Interstate 80 (I-80) is an east–west transcontinental
freeway
A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway and expressway. Other similar terms ...
that crosses the United States from downtown
San Francisco, California
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...
, to
Teaneck, New Jersey, in the
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also commonly referred to as the Tri-State area, is the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban area, urban landmass, at , and one of the list of most populous metropolitan areas, most populous urban agg ...
. The highway was designated in 1956 as one of the original routes of the
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. T ...
; its final segment was opened in 1986. The second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States after
I-90
Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Great Plains, Midwest, an ...
, it runs through many major cities, including
Oakland,
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
,
Reno
Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border, about north from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino and tourism industry, Reno is th ...
,
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...
,
Omaha,
Des Moines, and
Toledo and passes within of
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...
,
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the United States, U.S. U.S. state, state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along ...
, and
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
.
I-80 is the Interstate Highway that most closely approximates the route of the historic
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway is the first transcontinental highway in the United States and one of the first highways designed expressly for automobiles. Conceived in 1912 by Indiana entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, and formally dedicated October 31, 191 ...
, the first road across the United States. The highway roughly traces other historically significant travel routes in the
Western United States
The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the We ...
: the
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail was a east–west, large-wheeled wagon route and emigrant trail in the United States that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon. The eastern part of the Oregon Trail spanned part of what is now the state of Kans ...
across
Wyoming
Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to t ...
and
Nebraska
Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...
, the
California Trail
The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California. After it was established, the first half of the California Trail f ...
across most of
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...
and
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
, the first transcontinental
airmail route, and the route of the
first transcontinental railroad, except for the vicinity of the
Great Salt Lake. From near Chicago east to near
Youngstown, Ohio, I-80 is a
toll road
A toll road, also known as a turnpike or tollway, is a public or private road (almost always a controlled-access highway in the present day) for which a fee (or '' toll'') is assessed for passage. It is a form of road pricing typically implement ...
, containing most of both the
Indiana Toll Road and the
Ohio Turnpike
The Ohio Turnpike, officially the James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike, is a limited-access toll highway in the U.S. state of Ohio, serving as a primary corridor between Chicago and Pittsburgh. The road runs east–west in the northern section of ...
. I-80
runs concurrently with I-90 from near
Portage, Indiana, to
Elyria, Ohio
Elyria ( ) is a city in the Greater Cleveland metropolitan statistical area and the county seat of Lorain County, Ohio, United States, located at the forks of the Black River in Northeast Ohio 23 miles southwest of Cleveland. As of the 2020 ...
. In
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, I-80 is known as the
Keystone Shortway
Keystone or key-stone or ''variation'', may refer to:
* Keystone (architecture), a central stone or other piece at the apex of an arch or vault
* Keystone (cask), a fitting used in ale casks
Business
* Keystone Law, a full-service law firm
* Di ...
, a non-tolled freeway that crosses rural north-central portions of the state on the way to
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delawa ...
and New York City.
Route description
, -
,
CA
,
, -
,
NV
,
, -
,
UT
,
, -
,
WY
,
, -
,
NE
,
, -
,
IA
,
, -
,
IL
,
, -
,
IN
,
, -
,
OH
,
, -
,
PA
,
, -
,
NJ
,
, - class="sortbottom"
, Total
,
California
I-80 begins at an interchange with
US Route 101 (US 101) in
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...
and then crosses the
San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge
The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, known locally as the Bay Bridge, is a complex of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay in California. As part of Interstate 80 and the direct road between San Francisco and Oakland, it carries about 260,000 ...
into
Oakland. It then heads northeast through
Vallejo,
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
, and the
Sierra Nevada before crossing into
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...
.
A portion of the route through
Pinole involved the experimental transplantation of the rare species
Santa Cruz tarplant in the
right-of-way
Right of way is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e. by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another.
A similar ''right of access'' also exists on land held by a gov ...
.
Nevada
In
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...
, I-80 traverses the northern portion of the state. The freeway serves the
Reno metropolitan area
The Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Western Nevada, anchored by the cities of Reno and Sparks, part of Greater Reno-Tahoe- Fernley CSA. As of the ...
, and it also goes through the towns of
Fernley,
Lovelock,
Winnemucca,
Battle Mountain,
Elko,
Wells, and
West Wendover on its way through the state.
