California Highways

1. From Route 5 near Anderson to Route 299 in Redding.

   
   

2. From Route 299 in Redding to Route 5 northeast of Redding.

In 1967, Chapter 1584 created Route 273 via transfer from I-5, defining it as “Route 5 near Anderson to Route 5 northeast of Redding via Redding.”

In 1968, Chapter 282 split the route within Redding: “(a) Route 5 near Anderson to Route 299 in Redding. (b) From Route 299 in Redding to Route 5 northeast of Redding.”

I-5 almost bypassed Redding entirely. Early plans would have had the freeway skirt the town near what is now Redding Municipal Airport. News reports from 1962 say that as many as four routes originally were considered, but residents, city leaders and business owners chose the one nearest to Redding. Cypress Avenue and Hilltop Drive soon became the main pit stops for travelers, leaving many businesses on former Route 99 in south Redding, downtown and the Miracle Mile to wither away.

In 2002, a highway location routing for Route 299 was adopted along Lake Boulevard from Route 273 to I-5. Concurrent with this action, the segment of Route 273 from Route 299 at Market Street to Route 273 at Lake Boulevard will be cosigned Route 273/Route 299.

This is an original routing for Route 99. I-5 is a freeway bypass. This was part of the original LRN 3, defined in 1909.

In 2007, an effort was begun to have this segment signed as "Historic Route 99". The groups hope to have the black-and-white historical Route 99 signs up by October. They'll be placed from North Market Street in Redding down to where Interstate 5 meets Highway 273 south of Anderson.

In the right of way for Route 273 in Shasta County is the "CHP Officer George W. Redding Memorial". On August 17, 1988, CHP Officer George W. Redding, died in the line of duty as a result of injuries sustained when struck by a utility pole guy wire while investigating a traffic collision on Route 273. Officer Redding joined the CHP in January 1966, graduated from the patrol academy and was assigned to the San Leandro area on May 25, 1966. He transferred to the Redding area on September 15, 1969. He demonstrated steadfast and selfless dedication to the citizens of the State of California, and was commiteed to the safety of the motoring public. Named by Senate Concurrent Resolution 86, Chapter 126, on August 21, 2002.

Some reports indicate that this route was onced signed as Business Route I-5 in its entirety. Recent reports indicate it is signed as Route 273.

Overall statistics for Route 273:

• Total Length (1995): 16 miles
• Average Daily Traffic (1992): 8,100 to 30,500
• Milage Classification: Rural: 0; Sm. Urban: 0; Urbanized: 16.
• Previous Federal Aid Milage: FAU: 16 mi.
• Functional Classification: Prin. Arterial: 16 mi.
• Counties Traversed: Shasta.

In 1959, Chapter 1062 defined LRN 273 as “[LRN 60] near Huntington Beach to [LRN 179] near Santa Ana”. This is the part of present-day Route 57 from Route 1 near Huntington Beach to Route 22 near Santa Ana.

No current routing. Field reports indicate that the old routing is still signed. The old routing was relinquished in June 2001.

In 1965, Chapter 2068 defined Route 274 as “Route 5 near Balboa Avenue to Route 103.”

In 1969, Chapter 294 changed "Route 103" to "Route 15".

The routing was deleted in 1999 by AB 1650, Ch 724, 10/10/99. It still shows up in the CalTrans photologs in 2001, and a few signs remain. It was once signed as BR US 101.

As signs get replaced on I-5, references to Route 274 are disappearing; however, Route 274 is still well marked upon Balboa.

• California @ AARoads: California 274 (Andy Field)
• California @ AARoads: US 395 (Andrew Field)
• Caltrans Fact Sheet: Route 274
• Roadgap: Balboa Avenue: Old CA 274 (Cameron Kaiser)

Overall statistics for Route 274:

• Total Length (1995): 6 miles
• Average Daily Traffic (1992): 23,800 to 73,000
• Milage Classification: Rural: 0; Sm. Urban: 0; Urbanized: 6.
• Previous Federal Aid Milage: FAU: 6 mi.
• Functional Classification: Prin. Arterial: 6 mi.
• Counties Traversed: San Diego.

