Highway 87 is a 10-mile freeway that connects
south San Jose to downtown San Jose and the Mineta San Jose International
Airport.
Highway 87 begins at U.S. 101 near the
airport and ends at its junction with Highway 85 in south San Jose.
In April of 2004, the conversion of Hwy 87 to a full freeway was
complete when new interchanges at Taylor Street and Skyport Drive
were opened. In 2007, the carpool lane between Interstate 880 and
Hwy 85 was opened to traffic. Despite the improvements, traffic
is still heavy during commute hours.
Exit 377A
Exit Number Installed
Exit 377A
Exit Number Not Installed
Exit
8
South
Skyport Drive is the main access road
to the Mineta San Jose International Airport. This interchange
is a SPUI (Single Point Urban Interchange) where a single traffic
signal controls the entire interchange.
Exit
7
South
The Taylor Street exit is the primary
access from Hwy 87 to the county jail and courthouse. San Jose
City Hall used to be located in the same area but was moved to
a new downtown building in 2005. Taylor Street also forms the
northern border of San Jose's Japantown.
Exit
6B
South
Julian Street is the first of 2 downtown
San Jose exits. It is also the first exit for the HP Pavilion
(originally the San Jose Arena).
Exit
6A
South
Exit 6A is the second of 2 exits for
the arena and the main one for downtown San Jose. It's also the
exit for the Childen's Discovery Museum and the McEnrey Convention
Center.
Exit
5
South
Interstate 280 is one of two freeways
connecting San Jose to San Francisco and is definitely the more
scenic route. Southbound 280 becomes Interstate 680 when it crosses
U.S. 101.
Exit
4
South
Alma Avenue serves the neighborhoods
just to the south of the downtown area. This exit also provides
access to the Tamien VTA Light Rail and Caltrain station.
Exit
3B
South
Almaden Expwy is part of the county's expressway system and is
a primary route to the residential areas in the Almaden Valley.
Hwy 87 replaced Almaden Expwy as the primary route to south San
Jose.
Exit
3A
South
Curtner Avenue is the primary access road
to the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds which is located east of
Hwy 87.
Exit
1D
South
Capitol Expwy is part of the county's expressway system. This
one serves the areas of south and east San Jose. To the west of
Hwy 87, is the Capitol Expwy Auto Mall.
Exit
1C
South
Santa Teresa Blvd is a major north-south
road that serves the residential areas of south San Jose before
continuing south into Morgan Hill and Gilroy.
Prior to October 2003,
this was the only way to northbound Hwy 85 because no direct ramp
was built due to a lack of funding.
Exit
1B-A
South
Hwy 87 ends here as the freeway splits into two ramps to Hwy 85.
Hwy 85 north passes through the cities of Saratoga, Cupertino,
Sunnyvale and Mountain View. Hwy 85 south continues to serve south
San Jose before merging onto southbound U.S. 101.