The Nevada portion of I-80 follows the paths of the
Truckee and
Humboldt rivers, which have been used as a transportation corridor since the
California Gold Rush of the 1840s. The Interstate also follows the historical routes of the
California Trail
The California Trail was an emigrant trail of about across the western half of the North American continent from Missouri River towns to what is now the state of California. After it was established, the first half of the California Trail f ...
,
first transcontinental railroad, and
Feather River Route throughout portions of the state. I-80 in Nevada closely follows, and at many points directly overlaps, the original route of the
Victory Highway,
State Route 1 (SR 1), and
US 40.
Utah
After crossing
Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to its ...
's western border in
Wendover, I-80 crosses the desolate
Bonneville Salt Flats west of the
Great Salt Lake. The longest stretch between exits on an Interstate Highway is located between Wendover and
Knolls, with between those exits. This portion of I-80, crossing the
Great Salt Lake Desert, is extremely flat and straight, dotted with large warning signs about
driver fatigue and drowsiness.
East of the salt flats, I-80 passes the southern edge of Great Salt Lake and continues on through
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...
, where it merges with
I-15
I15 may refer to:
* Interstate 15, a north–south Interstate Highway in the United States of America
* Polikarpov I-15, a Soviet fighter aircraft
* I15 (band)
"Soulja Girl" is the second single from American rapper Soulja Boy's studio album '' ...
for before entering the
Wasatch Range east of the city. It ascends
Parleys Canyon
Parleys Canyon is a canyon located in the U.S. state of Utah. The canyon provides the route of Interstate 80 (I-80) (and previously the Lincoln Highway, U.S. Route 40, and a railroad) up the western slope of the Wasatch Mountains and is a relativ ...
and passes within a few miles of
Park City as it follows a route through the mountains toward the junction with the eastern terminus of the western section of
I-84
Interstate 84 may refer to:
* Interstate 84 (Oregon–Utah), passing through Idaho, formerly known as Interstate 80N
* Interstate 84 (Pennsylvania–Massachusetts)
Interstate 84 (I-84) is an Interstate Highway in the Northeaster ...
. From the junction it continues up Echo Canyon and on toward the border with
Wyoming
Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to t ...
, near
Evanston.
The route of the Utah section of I-80 is defined in Utah Code Annotated § 72-4-113(10).
Wyoming
In
Wyoming
Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to t ...
, I-80 reaches its maximum elevation of above
sea level
Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datuma standardis ...
at
Sherman Summit
Sherman is a ghost town in Albany County, Wyoming, United States. Sherman is southeast of Laramie in the Laramie Mountains and is named for Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman, purportedly at his request. From the 1860s to 1918, the t ...
, near
Buford, which, at , is the highest community on I-80. Farther west in Wyoming, the Interstate passes through the dry
Red Desert and over the
Continental Divide. In a way, the highway crosses the Divide twice, since two ridges of the
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico ...
split in Wyoming, forming the
endorheic
An endorheic basin (; also spelled endoreic basin or endorreic basin) is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans, but drainage converges instead into lakes ...
Great Divide Basin, from which surface water cannot drain but can only evaporate.
Nebraska
I-80 enters
Nebraska
Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...
west of
Bushnell. The western portion of I-80 in Nebraska runs very close to the state of
Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the ...
, without entering the state. The intersection of
I-76
Interstate 76 may refer to:
Interstate Highways in the United States
* Interstate 76 (Colorado–Nebraska)
* Interstate 76 (Ohio–New Jersey), running through Pennsylvania
Video gaming
* ''Interstate '76
''Interstate '76'' is a vehicular c ...
and I-80 is visible from the Colorado–Nebraska state line. From its intersection with I-76 to
Grand Island, I-80 lies in the valley of the
South Platte River
The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River. Flowing through the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska, it is itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/Mountain West. It ...
and the
Platte River.
The longest straight stretch of Interstate anywhere in the Interstate Highway System is the approximately of I-80 occurring between exit 318 in the Grand Island area and milemarker 390 near
Lincoln. Along this length, the road does not vary from an ideally straight line by more than a few yards. After Lincoln, I-80 turns northeast toward
Omaha. It then crosses the
Missouri River in Omaha to enter the state of
Iowa
Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...
. Part of I-80 in Nebraska is marked as a
Blue Star Memorial Highway.
Iowa
I-80 is the longest Interstate Highway in
Iowa
Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...
. It extends from west to east across the central portion of the state through the population centers of
Council Bluffs, Des Moines, and the
Quad Cities.