In 1959, Chapter 1062 defined LRN 274 as “[LRN 77] near Chino to [LRN 190] near Upland”. This is the part of present-day proposed Route 142 from Route 71 near Chino to I-210 (nee Route 30) near Upland.

No current routing.

In 1967, Chapter 1350 defined Route 275 as “Route 80 near West Acres Road west of Sacramento to the junction of Capitol Avenue and Ninth Street in Sacramento. No funds in the State Highway Fund shall be used for the construction or maintenance of any further aesthetic improvements on that portion of the route in the City of Sacramento.” This routing of Route 275 was planned as a realignment of Capitol Avenue. When I-80 was built, the old route was removed from the state highway system, except for Route 275, which the legislature specifically asked the highway department to keep until they could decide whether this would be permanent (1966 Senate Concurrent Resolution 17, chapter 94, p. 872).

In 1972, Chapter 1216 changed "West Acres Road" to "Westacre Road".

In 1981, Chapter 292 changed "Route 80" to "Route 50", reflecting the renumbering of routes in Sacramento.

In 1996, Chapter 1154 deleted the route. According to the maps from District 3, it is not yet decomissioned.

This was part of LRN 6, defined in 1909. It was one routing of old US 99W/US 40.

In July 2006, West Sacramento initiated the Tower Street Gateway project. This relates to the two-mile stretch of former Route 275 running through West Sacramento, dividing three neighborhoods and making it a challenge to get around town. The city plans to turn former Route 275 (which acts as a freeway on-ramp connecting Route 50 and Tower Bridge) into an arterial boulevard with three traffic lights. In early August 2006, the city advertised for bids to construct the first phase of the project, involving tearing down the Riske Lane freeway overpass and installing a signal. Construction is expected to begin in Fall 2006. The city believes that by transforming the old highway into a boulevard the city will become more accessible to residents and visitors who might otherwise drive quickly past it.. Route 275 divided three neighborhoods -- Washington, the Triangle, and West Capitol Avenue and the downtown -- from one another. All three areas are in the midst of "aggressive urban revitalization. Work to better link the neighborhoods will begin at Riske Lane. That road will become Garden Street and ultimately link West Capitol Avenue to a future network of streets south of the Tower Bridge Gateway. About half the cost of the first phase of the project, or $3 million, will be paid for by a Community Design Program grant from the region's transportation planning agency, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. The balance will be paid with redevelopment agency money and some federal funds. The project's second, and final, phase calls for stoplights on the Tower Bridge Gateway at the intersections of 3rd and 5th streets. Third Street goes under the gateway and, like Riske Lane, plans call for making that an intersection, too. The second phase is contingent upon funding.

In December 2003, after the route was deleted from the system, CalTrans construction signage at the corner of 3rd Street and West Capitol Avenue advised motorists to "Use SR 275" due to road work on West Capitol Avenue. It is likely that, although unsigned, the route has not yet been relinquished. The Tower Bridge is part of the riverfront revitalization in that area, and will likely be getting significantly wider sidewalks (see this Sacramento Bee article for more information). The goal is to have promenades and trails lining both sides of the river, from Lighthouse Marina to Stone Lock in West Sacramento; from Discovery Park to Miller Park in Sacramento. There would be a deck over I-5 on the Sacramento side to reconnect the city to the riverfront.

According to Chris Sampang, the portion of Route 275 that was part of the West Sacramento Freeway (from US 50/Route 84 east to the Tower Bridge near Raley Field) was reliniquished in 2001, five years after decomissioning, in order to convert several interchanges (3rd Street/West Capitol Avenue, 5th Street/West Capitol Avenue) into intersections. No work has begun on this however. The route, however, remained in the state highway code post-decomissioning (explaining why the lone Caltrans sign on West Capitol near Raley's Supermarkets headquarters mentions the highway). The Capitol (Avenue) Mall portion of Route 275 (from the I-5 overpass east to 9th Street, where US 99W, Route 16, and US 40 used to turn right to hit up N Street) was relinquished in 1999 to the city of Sacramento, and the only signs of former state maintenace are the old gantries for Route 99/Route 70/Route 16 and I-5 present in the area. There are plans for 5th Street to be extended S across the Route 275 West Sacramento Freeway as part of future improvements (and development in the Triangle area, the space between South River Road, Route 275, and US 50 where Raley Field is located). This will likely come with the downgrading of access control for the old freeway.

