More I-80 Ramp & Lane Closures this Weekend

Source: Caltrans

THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

Work starts tomorrow night on the westbound portion of the Interstate 80 “Across the Top” construction project.

With construction nearing completion on eastbound Interstate 80 in Natomas and North Sacramento, Caltrans has launched a plan aimed to speed up westbound work.

Starting tomorrow, July 25, westbound traffic from Longview Drive to Northgate Boulevard will be reconfigured to carry two express lanes (using the eastbound carpool lane and shoulder) and one local access lane. The change in traffic lanes will run from Longview Drive to Northgate Boulevard.

To complete the westbound express lane configuration, the following overnight closures are scheduled from 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 to 12 p.m. on Sunday, July 26:

• Westbound lanes (No. 1-3) and shoulder (alternating) from I-5 to Watt
• Eastbound lanes (No. 1 and 2) from I-5 to Longview
• Westbound Northgate Off-ramp
• Westbound Northgate On-ramp
• Westbound Norwood Off-ramp
• Westbound Norwood On-ramp
• Westbound Raley Off-ramp
• Westbound Raley On-ramp
• Westbound Winters Off-ramp
• Westbound Winters On -ramp

At the same time, the current eastbound express lane between West El Camino and Northgate will remain to allow crews to continue construction activity on that stretch of freeway.

Caltrans officials said the westbound change should be easier for drivers because there is only one westbound entrance into the express lanes.

Caltrans recommends motorists only use the far right, local access lane if they plan to exit the highway by or before Northgate. Motorists planning to continue to Truxel Road, Sacramento International Airport, Interstate 5 or the Bay Area are advised to use the far left, express lanes and then merge accordingly.

The existing eastbound express lane configuration from West El Camino to Northgate will be removed in the coming months after the eastbound work is finished.

When completed in summer 2016 the $133.3 million 80 Across the Top project will add about 10 miles of new bus/carpool lanes in both directions, repave the highway from West El Camino Avenue to Watt Avenue, and construct about one mile of new auxiliary lanes from West El Camino Avenue to the Interstates 80/5 interchange.