California State Route 24
Encyclopedia
State Route 24 in the U.S. state
of California
is a heavily-traveled east–west freeway in the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay Area
of northern California that runs from the Interstate 580
/Interstate 980 interchange in Oakland
to the Interstate 680
junction in Walnut Creek
. It lies only in Alameda County
, where it is highly urban, and Contra Costa County
, where it passes through wooded hillsides and suburbs.
and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System
. Caltrans has only designated it as a scenic highway between the eastern end of the Caldecott Tunnel
and I-680, however. SR 24 is designated as both the Grove Shafter Freeway (named after streets the route travels along - Grove Street was later renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Way) and the William Byron Rumford
Freeway from the Caldecott Tunnel to the I-580 interchange segment of the MacArthur Maze
, continuing henceforth as I-980 to the terminus with I-880.
SR 24 begins at the four-level interchange with Interstate 580
and Interstate 980 in Oakland
; this interchange is located on top of Grove Shafter Park. SR 24 initially heads north before turning east near the Berkeley
city limits. Route 24 rises from near sea level in downtown Oakland past its interchange with State Route 13
, which is a freeway south of SR 24 (completed August 1999) and a surface street north of SR 24. After this, SR 24 crosses the Contra Costa County
county line through the triple-bore Caldecott Tunnel
and offers some attractive views of the hilly terrain through which it passes. Some protection of the views comes from the highway's designation as a California Scenic Highway
. Due to the traffic jams, commuters get extended views of the scenery.
On the other side of the tunnel, SR 24 travels through unincorporated Contra Costa County before entering Orinda
. SR 24 crosses the Mokelumne Aqueduct soon after entering the city of Lafayette
. SR 24 terminates at the intersection with Interstate 680
just inside the city limits of Walnut Creek
.
The Pittsburg/Bay Point Line of the Bay Area Rapid Transit
runs in the freeway's center median
, excepting the vicinity of the Caldecott Tunnel
and the approach to the interchange with Interstate 680
.
) which opened in 1937, connecting with the new Eastshore Highway and the approaches to the new Bay Bridge by way of Ashby Avenue through Berkeley
west of the Berkeley Hills
, and routed along Mount Diablo Boulevard through Contra Costa County east of the hills.
Highway 24 remained along Ashby Avenue until completion of the Grove-Shafter Freeway in the late 1960s. This new freeway, which ran from the Caldecott Tunnel through downtown Oakland to the MacArthur and Nimitz Freeways, was designated Route 24 and Ashby was re-designated Route 13.
Route 24 used to extend much further east. The section of Interstate 680
between the current terminus of SR 24 and State Route 242
was dual-signed I-680 and SR 24 until ca. 1987; State Route 242
which runs primarily in Concord
was signed as Route 24 until the same time. Older maps show routes for 24 which continue along State Route 4 from the current intersection of 242
to the Antioch Bridge
, continuing along the river road to Sacramento, currently State Route 160
, then continuing north to Woodland
, Marysville
, Oroville
, along the North Fork of the Feather River
to a junction with State Route 89
, where it continued dual-numbered with 89 through Quincy
. Highway 24 split from 89 near Graeagle, and continued east through Portola
east until its terminus at U.S. Route 395
. Parts of the same route were also sometimes designated as State Route 84.
