Construction Underway on I-5, Downtown Sacramento’s Primary Automotive Freeway

Dec. 26, 2010 - PRLog -- Sacramento, CA - June 2008 - The section of automotive highway that will be affected is the area that is aptly named the “Boat Section” because it was built below the water level of the nearby Sacramento River. Back in the 1960’s it had to be drained during the rainy seasons. This section was one of the last sections of I-5 to be constructed, and thanks to all these years of flooding and blocked drainage systems, it now suffers from cracks and pavement breakdown.

If you use I-5 as your regular Sacramento automotive http://automotive.sacramentoinsights.com/ commute route, are you prepared to take a little longer to drive to downtown Sacramento? Do you have your alternative route mapped out? Have you decided to change your mode of vehicle transportation? If not, I would encourage you to check out Cal-Trans’ official web site FixI-5.com. There is a wealth of information available there. You can even sign up to have them email you with alerts and schedule changes, etc. There you’ll also find some special offers from downtown Sacramento businesses that will remain open and are encouraging the public to visit them during the construction project.

Another good resource worth mentioning is 5-1-1. You can dial it anywhere in the Sacramento region from your cell phone and get current automotive traffic information and updates not only on I-5, but also on all of the alternate routes. This can be a great tool on days when you’re pressed for time and need to find the fastest way around the Sacramento freeway closures. 5-1-1 will usually have estimated travel times that are remarkably accurate based on the situations going on at that very time.

Here’s a tentative closure schedule* that was posted by the California Department of Transportation http://www.sacramentoinsights.com/business/california-dep...:

Friday, May 30, 8:00 p.m. – All northbound lanes of I-5 from Highway 50/Capitol City Freeway interchange to Richards Blvd. will be closed. (The Q Street ramp will remain open from I-5 northbound.)

Monday, June 9, 5:00 a.m. – All lanes will be open for five days.

Friday, June 13, 8:00 p.m. – All southbound lanes of I-5 from Hwy 50/Capitol City Freeway interchange to Richards Blvd. will be closed. (Two lanes for traffic exiting at J Street will be open.)

Monday, June 23, 5:00 a.m. – All lanes will be open for four days.

Thursday, June26, 8:00 p.m. – All northbound lanes of I-5 from Highway 50/Capitol City Freeway interchange to Richards Blvd. will be closed. (The Q Street ramp will remain open from I-5 northbound.)

Thursday, July 3, 5:00 a.m. – All lanes will be open for six days.

Tuesday, July 8, 8:00 p.m. – All southbound lanes of I-5 from Hwy 50/Capitol City Freeway interchange to Richards Blvd. will be closed. (Two lanes for traffic exiting at J Street will be open.)

Tuesday, July 15, 5:00 a.m. – Work on this portion of the Fix I-5 project should be complete.

Happy and safe travels, everyone. Be kind and courteous to your fellow automotive commuters during these times of transition. Remember that everyone is “in the same boat” – car or vehicle, that is.

Original article http://www.sacramentoinsights.com/articles/construction-u... by Tina Fontenot, courtesy of North Sac News.

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