According to the Sacramento Bee, construction on the downgrading of former Route 275 will likely begin in 2005 with the removal of the Riske Lane interchange (Riske Lane will be renamed Garden Street afterwards); the money used for this project will be from local development funds. The removal of the interchanges at 3rd Street/South River Road and 5th Street will occur in 2008, after the old railroad line at the South River Road exit is removed. This will provide for more access to the Triangle/Raley Field area.

However, not all has been relinquished yet. In March 2005, the CTC considered relinquishment of a portion of Route 275 right of way in the City of Sacramento. They considered it again in April. And again in July 2005, together with a financial SHOPP project: In Sacramento at the east abutment of the Tower Bridge to 9th Street. Relinquish highway to the City of Sacramento.

According to Joe Rouse, the bridge itself will remain owned and operated by Caltrans. But as legislatively Route 275 won't exist anymore, the bridge may not carry a route number (which would make it an anomaly in the system once the relinquishment of the highway on either side is complete).

Bridge 22-021, over the Sacramento River between Sacramento and Yolo counties, was called the "Tower Bridge". It was built in 1934. In 2002, a public input campaign was conducted to determine what color to repaint the bridge. The candidate colors were gold, green, and burgundy. More than 42,000 Sacramento residents chose the color gold, and the painting will be completed in 2003.

The portion of former Route 275 that extends from the end of the Sacramento River Bridge in the City of Sacramento to the junction of Capitol Avenue and Ninth Street in Sacramento is officially named the "Capitol Mall". Named by California Government Code §8167. (March 1977)

The freeway (formerly the easternmost segment of the West Sacramento Freeway) has officially been renamed the "Tower Bridge Gateway" although no signs exist yet to this effect. It was probably renamed by local ordinance.

According to research done by Chris Sampang, the name "Capitol Avenue" was first used on October 26, 1940. Previously, the street was "M Street".

• Joel Windmiller's Tower Bridge History

This routing was never signed. It is constructed to freeway standards from Route 50 to the Tower Bridge.

Overall statistics for Route 275:

• Total Length (1995): 2 miles
• Average Daily Traffic (1992): 3,050 to 16,700
• Milage Classification: Rural: 0; Sm. Urban: 0; Urbanized: 2.
• Previous Federal Aid Milage: FAU: 2 mi.
• Functional Classification: Prin. Arterial: 2 mi.
• Counties Traversed: Sacramento.

In 1959, Chapter 1062 defined LRN 275 as “[LRN 26] to [LRN 190] near Mountain View Avenue” This was a transfer of the former Colton-San Bernardino connection from LRN 26. This was part of the 1963-1965 definition of segment (a) of Route 18, from I-10 to (then) Route 30 (present-day Route 210) near Mountain View Avenue.

From Route 198 near Three Rivers to Oak Grove.

In 1965, Chapter 1372 defined Route 276 as “Route 198 near Three Rivers to Mineral King.”

In 1972, Chapter 1051 changed the terminus: “… to Mineral King Oak Grove.”

This routing was originally considered by the Legislature as a possible toll road to a proposed recreation complex planned by Disney in the Mineral King area near Sequoia National Park. This route went all the way to Mineral King, but a 13-mile portion of the highway was later rescinded. Much of that segment is now within Sequoia National Park. It was not in the park at the time of adoption, nor at the time of recission. The proposed routing now ends a little west of the park border.

This routing is unconstructed, but a route has been adopted.

Overall statistics for Route 276:

• Total Length (1995): 8 miles unconstructed.
• Milage Classification: Rural: 8; Sm. Urban: 0; Urbanized: 0.
• Functional Classification: Minor Arterial: 8 mi.
• Counties Traversed: Tulare.