{| class=wikitable
!County
!Location
!Postmile
!Exit
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=11|Alameda
ALA R1.85-R6.24
|rowspan=11|Oakland
|R1.85
|
|
|Continuation beyond I-580
|-
|R1.85
|2A
|
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|R2.59-
R2.77
|2B
|Martin Luther King Jr Way, 51st Street
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|R3.06
|3
|Telegraph Avenue
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|R3.32
|3
|Claremont Avenue
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|R3.55
|4A
|College Avenue
|Westbound exit only
|-
|R4.15
|4B
|Broadway
|Signed as exit 4 eastbound
|-
|R5.12
|5A
|
|Signed as exit 5 eastbound
|-
|R5.12
|5B
|
|Eastbound exit is via exit 4
|-
|R5.47
|6
|Tunnel Road
|
|-
|colspan=4 rowspan=2 align=center|Caldecott Tunnel
under Berkeley Hills
|-
|rowspan=10|Contra Costa
CC R0.00-R9.12
|
|-
|
|R0.40
|7A
|Fish Ranch Road
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Orinda
|1.20
|7B
|Wilder Road
|Formerly Gateway Boulevard, renamed February 2010
|-
|R2.32
|9
|Orinda
, Moraga
(Camino Pablo)
|
|-
|R3.47
|10
|St. Stephens Drive, Hidden Valley Road
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Lafayette
|R4.40
|11
|Acalanes Road, Mount Diablo Boulevard, Upper Happy Valley Road
|
|-
|R6.51
|12
|Oak Hill Road – Central Lafayette, Moraga
|Signed as exit 13 westbound
|-
|R7.66
|14
|Pleasant Hill Road, Mount Diablo Boulevard
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Walnut Creek
|R9.12
|15
|
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; signed as exits 15A (south) and 15B (north)
|-
|R9.12
|15A
|Mount Diablo Boulevard
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
is a heavily-traveled east–west freeway in the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
of northern California that runs from the Interstate 580
Interstate 580 (California)
Interstate 580 is an 80-mile east–west Interstate Highway in Northern California. The heavily traveled spur route of Interstate 80 runs from San Rafael in the San Francisco Bay Area to Interstate 5 near Tracy in the Central Valley...
/Interstate 980 interchange in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
to the Interstate 680
Interstate 680 (California)
Interstate 680 is a north–south Interstate Highway in Northern California. It curves around the eastern cities of the San Francisco Bay Area from San Jose to Interstate 80 at Cordelia, bypassing cities along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay such as Oakland and Richmond while serving...
junction in Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek is an incorporated city located east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa...
. It lies only in Alameda County
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
, where it is highly urban, and Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
, where it passes through wooded hillsides and suburbs.
Route description
This route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway SystemCalifornia Freeway and Expressway System
The California Freeway and Expressway System is a system of existing or planned freeways and expressways in the U.S. state of California. It is defined by the Streets and Highways Code.-List of roads in the system:*State Route 1 *State Route 2...
and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System
State Scenic Highway System (California)
The State Scenic Highway System is a list of highways, mainly state highways, that have been designated by the California Department of Transportation as scenic highways. The California State Legislature, primarily through Section 263 of the Streets and Highways Code, makes highways eligible for...
. Caltrans has only designated it as a scenic highway between the eastern end of the Caldecott Tunnel
Caldecott Tunnel
The Caldecott Tunnel is a three bore highway tunnel between Oakland, California and Contra Costa County, California. The east-west tunnel is signed as a part of State Route 24, which is also known as the William Byron Rumford...
and I-680, however. SR 24 is designated as both the Grove Shafter Freeway (named after streets the route travels along - Grove Street was later renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Way) and the William Byron Rumford
William Byron Rumford
William Byron Rumford was an American pharmacist and politician. He was the first African American elected to any public office in Northern California.-Family background:...
Freeway from the Caldecott Tunnel to the I-580 interchange segment of the MacArthur Maze
MacArthur Maze
The MacArthur Maze refers to the large freeway interchange located near the eastern end of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge in Oakland, California and is the largest freeway interchange in the world...
, continuing henceforth as I-980 to the terminus with I-880.
