for the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and I-80. 02/20/12

I-580 west at I-238 I-580 west at I-238 I-580 west at I-238 I-580 west at I-238

California State Route 238 Foothill Blvd - North at Interstate 238 Interstate 580

Foothill Blvd north - Hayward, CA

SR 238 separates from Mission Boulevard and follows Foothill Boulevard north from Downtown Hayward to I-238 and I-580. 07/11/18

Foothill Blvd north - Hayward, CA SR 238 north at I-238/580 SR 238 north at I-238/580

Interstate 580 East at Interstate 238 California State Route 238

I-580 east at I-238

Advancing south from the 163rd Avenue entrance ramp, Interstate 580 (MacArthur Freeway) next meets Exit 34 for both I-238 north and SR 238 north. 07/02/06

I-580 east at I-238 I-580 east at I-238 - 2006 I-580 east at I-238 - 2006

South End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 238 at Interstate 580 California State Route 238

I-238 south at SR 238 - 2001

Replaced button copy signs posted at the southbound beginning of SR 238 (Foothill Boulevard). SR 238 leads 14 miles south to Fremont. 12/27/01

I-238 south at SR 238 - 2001 I-580 west at I-238 - 2004 I-580 west at I-238 - 2004 SR 238 north at I-238 - 2001 SR 238 north at I-238 - 2001 SR 238 north at I-238 - 2001 I-238 south at I-580 - Ashland, CA I-238 south at I-580 - Ashland, CA I-238 south at I-580 - Ashland, CA
Updated March 5, 2019