{{Short description|State highway in California}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox road |state=CA |type=SR |route=61 |section=361, 412, and 560 |map={{maplink-road|from=California State Route 61.map}} |map_custom=yes |map_notes=SR 61 highlighted in red; the gap represents the relinquished portion |length_mi=10.30 |length_round=2 |length_ref=<ref name=trucklist/> |established=[[1964 state highway renumbering (California)|1964]]<ref name="cah 61">[http://cahighways.org/057-064.html#061 California Highways: State Route 61]</ref> |length_notes=Length of SR 112 is {{convert|1.78|mi|km|0|abbr=on}}<br/>Length of SR 260 is {{convert|1.35|mi|km|0|abbr=on}}<br/>(portions of SR 260 have been relinquished to or are otherwise maintained by local or other governments, and are not included in the length.) |restrictions = No hazardous materials in the [[Posey and Webster Street tubes]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/engineering/trucks/routes/restrict-list.htm | title=Special Route Restrictions | publisher=Caltrans | access-date=2014-07-26 | archive-date=September 12, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912222946/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/engineering/trucks/routes/restrict-list.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> |direction_a=South |terminus_a={{jct|state=CA|SR|185}} in [[San Leandro, California|San Leandro]] |junction={{jct|state=CA|I|880}} in San Leandro |direction_b=North |terminus_b={{jct|state=CA|I|880}} in [[Oakland, California|Oakland]] |previous_type=SR |previous_route=60 |next_type=SR |next_route=62 |counties=[[Alameda County, California|Alameda]] |browse={{ca browse |previous_type=SR |previous_route=111 |route=[[Image:California 112.svg|25x20px]] |next_type=SR |next_route=113 }} {{ca browse |previous_type=SR |previous_route=259 |route=[[Image:California 260.svg|25x20px]] |next_type=SR |next_route=261 }} }} '''State Route 61''' ('''SR 61''') is a [[state highway]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]], running along the eastern edge of [[Oakland International Airport]] and through [[Alameda, California|Alameda]]. Two additional "hidden" state highways, '''State Route 112''' ('''SR 112''') and '''State Route 260''' ('''SR 260'''), are also signed as part of SR 61, despite having legal descriptions separate from Route 61.
SR 112 runs along Davis Street from [[California State Route 185|State Route 185]] (East 14th Street) west to Doolittle Drive in [[San Leandro, California|San Leandro]]. SR 61 proper then follows Doolittle Drive north near the eastern boundary of Oakland International Airport to [[Bay Farm Island]] and across the [[Bay Farm Island Bridge]] to Alameda Island. SR 61 then runs on various city streets in Alameda to Webster Street. SR 260 then goes from Webster Street through the [[Posey and Webster Street tubes]] to near [[Interstate 880 (California)|Interstate 880]] in [[Oakland, California|Oakland]]. Though some maps mark the highway as continuous along Alameda's Webster Street, control of the segment between Central Avenue and Atlantic Avenue was relinquished to the city and is thus no longer officially part of the state highway system. {{As of|2012}}, a sign indicating SR 61 East near the [[Interstate 880 (California)|I-880]] interchange was replaced with an SR 112 shield; it has been replaced with a SR 61 sign as of 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/csampang/6840786416/in/album-72157629231541792/|title=Signage for SR 112 east|access-date=April 3, 2021}}</ref>
As legislatively defined, Route 61 extends as far north as Albany and as far south as the [[Dumbarton Bridge (California)|Dumbarton Bridge]]'s east approach. Only the portion between Routes 260 and 112 is constructed; the unbuilt remainder of the route exists today either as open [[San Francisco Bay]] or wetlands. This route would likely have sat atop landfill; as public opinion shifted against filling in the bay, completing the remaining portions of Route 61 also fell out of favor. [[California State Route 87|Route 87]] is another highway once proposed to traverse present-day wetlands and open water.
==Route description== The combined SR 112/61/260 route begins at [[California State Route 185|SR 185]] in [[San Leandro, California|San Leandro]]. Running along Davis Street, it then interchanges with [[Interstate 880 (California)|Interstate 880]] before it heads to Doolittle Drive. It then continues northward along Doolittle Drive and enters the city of [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], running along the eastern boundary of [[Oakland International Airport]]. The highway then enters the city of [[Alameda, California|Alameda]] at [[Bay Farm Island]] before crossing the [[San Leandro Bay]] via a drawbridge to Alameda Island. SR 61 then goes west along Otis Drive, then north along Broadway until reaching Encinal Avenue. The route then heads west on Encinal Avenue and Central Avenue to Webster Street. The highway then runs across Webster Street and through the [[Posey and Webster Street tubes]] before terminating at I-880 and 7th Street in Oakland. The route does not directly intersect with I-880 here, so drivers are instructed to get onto I-880 south via Oak Street or I-880 north via Jackson Street. There are two tube entrances on the Oakland side, one on Webster Street, and the other at the intersection of Broadway and 5th Street; the latter can be reached from I-880's Broadway off-ramps.