SR 24 begins at the four-level interchange with Interstate 580
Interstate 580 (California)
Interstate 580 is an 80-mile east–west Interstate Highway in Northern California. The heavily traveled spur route of Interstate 80 runs from San Rafael in the San Francisco Bay Area to Interstate 5 near Tracy in the Central Valley...
and Interstate 980 in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
; this interchange is located on top of Grove Shafter Park. SR 24 initially heads north before turning east near the Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
city limits. Route 24 rises from near sea level in downtown Oakland past its interchange with State Route 13
State Route 13 (California)
State Route 13 is a state highway in California. It is a short loop in Alameda County currently built from Interstate 580 in Oakland to Interstate 80/Interstate 580 in Berkeley....
, which is a freeway south of SR 24 (completed August 1999) and a surface street north of SR 24. After this, SR 24 crosses the Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
county line through the triple-bore Caldecott Tunnel
Caldecott Tunnel
The Caldecott Tunnel is a three bore highway tunnel between Oakland, California and Contra Costa County, California. The east-west tunnel is signed as a part of State Route 24, which is also known as the William Byron Rumford...
and offers some attractive views of the hilly terrain through which it passes. Some protection of the views comes from the highway's designation as a California Scenic Highway
State Scenic Highway System (California)
The State Scenic Highway System is a list of highways, mainly state highways, that have been designated by the California Department of Transportation as scenic highways. The California State Legislature, primarily through Section 263 of the Streets and Highways Code, makes highways eligible for...
. Due to the traffic jams, commuters get extended views of the scenery.
On the other side of the tunnel, SR 24 travels through unincorporated Contra Costa County before entering Orinda
Orinda, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Orinda had a population of 17,643. The population density was 1,389.5 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Orinda was 14,533 White, 149 African American, 22 Native American, 2,016 Asian, 24 Pacific Islander, 122 from other races, and...
. SR 24 crosses the Mokelumne Aqueduct soon after entering the city of Lafayette
Lafayette, California
Lafayette is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 23,893. It was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War...
. SR 24 terminates at the intersection with Interstate 680
Interstate 680 (California)
Interstate 680 is a north–south Interstate Highway in Northern California. It curves around the eastern cities of the San Francisco Bay Area from San Jose to Interstate 80 at Cordelia, bypassing cities along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay such as Oakland and Richmond while serving...
just inside the city limits of Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek is an incorporated city located east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa...
.
The Pittsburg/Bay Point Line of the Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
runs in the freeway's center median
Central reservation
On divided roads, such as divided highways or freeways/motorways, the central reservation , median, parkway , median strip or central nature strip is the area which separates opposing lanes of traffic...
, excepting the vicinity of the Caldecott Tunnel
Caldecott Tunnel
The Caldecott Tunnel is a three bore highway tunnel between Oakland, California and Contra Costa County, California. The east-west tunnel is signed as a part of State Route 24, which is also known as the William Byron Rumford...
and the approach to the interchange with Interstate 680
Interstate 680 (California)
Interstate 680 is a north–south Interstate Highway in Northern California. It curves around the eastern cities of the San Francisco Bay Area from San Jose to Interstate 80 at Cordelia, bypassing cities along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay such as Oakland and Richmond while serving...
.
History
Highway 24 was designated in 1932 in conjunction with the ongoing construction of the Broadway Low Level Tunnel (subsequently re-named the Caldecott TunnelCaldecott Tunnel
The Caldecott Tunnel is a three bore highway tunnel between Oakland, California and Contra Costa County, California. The east-west tunnel is signed as a part of State Route 24, which is also known as the William Byron Rumford...
) which opened in 1937, connecting with the new Eastshore Highway and the approaches to the new Bay Bridge by way of Ashby Avenue through Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
west of the Berkeley Hills
Berkeley Hills
The Berkeley Hills are a range of the Pacific Coast Ranges that overlook the northeast side of the valley that surrounds San Francisco Bay. They were previously called the "Contra Costa Range/Hills" , but with the establishment of Berkeley and the University of California, the current usage was...
, and routed along Mount Diablo Boulevard through Contra Costa County east of the hills.