In 1959, Chapter 1062 defined LRN 276 as “[LRN 78] east of Riverside to [LRN 193] south of Devore”. This was Route 81 from Route 215 E of Riverside to I-15 south of Devore. This routing was proposed, but never constructed. It seems to be approximately Van Buren Blvd in Riverside for the E/W routing, and Sierra Ave for the N/S routing.

This number is not assigned to a post-1964 route.

In 1959, Chapter 1062 defined LRN 277 as “[LRN 78] east of Temecula to [LRN 65] east of Anza”. This was originally all part of Route 71 from Route 79 E of Temecula to Route 74 E of Anza. In 1974, as a side effect of the creation of I-15 S of I-10, all of Route 71 S of Route 91 was renumbered. The original eastern section, between Temecula and Route 74 E of Anza, was divided into two routes. The portion from what had been US 395 (now I-15) near Temecula to Aguanga was renumbered as part of Route 79 (previously, this stretch had been cosigned as Route 71/Route 79); this stretch was part of LRN 78. The stretch between Aguanga and Route 74 was renumbered as Route 371; this is LRN 277.

This number is not assigned to a post-1964 route.

In 1959, Chapter 1062 defined LRN 278 as “[LRN 2] north of La Jolla to [LRN 198]”. This is Route 56 from I-5 N of La Jolla to Route 67.

This number is not assigned to a post-1964 route.

In 1959, Chapter 1062 defined LRN 279 as “[LRN 2] east of La Jolla to [LRN 198] near Santee”. This is Route 52 from I-5 E of La Jolla to Route 67 near Santee.

From Route 101 in San Jose to Route 80 near First Street in San Francisco via Daly City.

In 1963, Chapter 385 defined Route 280 as “Route 680 near San Jose to Route 480 in San Francisco via Daly City. Joint Highway District No. 10 is dissolved in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 20 of Part 1 of Division 16 of the Streets and Highways Code, and all property, assets, and liabilities of said district are the property of the State.”

In 1965, Chapter 1371 changed the origin: “Route 680 near San Jose Story Road to Route 480 in San Francisco via Daly City.”

Until 1968, this routing ended at Route 480 (present-day US 101) in San Francisco. In 1968, Chapter 282 swapped a portion of the route with Route 1, making the definition: “Route 680 near Story Road to Route 480 Route 80 near First Street in San Francisco via Daly City. Joint Highway District […] Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 89 of Chapter 1062 of the Statutes of 1959, construction of all or any portion of Route 280 from Route 101 near Alemany Boulevard to Route 480 near Harrison Street in San Francisco may be commenced at any time, if the City and County of San Francisco has conveyed or does convey to the State of California, without charge, all real property presently acquired by it for the construction of said subdivision (b) of this route or such portion thereof.”. This rewording was the result of a number of route swaps that occured in 1968:

1. The portion of former I-280 from Route 1 to Route 480 (present-day US 101) was transferred to Route 1. This would have been the Serra and Park Presedio Freeway portions that connected from the junction of I-280 and Route 1 to the Golden Gate approach; it now corresponds to the surface street routing on 19th Avenue.

2. A portion of Route 1 from Route 1 to Route 82 was transferred to I-280. This is the I-280 portion between Route 1 and Route 82, where I-280 makes an almost 90° turn to the East.

3. A portion of Route 82 from Route 1 (present-day I-280/Route 82 junction) to Route 87 (present-day Route 230) was transferred to I-280. Route 230 was the route that come off near the proposed Southern Crossing approach near 3rd and Army. Originally, this was to have been US 101 (until US 101 was moved to the East onto Bypass US 101). There are still stub ramps at Army Street indicative of the Southern Crossing Approach; this is shown in the map to the right which is excerpted from Chris Sampang's page of 1967 maps.

4. The portion from Route 87 (present-day Route 230) to I-80 was transferred from Route 87 (this was the portion between the Southern Crossing approach to I-80).

5. A portion of Route 480 from Route 80 to Route 280 near Harrison Street was transferred to Route 280. This was the snaking under of Route 280 to the portion of I-480.