California's legislature has relinquished state control of the segment along Webster Street between Central Avenue and Atlantic Avenue, and thus that portion is now maintained by the City of Alameda.<ref name="relinquishment">{{cite web |url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=shc&group=00001-01000&file=300-635 |title=CA Codes (shc:300-635) |publisher=Leginfo.ca.gov |access-date=2013-10-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006110038/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=shc&group=00001-01000&file=300-635 |archive-date=2014-10-06 }}</ref>
SR 61 is part of the [[California Freeway and Expressway System]],<ref name="cafes">{{CAFESystem}}</ref> and all three routes are part of the [[National Highway System (United States)|National Highway System]],<ref name=fhwa-nhs>{{FHWA NHS map|region=sanfrancisco|accessdate=October 14, 2017}}</ref> a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [[Federal Highway Administration]].<ref name=NHS-FHWA>{{FHWA NHS}}</ref>
==Major intersections== {{CAinttop|county=Alameda|post_ref=<br><ref name=trucklist /><ref name=bridgelog>{{Caltrans bridgelog|date=April 2008}}</ref><ref>[[California Department of Transportation]], [http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/ All Traffic Volumes on CSHS], 2007</ref> }} {{CAint |location=San Leandro |lspan=4 |postmile=1.78<ref group="lower-alpha" name="SR 112">Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 112 rather than SR 61.</ref> |road=Callan Avenue |notes=Continuation beyond SR 185 }} {{CAint |postmile=1.78<ref group=lower-alpha name="SR 112"/> |road={{Jct|state=CA|SR|185|name1=East 14th Street}} |notes=South end of SR 61; east end of unsigned SR 112 }} {{CAint |postmile=0.60<ref group=lower-alpha name="SR 112"/> |road={{Jct|state=CA|I|880|name1=[[Nimitz Freeway]]|city1=Oakland|city2=San Jose}} |notes=Interchange; I-880 exit 34; former [[California State Route 17|SR 17]] }} {{CAint |postmile=R0.00<ref group=lower-alpha name="SR 112"/> |line=yes |postmile2=14.80 |road=Davis Street, Doolittle Drive |notes=West end of unsigned SR 112 }} {{CAint |location=Oakland |postmile=16.07 |road={{Jct|state=CA|road|98th Avenue|I|880|to2=yes|location1=[[Oakland International Airport]]}} |notes=Interchange }} {{Jctplace |state=CA |location=Alameda |lspan=5 |postmile=18.55 |place=[[Bay Farm Island Bridge]] over [[San Leandro Bay]] }} {{CAint |postmile=21.97 |line=yes |postmile2=0.00<ref group=lower-alpha name="SR 260">Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 260 rather than SR 61.</ref> |road=Central Avenue, Webster Street |notes=North end of state maintenance }} {{CAint |postmile=R0.57<ref group=lower-alpha name="SR 260"/> |road=Atlantic Avenue, Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway |notes=South end of unsigned SR 260 and state maintenance }} {{CAint |postmile=R0.86<ref group=lower-alpha name="SR 260"/> |road=[[Willie Stargell|Wilver "Willie" Stargell]] Avenue |notes=[[At-grade intersection]]; former southbound exit and entrance interchange; formerly Mariner Square Drive }} {{CAint |type=incomplete |postmile=R0.86<ref group=lower-alpha name="SR 260"/> |road=[[Wilma Chan]] Way, Marina Village Parkway |notes=Interchange; southbound left exit and northbound entrance; formerly Constitution Way }} {{CAint |location1=Alameda |location2=Oakland |postmile=R1.12<ref group=lower-alpha name="SR 260"/> |line=yes |postmile2=R1.20<ref group="lower-alpha" name="SR 260"/> |place=[[Posey and Webster Street Tubes]] under [[Oakland Estuary]] }} {{CAint |location=Oakland |lspan=3 |postmile=R1.75<ref group=lower-alpha name="SR 260"/> |road=Broadway, 5th Street |notes=Southbound entrance only |type=incomplete }} {{CAint |postmile=R1.92<ref group=lower-alpha name="SR 260"/> |road={{Jct|state=CA|road|7th Street|I|880|I|980|to2=yes|name2=Nimitz Freeway|dir3=east|city1=San Francisco|city2=San Jose|location3=[[Jack London Square]]}} |notes=North end of SR 61 and unsigned SR 260 }} {{CAint |postmile=R1.92<ref group=lower-alpha name="SR 260"/> |road=Harrison Street |notes=Continuation beyond 7th Street; southbound entrance accessible from Webster Street }} {{Jctbtm|keys=incomplete}} {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==See also== *{{portal-inline|California Roads}} *{{portal-inline|San Francisco Bay Area}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Attached KML|display=inline,title}} {{commons category}} {{CASR external links|SR|61}} *[http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-061.html California @ AARoads.com - State Route 61] *'''From [http://www.cahighways.org/ California Highways]:''' **[http://www.cahighways.org/057-064.html#061 SR 61] **[http://www.cahighways.org/105-112.html#112 SR 112] **[http://www.cahighways.org/257-264.html#260 SR 260]
[[Category:State highways in California|061]] [[Category:Roads in Alameda County, California|State Route 061]]