Highway 24 remained along Ashby Avenue until completion of the Grove-Shafter Freeway in the late 1960s. This new freeway, which ran from the Caldecott Tunnel through downtown Oakland to the MacArthur and Nimitz Freeways, was designated Route 24 and Ashby was re-designated Route 13.
Route 24 used to extend much further east. The section of Interstate 680
Interstate 680 (California)
Interstate 680 is a north–south Interstate Highway in Northern California. It curves around the eastern cities of the San Francisco Bay Area from San Jose to Interstate 80 at Cordelia, bypassing cities along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay such as Oakland and Richmond while serving...
between the current terminus of SR 24 and State Route 242
California State Route 242
State Route 242 is a short three-mile connector route that links Interstate 680 north of Pleasant Hill to State Route 4 in Concord. In 2000, State Route 242 was widended to six through-traffic lanes for the entire route. Ramp metering is present at all onramps, but is not used at this time. It...
was dual-signed I-680 and SR 24 until ca. 1987; State Route 242
California State Route 242
State Route 242 is a short three-mile connector route that links Interstate 680 north of Pleasant Hill to State Route 4 in Concord. In 2000, State Route 242 was widended to six through-traffic lanes for the entire route. Ramp metering is present at all onramps, but is not used at this time. It...
which runs primarily in Concord
Concord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
was signed as Route 24 until the same time. Older maps show routes for 24 which continue along State Route 4 from the current intersection of 242
California State Route 242
State Route 242 is a short three-mile connector route that links Interstate 680 north of Pleasant Hill to State Route 4 in Concord. In 2000, State Route 242 was widended to six through-traffic lanes for the entire route. Ramp metering is present at all onramps, but is not used at this time. It...
to the Antioch Bridge
Antioch Bridge
The Antioch Bridge crosses the San Joaquin River linking Antioch, California with Sacramento County, California. The bridge is signed as part of State Route 160. Unlike the other toll bridges in California, the Antioch bridge has only one lane going in each direction...
, continuing along the river road to Sacramento, currently State Route 160
California State Route 160
State Route 160 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California consisting of two sections. The longer, southern, section is a scenic highway through the alluvial plain of the Sacramento River, linking SR 4 in Antioch with Sacramento via the Antioch Bridge...
, then continuing north to Woodland
Woodland, California
Woodland is the county seat of Yolo County, California, located approximately northwest of Sacramento, and is a part of the Sacramento - Arden-Arcade - Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 55,468 at the 2010 census.Woodland's origins trace back to 1850 when California...
, Marysville
Marysville, California
Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 12,072 at the 2010 census, down from 12,268 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, often referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Area after the two counties, Yuba and...
, Oroville
Oroville, California
Oroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 at the 2000 census...
, along the North Fork of the Feather River
Feather River
The Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is about . Its drainage basin is about...
to a junction with State Route 89
California State Route 89
State Route 89 is a California State Highway that travels in the north–south direction, and is the major thoroughfare for many mountain communities. It starts from U.S. Route 395 near Topaz Lake, winding its way up to the Monitor Pass, down to the Carson River, and up again over the Luther...
, where it continued dual-numbered with 89 through Quincy
Quincy, California
Quincy is a census-designated place and the county seat of Plumas County, California. The population was 1,728 at the 2010 census, down from 1,879 at the 2000 census. Quincy is named after the city of Quincy, Illinois...
. Highway 24 split from 89 near Graeagle, and continued east through Portola
Portola, California
Portola is the only incorporated city in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 2,104 at the 2010 census, down from 2,227 at the 2000 census...
east until its terminus at U.S. Route 395
U.S. Route 395
U.S. Route 395 is a U.S. Route in the western United States. The southern terminus of the route is in the Mojave Desert at Interstate 15 near Hesperia. The northern terminus is at the Canadian border near Laurier, where the road becomes Highway 395 upon entering British Columbia. At one time, the...
. Parts of the same route were also sometimes designated as State Route 84.