The section between Route 85 and Route 17 was built around 1964; the peninsula section was finished in the early 1970s. Before the section east of Route 17 opened in the early 1970s, I-280 was routed north along Route 17 (present-day I-880) to US 101 in San Jose. The portion between El Camino and US 101 in South San Francisco was formerly an extension of CA 82. The 1989 Loma Priata quake closed the decked portion (north of US 101 in San Francisco) for six years.

In the Los Altos area, according to the Los Altos Town Crier, Los Altos had been hearing plans with regards to a long-range extension of the Junipero Serra Highway/Boulevard as early as 1946; in response, the Business Association declared that any routing through the center of town via Southern Pacific right of way would be rejected. This may be why I-280 tends to be very rural in the area. There may also have been state involvement at least 10 years before Junipero Serra Boulevard became LRN 237. The proposed route was from Loyola Corners (Fremont Avenue at Miramonte) to Arastradero Road. This actually seems to correspond with existing Foothill Expressway.

In the San Bruno area, it appears that an early plan was to have I-280 run along Skyline Blvd from near Crystal Springs Road (former Route 117) to near Sneath, and then move NE to the current Serra routing. This shows on some 1967 maps. More information on this can be found on Route 117's entry.

I-280 was intended to snake under the Bay Bridge approach, connect with I-480, and provide access to I-80 and the bridge. The "Junipero Serra" and "Park Presidio" freeways would roughly parallel 19th Avenue to the east. This was part of a 1951 Trafficways Plan, supposedly eliminated in a 1959 rework; however, a 1963 plan shows I-280 going north along 19th Street through Golden Gate Park to US 101 and I-80 ending at I-280. The CalTrans 1969 map confirms this proposed route. In any case, these plans were formally abandoned by CalTrans in 1990.

I-280 currently runs along the route of the original "Southern Freeway". In 1961, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors endorsed the current I-280 route to meet I-80 at the Bay Bridge. In 1965, this route became part of the interstate system, and the Park Presidio route was withdrawn. In October 1969, the city asked the state to stop work on the I-280/I-480 connection. Work on the connection to I-80, however, was allowed to continue. In 1973, I-280 was completed to 3rd street. [Thanks to Scott "Kurumi" Oglesby for much of this information]

In 1984, Chapter 409 changed the origin of I-280 to “Route 680 near Story Road Route 101 in San Jose to …”

Note that, although the freeway portion of Route 280 does not reach I-80, the route is allocated to a series of surface streets between the freeway terminus and I-80. According to CalTrans, 53,000 vehicles used the non-freeway portion of I-280 in 2002.

Before the 1964 signed/legislative route alignment, I-280 was made up of the following legislative routes:

1. LRN 5, between US 101 S to Route 17 (LRN 5/239 junction; present-day Route 17/I-880/I-280 junction). This segment was previously LRN 115.

2. LRN 239, between Route 17 (LRN 5/239 junction) and Route 1. This was defined in 1957.

3. LRN 225, between Route 1 (LRN 56) and US 101 (LRN 2). This portion was defined in 1947, but was later deleted from I-280. This may have been part of the Serra Freeway proposal.

4. LRN 2, between present-day Route 82 and present-day US 101. This was defined in 1947, was originally US 101, and was later redefined as I-280.

5. LRN 253, between US 101 (LRN 2) and Route 480.

6. LRN 224, between Route 480 and I-80 in San Francisco.

As early as 1913, local jurisdictions (San Mateo County) were working on the construction of the original Junipero Serra Highway.

This routing is unconstructed from 2 miles south of I-80 to I-80. Currently, I-280 is undergoing a seismic retrofit. This will add an on-ramp at 4th and Townsend. Caltrans is also building new ramps from I-280 near 6th street to the newly widened King Street. They are also dismantling all the old I-280 roadway from 3rd Street to these new ramps, shortening I-280 by 3 blocks. The Caltrans mid-1980s "Route Concept Reports" projected a 2005 need for 14-16 lanes for I-280 between Route 85 and I-880; and for 14 lanes for I-880 from US 101 to Route 237.

