Interstate 580 East, Upper Peralta Creek / Bartlett

I wish there were a category for the entire "maze" of Oakland on here, but given that there is not, the report on the MacArthur section of the Maze will have to do. This area is the prime culprit of the confusion, anyway.

The "Maze," as is commonly referred to a little highway interchange in Oakland, right around the Bay Bridge. It is the junction of 580, 880, 980 and (you guessed it!) 80. It is very easy to get lost around here, and here are some fun facts to reinforce just WHY the area is so frustrating:

1. Most GPS directions will send you 580 to 880 southbound. The signage for 880 on 580 is terrible, and you can just stay on 880 instead.
2. 580 to 880 via 980, and 80 to 880 are completely interchangeable. There is no reason to get caught up on one over the other, although this is a very easy mistake to make.
3. If you accidentally take 80 westbound, you WILL get stuck on Treasure Island, and have to sit in line and pay the toll before you can turn around and recover your mistake.
4. 580, although considered an east/west freeway, runs completely parallel to 880 until Castro Valley, further contributing to the confusion.
5. 980 is actually 880 for part of the stretch, and 24 for the other part of the stretch. Simple, right?

The area certainly lives up to its name, and traffic reflects this quite well. I would recommend avoiding the area at all costs during rush hour, and take a look at a map and be fully aware of your surroundings before driving through. What a mess!

(Note: My "Safety" rating refers to driving safety, not necessarily neighborhood safety)