Alameda County (CA)

Oddity: I-80/I-580 Duplex (Which way am I going?!?)

For 4 miles, eastbound I-80/westbound I-580 and westbound I-80/eastbound I-580 follow the same section of the Eastshore Freeway between Emeryville and Albany. Duplexed Interstates signed in opposite directions would be confusing enough, but in addition this section of freeway actually follows a geographic north-south route and therefore goes neither east nor west. EB I-80/WB I-580 travels north and WB I-80/EB I-580 travels south. I feel especially sorry for all the tourists who don't know the area and have to make sense of signs like this! This was taken on EB I-80/WB I-580 just (geographically) north of the Ashby Avenue entrance. Click on the image for a close-up view of these signs. Picture taken September 2002. Thanks to fhsu for this picture.

Oddity: Sign Cut In Half, SB I-880 at Fruitvale Avenue

This must be something new that Caltrans is doing instead of using "greenout" on signs. The bottom of this sign has simply been cut off. I don't remember what it used to say, or why the bottom half is missing, but this sign over southbound I-880 at Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland sure is a strange sight. Picture taken October 2002. UPDATE: As of January 2003, Caltrans had filled in the missing half of the sign. Click here to see the updated sign.

Blooper: I-238/580 Signage from I-880
	This is a mistake, this sign over southbound I-880 should read I-238 TO I-580. I-238 and I-580 are not duplexed, but this sign indicates that they are. Picture taken October 2002.

Oddity: White-on-black Speed Limit Sign
	This very old speed limit sign with white letters and numbers on a black background is on southbound Claremont Ave. in Berkeley, just before the College Ave. intersection. There aren't too many of these around; most have been replaced with newer signs. Picture taken February 2002.

Back to bloopers and oddities page