I-80 Capacity and Operational Improvements
Fixing “The Bottleneck” at the Placer/Sacramento County Line

Overview

The Interstate 80 (I-80) Capacity and Operational Improvements project will widen the freeway from the Placer/Sacramento County line (approximately Riverside Ave/Auburn Blvd) all the way to Highway 65.  The existing carpool lanes in Sacramento County will be extended to Highway 65 in both eastbound and westbound directions, and auxiliary lanes will be added between the interchanges to allow a smoother entrance and exit from the freeway.

This project is near the top of all resident priorities in terms of transportation improvements.

Partners

Caltrans – I-80 is a state highway and more than 50 percent of the funding will come from state and federal funds.  As a result, Caltrans is taking the lead on the design and construction of the project.

PCTPA – As the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for Placer County, the PCTPA Board determines and manages Placer’s priorities for the regional transportation system.  The Agency is also the lead for amassing and administering funding for this project.

City of Roseville – The City has been an important advocate for the project and helped secure federal funding.  The City is also working to make sure local growth plans are compatible with these improvements. 

Placer County – The County has been a staunch advocate for the project and has helped secure federal funding.

Former Congressman John Doolittle – Former Congressman Doolittle led a coalition of advocates to secure $71.6 million for the I-80 widening project in a Federal transportation bill that was passed in Washington D.C. in 2005.

Status

The entire project is currently estimated to cost $89.3 million. At one time, the cost estimate for the project was as high as $210 million, but with innovative approaches and a more competitive bidding environment, the estimate has been reduced considerably.  All phases of the project are now fully funded through a combination of Federal earmarks, State transportation infrastructure bond funding, and local development fees.  Savings from low bids on Phase 2 has allowed full funding of Phase 3.

Final environmental document – Completed in 2004.

Phase 1:  [COMPLETED AUGUST 2007] Extended eastbound on-ramp from Riverside Ave/Auburn Blvd to become an auxiliary lane through to the Douglas Blvd interchange.  This phase also included purchase of all right of way needed for the full project.

Phase 2:  [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] Eastbound and westbound carpool and auxiliary lanes from the Sacramento/Placer County line to just west of Miners Ravine (between the Lead Hill Blvd overcrossing and Eureka Road) will be contructed along with westbound improvements at the Auburn/Riverside Blvd, Douglas Blvd, and Atlantic/Eureka Road interchanges.

Phase 3: [UNDER CONSTRUCTION] Add auxiliary lanes and carpool lanes on both eastbound and westbound sides from just west of Miners Ravine to just east of SR 65, approximately 2.2 miles in length.

Schedule

NOTE: Dates are estimated, and could be affected by adverse weather or other conditions.

Phase 2: Final placement of rubberized asphalt concrete from Placer/Sacramento County line to Eureka Road is complete on Westbound side as of August 17, 2011. Eastbound direction should be complete by the end of August. Pavement must set for a week before striping can start.

Striping of lanes will be complete and lanes open in mid September 2011.

Phase 3: Final retaining walls and sound walls are currently under construction and will be completed by late August/early September.

Final placement of rubberized asphalt concrete from Eureka Road to project end east of SR 65 will begin September 1 with estimated completion by the end of September.

After one week set time, striping should be completed and lanes open in mid October 2011.

Caltrans Project Web Page