It enters the state at the Missouri River in Council Bluffs and heads east through the
southern Iowa drift plain. In the
Des Moines metropolitan area
The Des Moines metropolitan area, officially known as the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is located at the confluence of the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River. Des Moines serves as the capital of the U.S ...
, I-80 meets up with
I-35 and the two routes bypass
Downtown Des Moines
Downtown Des Moines is the central business district of Des Moines, Iowa and the Greater Des Moines Metropolitan Area. Downtown Des Moines is defined by the City of Des Moines as located between the Des Moines River to the east, the Raccoon River ...
together while
I-235 proceeds straight through the metro and rejoins both on the far side. In
Ankeny, the Interstates split and I-80 continues east. On the west edge of the
Iowa City metropolitan area, it intersects
I-380, a segment of the
Avenue of the Saints. Northwest of the Quad Cities in Walcott is
Iowa 80, the world's largest truckstop. I-80 passes along the northern edge of
Davenport
Davenport may refer to:
Places Australia
*Davenport, Northern Territory, a locality
*Hundred of Davenport, cadastral unit in South Australia
**Davenport, South Australia, suburb of Port Augusta
** District Council of Davenport, former local govern ...
and
Bettendorf and leaves Iowa via the
Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge over the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...
into Illinois. The majority of the highway runs through farmland,
yet roughly a third of Iowa's population live along the I-80 corridor.
Illinois
In
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...
, I-80 runs from the Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge across the Mississippi River south to an intersection with
I-74
}
Interstate 74 (I-74) is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western end is at an interchange with I-80 in Davenport, Iowa ( Quad Cities); the eastern end of its Midwest segment is at an interch ...
. It then runs east across north-central Illinois just north of the
Illinois River to
Joliet. I-80 continues east and joins
I-94 just before entering Indiana.
Indiana
In
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...
, I-80 runs concurrently with another Interstate Highway for its entire length. It runs with I-94 on the
Borman Expressway
Interstate 94 (I-94) is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Billings, Montana, to Port Huron, Michigan. I-94 enters Indiana from Illinois in the west, in Munster, and runs generally eastward through Hammond, Gary, and P ...
from the Illinois state line to
Lake Station, Indiana, then with
I-90
Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Great Plains, Midwest, an ...
on the
Indiana Toll Road from Lake Station to the Ohio state line.
Between
La Porte and the
Toledo metropolitan area, I-80/I-90 is located within of the
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and t ...
state line but does not enter that state. From the
State Road 9 (SR 9) and I-80/I-90 interchange, the sign marking the Indiana–Michigan state line is visible. I-80/I-90 passes through the
South Bend–Mishawaka metropolitan area, passing the
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame ( ) or ND, is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, outside the city of South Bend. French priest Edward Sorin founded the school in 1842. The main c ...
and the
University Park Mall, intersecting with the
St. Joseph Valley Parkway
The St. Joseph Valley Parkway is a freeway in the U.S. states of Indiana and Michigan, serving as a bypass route around Elkhart, Mishawaka, and South Bend in Indiana and Niles in Michigan. The freeway runs to the south and west of Elkhart an ...
. At another point in northern Indiana, I-80/I-90 comes within about of the Michigan border.
Ohio
In
Ohio
Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...
, I-80/I-90 enters from the Indiana Toll Road and immediately becomes the Ohio Turnpike. The two Interstates cross rural northwest Ohio and run just south of the
Toledo metropolitan area. In
Rossford
Rossford is a city in Wood County, Ohio, United States, located along the Maumee River in the Toledo metropolitan area. The population was 6,293 at the 2010 census. The town includes the intersection of Interstate 75 and the Ohio Turnpike. Ross ...
, the turnpike intersects
I-75 in an area known as the
Crossroads of America
The Crossroads of America is the official motto of the U.S. state of Indiana. Various cities in the American Midwest also use the phrase or a variant thereof to describe their location.
Adoption
The Indiana General Assembly passed a resolution ...
. This intersection is one of the largest intersections of three Interstate Highways in the United States.
In
Elyria Township, just west of
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the United States, U.S. U.S. state, state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along ...
, I-90 splits from I-80, leaving the turnpike and running northeast as a freeway. I-80 runs east-southeast through the southern suburbs of Cleveland. Just northwest of
Youngstown, the Ohio Turnpike continues southeast as
I-76
Interstate 76 may refer to:
Interstate Highways in the United States
* Interstate 76 (Colorado–Nebraska)
* Interstate 76 (Ohio–New Jersey), running through Pennsylvania
Video gaming
* ''Interstate '76
''Interstate '76'' is a vehicular c ...
