I-280 Vista Point Mystery

[Geoff Miller]

On Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, a few miles south of
the Hwy. 92 intersection, there are two vista points on the
east side of the highway overlooking the Bay. One of them,
the northernmost of the two, has been closed for years, its
access road and entrance ramp barricaded with Road Closed
signs. Does anybody know why?

I seem to recall that there was a scandal involving homosexuals
using the rest stops in that area as trysting places. And even
now there are warning signs in the restrooms at the rest stop
north of 92, the one with the big statue of Father Serra point-
ing to the reservoir (or perhaps signalling a "first down"),
against, er, "inappropriate behavior" and saying that the area
is patrolled by undercover cops.

Might this have anything to do with the closure of that vista
point? If so, why close one and not the other? Or the third
one on the west side of the freeway, for that matter?



Geoff

[Brad Houser]

Post by Geoff Miller
On Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, a few miles south of
the Hwy. 92 intersection, there are two vista points on the
east side of the highway overlooking the Bay. One of them,
the northernmost of the two, has been closed for years, its
access road and entrance ramp barricaded with Road Closed
signs. Does anybody know why?
I seem to recall that there was a scandal involving homosexuals
using the rest stops in that area as trysting places. And even
now there are warning signs in the restrooms at the rest stop
north of 92, the one with the big statue of Father Serra point-
ing to the reservoir (or perhaps signalling a "first down"),
against, er, "inappropriate behavior" and saying that the area
is patrolled by undercover cops.
Might this have anything to do with the closure of that vista
point? If so, why close one and not the other? Or the third
one on the west side of the freeway, for that matter?

I think you could be right. I read this in the SJ Mercury Roadshow column
(2/4/2002): "Caltrans closed the one vista after numerous complaints from
local residents about illegal and rowdy activities occurring at these rest
stops, particularly at night. "

I used to enjoy the on ramp from the vista point back on to 280 North, you
could usually hit cruising speed quite easily, since it is downhill.

Brad Houser