The segment between I-880 and 17th Street is officially known as the John B. Williams Freeway, after the former director of the city of Oakland's Office of Community Development.

[3] I-980 was used as an alternate route between Oakland and San Francisco when the Cypress Viaduct carrying I-880 collapsed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Immediately after traffic leaves I-880 on elevated connector ramps, I-980 then descends below grade to pass under downtown city streets.

[13] The San Francisco Chronicle reported in November 2015 about a grassroots organization of local architects and planners, supported by Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf, that propose to replace I-980 with a landscaped city boulevard.

Arguments for replacement focus on the freeway's low volume of traffic and negative impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

[15][16] Caltrans and the city of Oakland received a $680,000 Reconnecting Communities planning grant, funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to study rebuilding or removing I-980.