, while I-80 exits the turnpike and runs east to the north of Youngstown, entering Pennsylvania south of
Sharon, Pennsylvania
Sharon is a city in western Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city, located along the banks of the Shenango River on the state border with Ohio, is about northeast of Youngstown, about southeast of Cleveland and about northwe ...
.
Pennsylvania
In
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, I-80 is the main east–west freeway through the central part of the state. It runs from the Ohio state line near Sharon to the
Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge over the
Delaware River and is called the "Z.H. Confair Memorial Highway".
It traverses the extreme northern section of
Greater Pittsburgh. I-80 serves as the western terminus for
I-376 which connects it to
Pittsburgh International Airport and on to
Downtown Pittsburgh and suburban Pittsburgh. I-80 intersects
I-79, which connects with
Erie (about to the north) and Pittsburgh (about to the south). Further east,
I-99 connects with
State College and
Altoona. A spur from I-80 (
I-180) runs to
Williamsport. Upon entering the
Pocono Mountains region, I-80 meets
I-81, connecting
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, Yonkers, and Rochester.
At the 2020 census, the city' ...
, and
Harrisburg
Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in ...
, and
I-476 which connects with
Scranton,
Wilkes-Barre,
Allentown, and
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...
. Another spur (
I-380) runs to Scranton.
In
Clearfield County
Clearfield County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 80,562. The county seat is Clearfield, and the largest city is DuBois. The county was created in 1804 and later organized in 1822.
...
, I-80 reaches its highest elevation east of the Mississippi River, , although other Interstate Highways east of the Mississippi, including
I-26 I26 may refer to:
* Interstate 26, a road in the United States of America
*
{{Letter-NumberCombDisambig ...
in North Carolina and Tennessee, reach higher elevations.
In 2007, the
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), combined with state legislature Act No. 44, initiated plans to enact a tolling system on the entire span of I-80 throughout the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On October 15, 2007, the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the PTC signed a 50-year lease agreement, which would allow the PTC to maintain and, eventually, toll I-80.
However, the application for a toll was rejected by the
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program ...
(FHWA).
New Jersey
I-80 does not enter
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. Once the
I-95/
New Jersey Turnpike was extended in 1971 from its former terminus at
US 46 in
Ridgefield to I-80 in
Teaneck, the section from Teaneck to Fort Lee was resigned as I-95, and it is the latter roadway that enters New York City via the
George Washington Bridge. I-80's designated end (as per signage and
New Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is the agency responsible for transportation issues and policy in New Jersey, including maintaining and operating the state's highway and public road system, planning and developing transportat ...
(NJDOT) documents) is
[Measured in Google Earth from I-80 end sign (visible in Street View) to the beginning of the George Washington Bridge] short of New York City in Teaneck, before the Degraw Avenue overpass. There, signs designate the end of I-80 and the beginning of I-95/New Jersey Turnpike northbound.
Therefore, the fact that exit numbers on I-95 beyond the end of I-80 appear to be a continuation of I-80 exit numbers is a coincidence. They match what would have been the correct milemarkers of I-95 had the
Somerset Freeway
Interstate 95 (I-95) is a major Interstate Highway that traverses nearly the full extent of the East Coast of the United States, from Florida to Maine. In the state of New Jersey, it runs along much of the mainline of the New Jersey Turnpike ( ...
been built.
One section of I-80 running from
Netcong to
Denville was constructed in 1958.
History
I-80 was included in the original plan for the
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. T ...
as approved in 1956. The highway was built in segments, with the final piece of I-80 completed in 1986 on the western edge of
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...
. This piece was coincidentally dedicated close to the 30th birthday of the Interstate Highway System, which was noted at the dedication and considered to be a milestone in the history of highway construction in the United States.
It was also noted at the dedication that this was only south of
Promontory Summit, where another first in a transcontinental artery was completed—the
golden spike of the US's
first transcontinental railroad.
Geological study
John McPhee
John Angus McPhee (born March 8, 1931) is an American writer. He is considered one of the pioneers of creative nonfiction. He is a four-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in the category General Nonfiction, and he won that award on the four ...
described the geology revealed by the building of I-80 in a series of books on the formation of the continent of
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and th ...
