Is there traffic on the 92 toward san mateo?

Question

Hey! I have an important meeting to go to in San Mateo on Monday. I live in Alameda, so it will be a short commute to San mateo. I have to go down the 880 south and go over the 92. Is there traffic going this way during the week? And how bad?! Thanks!

I have to be in San Mateo at 8:15. What time should I leave Alameda?

Answer 1

Let me give you an observation of I-880 south (Nimitz Freeway) and Hwy 92 via San Mateo Bridge towards San Mateo.

Going south on I-880 is not that bad from Fruitvale towards San Leandro, but be prepared to face traffic jams along the route (even though this is the anti-commute (non-commute) route for the highway) because trucks coming from the Port of Oakland use this stretch of I-880 to go towards I-238 to I-580 leading towards southern California. The route becomes more notoriously choked with traffic as you approach the I-238/I-880 interchange because it is a major junction for vehicles going to Livermore. Once you pass through the intersection, expect good traffic all the way towards west CA 92.

When you hit west CA 92, you will face some delays as you leave Hayward because there is a toll gate at the western entrance to the San Mateo Bridge. But, as you pass through the toll gates, you will have a smooth ride across the bridge, but expect minor delays as you go up the high-rise. As it enters Union City (San Mateo County), traffic again increases because you will be driving through the US-101 intersection, another busy junction for commuters traveling towards Palo Alto and Millbrae. Be warned also that the junction is a accident-prone zone because the lanes on 92 west slightly narrows as the ramps leave toward the right on US-101.

In order for you to be in San Mateo at 8:15am, you have to leave Alameda at least 6:15am or 6:30am so that you can beat the trucks passing along I-880 and somehow avoid the cars that pass along CA-92 towards San Mateo County.