California State Route 87

Infobox road
state=CA
type=SR
route=87
alternate_name=Guadalupe Parkway
section=387
maint=Caltrans

---

length_mi=9
length_ref= [http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/structur/strmaint/brlog2.htm January 1, 2006 California Log of Bridges on State Highways] ]
length_round=0
established=1964 renumbering [http://cahighways.org/081-088.html#087 California Highways: State Route 87] ]
direction_a=South
terminus_a=jct|state=CA|SR|85 in San Jose
direction_b=North
terminus_b=jct|state=CA|US|101 in San Jose
previous_type=SR
previous_route=86S
next_type=SR
next_route=88

State Route 87, locally called Highway 87 or the Guadalupe Freeway, is a north-south state highway entirely within San Jose, California, United States. Its name was changed from Guadalupe Parkway in 2004 after its entire constructed length was upgraded to a freeway. Its southern terminus is at State Route 85 (West Valley Freeway); its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 101 (Bayshore Freeway), just north of San José International Airport. The highway intersects with Interstate 280 (Junipero Serra Freeway) in downtown San José. Unusually, it crosses above Interstate 880 without an interchange. For most of its length, especially in downtown, the highway follows the course of the Guadalupe River.

This route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=shc&group=00001-01000&file=250-257 CA Codes (shc:250-257)] ] .

Overview

A Guadalupe Parkway connection between Downtown San Jose and the present day US 101 had existed since the early 1960s; the road channeled traffic between the Bayshore Freeway and ramps that connected directly to Market Street. However, construction on a freeway over the same path and southward beyond Downtown began a decade later and stretched across 30 years.

The first stage of the Highway 87 freeway, its 4-level interchange with I-280, replaced an old downtown neighborhood in the early 1970s. A ramp to Julian Street, north of the interchange with I-280, was completed in the mid-1970s. The freeway extension north to Taylor Street was completed in the 1980s. The southern part, from I-280 to Highway 85, was opened to Almaden Expressway in 1992 and to Highway 85 in 1993, built in conjunction with the construction of a light rail line. At Highway 87's northern terminus, its 3-level interchange with Highway 101 and North First Street was completed in 1992. Finally, with all grade-level intersections replaced by grade separations, construction of the six-lane freeway between Taylor Street and the Highway 101/North First interchange was completed in 2004, with the final ramps at the Skyport interchange opening in 2005. The widening of the southern segment, from Taylor Street to Highway 85, to six lanes was completed in 2007.

The right-of-way for Highway 87 south of Interstate 280 includes two tracks for the Guadalupe line of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's light rail system. Stations are accessible from the streets via staircases and elevators. Beyond 87's terminus, the line continues southeastward in the median of Route 85.

Originally Designated Routing

Highway 87, as defined legislatively, would have extended from its current northern terminus, skirting the edge of San Francisco Bay as the Bayfront Freeway to San Francisco, providing an eastern bypass to U.S. Highway 101 along the peninsula (Highway 101 itself being originally a bypass to El Camino Real along the peninsula). It would have ended at Highway 480 (the Embarcadero Freeway) practically underneath the Bay Bridge. It would have also connected to the approaches to the unconstructed San Francisco Bay Southern Crossing. It, along with Route 61, a similar project on the eastern shore of the Bay, was abandoned due to local opposition to the project that would have destroyed a nearly pristine wildlife habitat. [http://cahighways.org/081-088.html#087 California Highways: State Route 87] ]

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 entire route is in San Jose, Santa Clara County."

Highway 87 Bikeway

The Highway 87 Bikeway is a 4.1 mile long pedestrian and bicycle path that runs alongside portions of Highway 87. The path was constructed by Caltrans as part of the final phase of the State Route 87 project. It opened to the public on September 1, 1993. [ cite news |first=Brad |last=Kava |title=Highway 87, The Way to San Jose |format=fee required |work=San Jose Mercury News |page=1C |date=1993-09-17 |accessdate=2008-03-26] The north end of this path is at Willow Street (north of the Alma Street exit). The south end is at the 87-85 interchange. Along this route, the path runs along the east side of the freeway. The path diverges from the freeway for 0.7 miles near Curtner Avenue and again for 1.1 miles near Capitol Expressway, running along city streets near the highway. This path provides connections for other trails in the area, including the Guadalupe River Trail and Los Gatos Creek Trail. [cite web |url=http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/Hwy87/Hwy87.asp |title=Highway 87 Bikeway |accessdate=2008-03-27 |date=2008-02-14 |work=Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services |publisher=City of San Jose]

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References

External links

* [http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr87 Caltrans: Route 87 road conditions]
* [http://www.interstate80.info/87_california_index.html Eric Buchanan's Highway Photo Page: 87 Guadalupe Parkway] (project history and historical images)