, books that were published between 1981 and 1993 and collected in a one-volume edition in 1998 ''
Annals of the Former World'' which won a
Pulitzer Prize in 1999. In "Basin and Range" (1981), he described how the idea emerged in a conversation with Princeton geologist
Kenneth S. Deffeyes: "What about Interstate 80, I asked him. It goes the distance. How would it be? 'Absorbing,' he said. And he mused aloud: After 80 crosses the Border Fault, it pussyfoots along on morainal till that levelled up the fingers of the foldbelt hills. It does a similar dance with glacial debris in parts of Pennsylvania. It needs no assistance on the craton. It climbs a ramp to the Rockies and a fault-block staircase up the front of the Sierra. It is geologically shrewd. It was the route of animal migrations, and of human history that followed. It avoids melodrama, avoids the Grand Canyons, the Jackson Holes, the geologic operas of the country, but it would surely be a sound experience of the big picture, of the history, the construction, the components of the continent."
Junction list
;California
: in
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...
: in
Oakland
: on the Oakland–
Emeryville city line. The highways travel concurrently to
Albany.
: in
Vallejo
: in
Fairfield
: in
Vacaville
Vacaville is a city located in Solano County in Northern California. Sitting approximately from Sacramento and from San Francisco, it is within the Sacramento Valley. As of the 2020 census, Vacaville had a population of 102,386, making it th ...
: in
West Sacramento
: in
Sacramento
)
, image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg
, mapsize = 250x200px
, map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...
;Nevada
: in
Reno
Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border, about north from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino and tourism industry, Reno is th ...
: south-southwest of
Lovelock. The highways travel concurrently to
Winnemucca.
: in
Wells
;Utah
: in
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...
: in Salt Lake City. The highways travel concurrently to
South Salt Lake.
: in South Salt Lake
: southeast of Salt Lake City
: in
Silver Creek Junction. I-80/US 189 travels concurrently to east-northeast of
Evanston, Wyoming.
: in
Echo
;Wyoming
: in
Little America. The highways travel concurrently to south-southeast of
Walcott.
: in
Purple Sage
Purple sage has various uses, mostly referring to plants or to Zane Grey's novel ''Riders of the Purple Sage'', set in Utah. There is disagreement about what plant Grey had in mind.
Plants
*Certain true sages, members of the genus ''Salvia'' in th ...
. The highways travel concurrently to
Rock Springs.
: east of
Rawlins. The highways travel concurrently to south-southeast of Walcott.
: in
Laramie. I-80 / US 30 travel concurrently to southwest of Cheyenne.
: southwest of Cheyenne
: on the
Fox Farm–Cheyenne line
: east-northeast of Cheyenne. The highways travel concurrently to
Pine Bluffs.
;Nebraska
: southwest of
Big Springs
: southwest of
Big Springs
: in
Ogallala
: in
North Platte
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.
Etymology
The word ''north'' is ...
: south of
Lexington
Lexington may refer to:
Places England
* Laxton, Nottinghamshire, formerly Lexington
Canada
* Lexington, a district in Waterloo, Ontario
United States
* Lexington, Kentucky, the largest city with this name
* Lexington, Massachusetts, the oldes ...
: south of
Elm Creek
: south of
Grand Island
: in
York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
: in
Lincoln
: in Lincoln. The highways travel concurrently to north-northeast of Lincoln.
: in Lincoln
: in
Waverly
: in
Omaha
: in Omaha
: in Omaha
;Iowa
: in
Council Bluffs. The highways travel concurrently through Council Bluffs.
: in Council Bluffs
: northwest of
Minden
: in
Avoca
: north-northeast of
Lorah. I-80/US 6 travel concurrently to
De Soto.
: in De Soto
: in
West Des Moines. I-35/I-80 travels concurrently to
Ankeny.
: on the
Clive–
Urbandale city line
: in
Des Moines
: in Ankeny
: in
Altoona. The highways travel concurrently through Altoona.
: in Altoona. I-80/US 6 travels concurrently to
Newton.
: south of
Malcom
: east-northeast of
Williamsburg
: on the
Tiffin–
Coralville city line
: north-northwest of
Wilton. The highways travel concurrently to
Davenport
Davenport may refer to:
Places Australia
*Davenport, Northern Territory, a locality
*Hundred of Davenport, cadastral unit in South Australia
**Davenport, South Australia, suburb of Port Augusta
** District Council of Davenport, former local govern ...
.
