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Isabel Avenue interchange opens
I-580 link to Highway 84 major step in planned expressway to I-680

by Jeb Bing

Caltrans opened all ramps of the Isabel Avenue interchange at I-580 early Wednesday morning, completing construction work ahead of schedule and ending months of detours and traffic snarls as the work continued.

Isabel, which is officially designated as State Route 84, provides a key link to Vineyard Avenue in Pleasanton and is a major traffic artery between Interstates 580 and 680.

The four-lane roadway has largely been rebuilt and widened from I-580 east to Jack London Boulevard just past the Livermore Airport, where it narrows to two lanes. A truck-passing lane on both sides of the route over Pigeon Pass has helped to reduce long delays in that section, but it could be years before the full planned four-lane expressway is completed.

Along with opening the Isabel Avenue interchange, Caltrans also closed the westbound I-580 Portola Avenue on-ramp. The eastbound I-580 off-ramp to Portola was closed several months ago.

These closures were necessary, Caltrans said, in order to connect Portola Avenue south of I-580 with the new Portola Avenue overcrossing, and the city of Livermore's extension of Portola north of I-580. For more information, call (510) 286-5445.

Posted by Shane, a resident of the Las Positas neighborhood, on Nov 30, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Couldn't be more excited. Never thought I would get excited over a freeway on ramp but this should cut some time off my drive to Las Positas College. Thanks Cal Trans!