On NB I-280 in San Mateo County, just after the Edgewood Road exit and another exit for a vista point, a few miles before the CA-92 exit, there is a ramp that always has a barrier with the words "road closed" on it. This appears to be a closed vista point; the reason for the closure was reportedly drug dealing as well as, ahem, usual vista point activities.

According to the Mercury News, there are plans for a major overhaul of the I-280/I-880 interchange, that will cost at least $109,000,000 and won't commence until at least 2011. The original plan was to simply redesign the ramp from north I-280 to north I-880 and Stevens Creek Boulevard, but a VTA study showed that would do little to ease backups. So a more comprehensive plan was developed that includes:

• Construction of a fly-over ramp from north I-280 to north I-880 to separate merging freeway traffic from vehicles exiting at Stevens Creek.

• Reconfiguration of the north I-880 ramp to Stevens Creek, with a triple left turn onto Stevens Creek and a single right turn onto San Carlos St.

• Widening of the ramp from south I-880 to I-280 and lengthening of the merging lane.

• Construction of a ramp from north I-280 to Winchester Boulevard, giving drivers another route to the Santana Row-Valley Fair centers.

Note that about 85% of traffic from north I-280 is headed to Stevens Creek, while 15% is going to I-880 on weekends and during the afternoon commute. During the early hours of the weekday morning commute, three out of five vehicles are going toward Stevens Creek compared to I-880, changing to an 80/20 split by 10:00 am.

The portion of this route from the I-280/US 101 junction to Route 17 is named the "Sinclair Freeway". Joseph P. Sinclair was District Engineer for the District 4 Division of Highways (now Caltrans) from 1952 to 1964. Named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 104, Chapt. 168 in 1967.

The portion of this route from the San Jose Avenue/Sickles Avenue onramp to the San Jose Avenue Overcrossing is designated the "CHP Officer Hugo Olazar Memorial Highway". On September 2, 1989, while investigating a solo vehicle traffic collision on the right shoulder of I-280 S of the San Jose Avenue overcrossing with his partner, Officer Javier Rocha, Officer Olazar's patrol car was hit by a drunk driver travelling very fast. The impact caused the patrol car to buckle, jamming the doors shut. The car then burst into flame, trapping both officers inside. Officer Rocha was able to escape by shooting out a side window. He tried to pull his unconscious parter out, but was dirven away by intense flames. Officer Rocha sustained second- and third-degree burns, but Officer Olazar died at the scene. Names by Senate Concurrant Resolution 35, Chapter 127, on 9/21/1999.

The portion of this route from the Junction of Route 17/Route 880 in San Jose to the Junction with Route 1 in Daly City is named the "Junipero Serra Freeway. Junipero Serra founded the missions of California in the 18th and 19th centuries. Named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 140, Chapter 208 in 1967.

The portion of this routing between Route 1 and US 101 in San Francisco County is the "Southern Freeway" or "Southern Embarcadero Freeway".

I-280 from the San Mateo/San Francisco County line to 6th Street (end of Freeway) is named the "John F. Foran Freeway". It was named by Senate Concurrent Resolution 73, Chapter 49 in 1986. John Francis Foran was a California Senator (1977-1985), a leader in transportation planning and author of the legislation that created the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

The portion of I-280 between US 101 and Sixth Street in San Francisco is commonly called the "280 Extension".

Historically, this route is close to the original "El Camino Real" (The Kings Road). The portion of this route from Route 1 to San Francisco has officially been designated as "El Camino Real by Assembly Bill 1769, Chapter 1569, in 1959.

Portions of this route were named "Skyline Blvd" by Resolution Chapter 46 in 1919.

The large retaining wall on I-280 between Army/25th Street and Mariposa is named the "Commander Isiah Nelson Memorial Hanging Gardens". Commander Nelson was a highly regarded officer of the San Francisco Police Department. He was killed in a motorcycle accident on I-280 near this location. Named by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 75, Chapter 10 in 1994.