: in Davenport. I-80/US 61 travels concurrently through Davenport.
: in Davenport
: in
Le Claire
;Illinois
: in
East Moline
: in
Colona
: in Colona
: northeast of
Princeton
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nin ...
: in
LaSalle
: in
Channahon
: in
Joliet
: in
New Lenox
New Lenox is a village in central Will County, Illinois, United States. It is a southwestern suburb of Chicago and an eastern suburb of Joliet. The village population was 27,214 as of 2020. New Lenox has schools like Lincoln-Way West High Schoo ...
: in New Lenox
: on the
Mokena
Mokena is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,887 at the 2020 census. The Census Bureau's 2019 estimate found that the population had increased to 20,159.
Etymology
Mokena is a name apparently derived from ...
–
Orland Park–
Tinley Park
Tinley Park (formerly Bremen) is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, with a small portion in Will County. The village is a suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 55,971. It is one of the fastest growing suburb ...
city line
: in
Country Club Hills
: in
Hazel Crest. The highways travel concurrently to the
South Holland–
Lansing
Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, maki ...
village line.
: on the South Holland–Lansing village line. I-80/I-94 travels concurrently to
Lake Station, Indiana.
: in Lansing. The highways travel concurrently to Lake Station, Indiana.
;Indiana
: in
Hammond. The highways travel concurrently through Hammond.
: in
Gary
: in Lake Station. I-80/I-90 travels concurrently to northwest of
Elyria, Ohio
Elyria ( ) is a city in the Greater Cleveland metropolitan statistical area and the county seat of Lorain County, Ohio, United States, located at the forks of the Black River in Northeast Ohio 23 miles southwest of Cleveland. As of the 2020 ...
.
: southeast of
Otis
Otis may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Characters
* Otis (Superman), in the films ''Superman'' and ''Superman II'' and related DC Comics media
** Otis Graves, in the TV series ''Supergirl''
* Otis (''The Walking Dead''), in the Image Comics ...
: in
South Bend
: north-northeast of
Middlebury
: west-northwest of
Fremont
;Ohio
: in
Maumee
: in
Perrysburg
: northeast of
Stony Ridge
: north-northwest of
Milan
Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city ...
: in
North Ridgeville
North Ridgeville is a city located along the eastern border of Lorain County, Ohio. The city's population was 35,552 in 2020. North Ridgeville is the fastest-growing city in northern Ohio. It has been ranked the 13th safest city in the United St ...
: in
Strongsville
: on the
Richfield–
Brecksville
Brecksville is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, and a suburb in the Greater Cleveland area. The city's population was 13,635 at the United States 2020 Census.
History
Brecksville was founded in 1811, four years after several men ...
line
: in
Streetsboro
: east-southeast of
North Jackson
: in
Mineral Ridge
: in
Girard
: north of
Hubbard Hubbard may refer to:
Places Canada
*Hubbard, Saskatchewan
*Hubbards, Nova Scotia
Canada/United States
* Mount Hubbard, a mountain on the Alaska/Yukon border
*Hubbard Glacier, a large freshwater glacier in Alaska and Yukon
Greenland
*Hubbard Gla ...
;Pennsylvania
: south of
Hermitage
: south of
Mercer
: northwest of
Grove City
: west of
Corsica
Corsica ( , Upper , Southern ; it, Corsica; ; french: Corse ; lij, Còrsega; sc, Còssiga) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 18 regions of France. It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of ...
: east-northeast of
Falls Creek
: northwest of
Zion. I-80/US 220 travels concurrently to east of
Mackeyville.
: north of
New Columbia
: northeast of New Columbia
: in
Lime Ridge
: north-northwest of
Drums
: east of
East Side
: south-southwest of
Pocono Summit
: in
Arlington Heights. The highways travel concurrently to east of
East Stroudsburg.
;New Jersey
: in
Columbia
Columbia may refer to:
* Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America
Places North America Natural features
* Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region i ...
: west of
Stanhope. The highways travel concurrently to south-southeast of
Netcong.
: in Netcong
: east of
Rockaway
: in
Parsippany-Troy Hills
: in Parsippany-Troy Hills
: in Parsippany-Troy Hills
: in Parsippany-Troy Hills
: in
Wayne
: in
Teaneck
See also
*
References
External links
*
Eric Buchanan's Interstate 80 Photos Index page
{{Authority control
80
80
80