Exit list
- Note: Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured in 1964, based on the alignment as it existed at that time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. The numbers reset at county lines; the start and end postmiles in each county are given in the county column.
{| class=wikitable
!County
!Location
!Postmile
!Exit
Exit number
An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore....
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=11|Alameda
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
ALA R1.85-R6.24
|rowspan=11|Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
|R1.85
|
|
|Continuation beyond I-580
|-
|R1.85
|2A
|
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|R2.59-
R2.77
|2B
|Martin Luther King Jr Way, 51st Street
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|R3.06
|3
|Telegraph Avenue
Telegraph Avenue
Telegraph Avenue is a street that begins, at its southernmost point, in the midst of the historic downtown district of Oakland, California, USA, and ends, at its northernmost point, at the southern edge of the University of California campus in Berkeley, California...
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|R3.32
|3
|Claremont Avenue
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
|-bgcolor=#ffdddd
|R3.55
|4A
|College Avenue
|Westbound exit only
|-
|R4.15
|4B
|Broadway
|Signed as exit 4 eastbound
|-
|R5.12
|5A
|
|Signed as exit 5 eastbound
|-
|R5.12
|5B
|
|Eastbound exit is via exit 4
|-
|R5.47
|6
|Tunnel Road
|
|-
|colspan=4 rowspan=2 align=center|Caldecott Tunnel
Caldecott Tunnel
The Caldecott Tunnel is a three bore highway tunnel between Oakland, California and Contra Costa County, California. The east-west tunnel is signed as a part of State Route 24, which is also known as the William Byron Rumford...
under Berkeley Hills
Berkeley Hills
The Berkeley Hills are a range of the Pacific Coast Ranges that overlook the northeast side of the valley that surrounds San Francisco Bay. They were previously called the "Contra Costa Range/Hills" , but with the establishment of Berkeley and the University of California, the current usage was...
|-
|rowspan=10|Contra Costa
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
CC R0.00-R9.12
|
|-
|
|R0.40
|7A
|Fish Ranch Road
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Orinda
Orinda, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Orinda had a population of 17,643. The population density was 1,389.5 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Orinda was 14,533 White, 149 African American, 22 Native American, 2,016 Asian, 24 Pacific Islander, 122 from other races, and...
|1.20
|7B
|Wilder Road
|Formerly Gateway Boulevard, renamed February 2010
|-
|R2.32
|9
|Orinda
Orinda, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Orinda had a population of 17,643. The population density was 1,389.5 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Orinda was 14,533 White, 149 African American, 22 Native American, 2,016 Asian, 24 Pacific Islander, 122 from other races, and...
, Moraga
Moraga, California
Moraga is a suburban incorporated town located in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is named in honor of Joaquin Moraga, whose grandfather was José Joaquin Moraga, second in command to Juan Bautista de Anza...
(Camino Pablo)
|
|-
|R3.47
|10
|St. Stephens Drive, Hidden Valley Road
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Lafayette
Lafayette, California
Lafayette is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 23,893. It was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War...
|R4.40
|11
|Acalanes Road, Mount Diablo Boulevard, Upper Happy Valley Road
|
|-
|R6.51
|12
|Oak Hill Road – Central Lafayette, Moraga
Moraga, California
Moraga is a suburban incorporated town located in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is named in honor of Joaquin Moraga, whose grandfather was José Joaquin Moraga, second in command to Juan Bautista de Anza...
|Signed as exit 13 westbound
|-
|R7.66
|14
|Pleasant Hill Road, Mount Diablo Boulevard
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek is an incorporated city located east of the city of Oakland. It lies in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. While not as large as neighboring Concord, Walnut Creek serves as the business and entertainment hub for the neighboring cities within central Contra Costa...
|R9.12
|15
|
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; signed as exits 15A (south) and 15B (north)
|-
|R9.12
|15A
|Mount Diablo Boulevard
|Eastbound exit and westbound entrance