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.

Congressman John Doolittle – 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/Schedule

Money is a key factor affecting the timeline for the I-80 Capacity and Operational Improvements.  With the approval of Prop 1B funds to aid construction of this project, the current approach involves construction of Phase 1 in spring 2007 (completed August 2007), the construction of Phase 2 in spring 2008, and construction of Phase 3A in spring 2009 (see phases described below).

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 :  [CONSTRUCTION START MAY 2008] 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 (Phased as A and B): [CONSTRUCTION START (PHASE 3A) MAY 2009] 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. Phase 3A is the westbound improvements, while 3B includes the eastbound improvements. Design for Phase 3A is currently underway. Phase 3B has had some preliminary design work completed but construction remains unfunded.

Current Challenges

Funding

The entire project is currently estimated to cost $124 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.  Phases 1, 2, and 3A are fully funded through a combination of Federal earmarks, State transportation infrastructure bond funding, and local development fees.  Savings from low bids on Phase 2 could fully fund Phase 3B, pending CTC approvals. 

Caltrans Project Web Page

Project Fact Sheet (PDF)

Is the State transportation bond good for Placer?

State Transportation Infrastructure Bond Summary: A Placer Perspective