Mission Freeway


Overhead view of the I-280/San Jose Avenue (Mission Freeway) interchange.

Length: 1 mile
Routing in SF: From I-280 north to Dolores Street
Construction: Unknown
Route Numbering: CA 82 (unconfirmed arbitrary designation)

The Mission Freeway was originally intended as a traffic alternative for US 101 between the Southern (then US 101, later CA 82) and Central Freeways, instead of taking the Bayshore.  Although it was never constructed and canceled before 1963, a portion of it was built as a San Jose Avenue arterial upgrade.


The San Jose Avenue (Mission Freeway)/I-280/Monterey Blvd interchange.  The two ramps heading westward off I-280 and San Jose Avenue may have been the first step towards a Crosstown Freeway, but this is unconfirmed and there is no further evidence of the Crosstown's existance.

Currently, the "freeway", which does have several partial at-grade intersections, and only one exit (Monterey Blvd.), ends at Dolores Street.  It serves as an alternative to the more congested Mission Street to the east.

This is the terminus of the San Jose Avenue freeway/expressway, at Dolores Street.  Note that the through traffic lanes are directed northward on Dolores, rather than San Jose Avenue.  Would Dolores have been part of the Mission Freeway?

Sources: personal experience, kurumi.com, cahighways.org, Microsoft Terraserver pictures.

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