Interstate 580, Interstate highway in Northern California, United States
Interstate 580 is a 76-mile (122 km) highway connecting San Rafael to Tracy, crossing from the San Francisco Bay Area into California's Central Valley. The route passes over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and through Altamont Pass, linking multiple counties and regional transportation networks.
The route received its current interstate designation in 1964, consolidating earlier sections of U.S. Route 50 into a unified corridor. This merger of previous routes established a major link that coordinated traffic flow between the bay region and inland areas.
The MacArthur Freeway section earned recognition as the Most Beautiful Urban Highway in the United States from Nationwide Parade Magazine in 1966.
Westbound traffic on the bridge section must pay tolls via electronic FasTrak transponders. Trucks over 4.5 tons face restrictions and are directed to alternative routes including Interstate 238 and Interstate 880.
The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge segment collects tolls exclusively from westbound traffic, utilizing FasTrak transponders for electronic payment processing.
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