Bridge 35-199, at Crystal Springs Road and San Mateo Creek, just north of Route 92, is named the "Eugene A. Doran Bridge". Eugene Doran was a Hillsborough Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty on the morning of August 5, 1959. It was built in 1967, and was named by Senate Concurrent Resolution 34, Chapter 173 in 1969. This beautiful, award-winning bridge must be seen from below to be appreciated.

In August 2004, Senate Concurrent Resolution 65 redesignate the Eugene A. Doran Memorial Bridge on I-280 at San Mateo Creek, north of Route 92, in the County of San Mateo as the Officer Eugene and Marine Lance Corporal Patrick M. Doran Memorial Bridge. It was named additionally in memory of Marine Lance Corporal Patrick M. Doran, who died in the line of duty on February 18, 1967, in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. (August 12, 2004, Chapter 138).

This route also has the following Safety Roadside Rest Areas:

• Crystal Springs, in San Mateo County, near Crystal Springs Road.

Approved as chargeable Interstate on Sept. 1955; rerouted in San Francisco (gaining 2 miles) in August 1965; Segment between 6th St and the bridge removed as chargeable interstate in July 1981. The section between US 101 to 6th Street in SF is the section that failed in the 1989 earthquake. This later routing was rescinded in 1991.

In the first attempt to number urban routes, the California Department of Highways proposed this as I-3. The first proposal as a 3-digit route was as I-109. Once the numbering scheme for 3-digit interstates was finalized, the proposal changed to I-180. AASHTO finally approved this as I-280.

In the city and county of San Francisco, there were HOV lanes from S of the Sixth Street on-ramp to S of Army Street, for 1.6 miles. These were opened in 1975, but closed by the Loma Prieta earthquake.

In Santa Clara County, there is a southbound HOV lane from the Magdalena Avenue on-ramp to N of Meridian Avenue, for a length of 11.2 mi. There is a northbound HOV lane from S of Leland Avenue to the Magdalena off-ramp, for a length of 10.7 mi. These were opened in December 1990, require two or more occupants, and are in operation weekdays between 5:00am and 9:00am and between 3:00pm and 7:00pm.

A 2001 Caltrans survey showed that use of the HOV lane dropped near the Highway 17 interchange, from 4,256 vehicles in 1996 to 2,561 in 2001. This freeway continues to rank as the least-used HOV lane in the San Jose Valley.

• Cal-NExUS Exit Numbering: Route 280 North
• Cal-NExUS Exit Numbering: Route 280 South
• Western Exit Guide: Route 280 (Jeff Stapleton)
• Southern Freeway Exit Lists (Chris Sampang)
• I-280 Strip Chart (Andrew Tompkins; XML Required)

• California @ AARoads: Interstate 280
• Freeways of San Francisco.
  Chris Sampang's site gives a lot of information about proposals for this route in the San Francisco area, including exit lists with hypothetical connections. This includes subpages on the Crosstown, Golden Gate Bridge, Southern, Park Presedio, and Junipero Serra freeways.
• Three Digit Interstates: I-280

[SHC 263.8] From Route 17 in Santa Clara County to I-80 near First Street in San Francisco.

[SHC 253.1] Entire route. The portion from Route 17 to Route 80 in San Francisco was added to the Freeway and Expressway system in 1959. The remainder of the route to I-680 was added in 1961.

This route was designated as a "Blue Star Memorial Highway" by Assembly Concurrent Resolution 50 in 1996 (according to the Caltrans web pages, although the Caltrans naming log gives the date as 1970).

This route is part of the De Anza National Historic Trail.

Overall statistics for Route 280:

• Total Length (1995): 59 miles
• Average Daily Traffic (1992): 11,000 to 226,000.
• Milage Classification: Rural: 7; Sm. Urban: 0; Urbanized: 52.
• Previous Federal Aid Milage: FAI: 57 mi; FAP: 2 mi.
• Functional Classification: Prin. Arterial: 59 mi.
• Counties Traversed: Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco.

In 1959, Chapter 102 defined LRN 280 as “[LRN 2] near Sweetwater River to [LRN 2] near El Cajon”. This is present-day Route 54 from I-5 near Sweetwater River to I-8 near El Cajon.