The big fix: How will you get to work?

The time is now, right now, to map out how you'll get to work once the feared commute event of the year hits Sacramento.

In a month, on May 30, highway officials begin the Big Fix -- six weeks of closures on busy Interstate 5 downtown. The ripple effect, they say, will be felt throughout the region.

Today, the Bee analyzes six major freeway corridors into downtown and offers alternative routes and commute tips. Click on an individual link for that alternative, or continue down to read all six.

I-5 North: Natomas to downtown

I-80 West: Davis to downtown

Highway 50: El Dorado to downtown

I-80 East: Placer County to downtown

Highway 99: Elk Grove to downtown

I-5 South: Elk Grove and south Sacramento to downtown

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Highway 99: Elk Grove to downtown

Leave very early. Or very late. Highway 99, the area's most congested freeway, will shoulder even more morning traffic as some I-5 commuters switch routes.

What you should know

Main north-south streets such as Franklin and Stockton boulevards are alternative routes, but may be crowded. (Avoid cutting through residential streets. Children will be out and about.) Some commuters will head to Jackson Highway and Highway 50 via Bradshaw and other roads.

Alternatives

Highway 99 has carpool lanes! Find a neighborhood carmate at www.sacregion511.org/rideshare . Use park- and-ride lots at the Elk Grove, Laguna, Sheldon, Laguna and Calvine interchanges.

Transit tips

Elk Grove will add buses to the e-tran service. Check www.e-tran.org. If you try light rail, the Meadowview station has parking, but it could fill up early.

One commuter says:

Elk Grove area resident Ann Mitchell carpools to downtown.

"We take 99 north, across the W/X to I-5 north and off at J Street. We don't have a firm plan. What sounds good to us now is to get off at 10th Street and take Eighth Street north. I don't know what we will do if it is too congested to make that work. We would be interested in hearing from other people in our situation."

I-5 North: Natomas into downtown

Bad news. On days southbound I-5 is closed, freeways in Natomas are destined to see the region's worst morning traffic. Afternoon freeway commutes will be better, but expect congestion getting out of downtown on surface streets. Telecommuting, anyone?

What you should know

The Richards Boulevard and J Street exits always will remain open, even when other southbound lanes are closed, but traffic will funnel to two lanes at those ramps. Expect delays. Also, leaving downtown to the north, you can use the I and L street onramps, as well as Richards Boulevard.

Alternatives

Some will try Northgate Boulevard through the American River Parkway. Others may head east to the Capital City Freeway. Another possibility: I-80 west into Yolo County, then back to Sacramento on Highway 50 or the I Street or Tower bridges.

Transit tips

North Natomas Transportation Management Association and Sacramento Regional Transit plan to boost bus service. Check Yuba- Sutter Transit as well. No special routing accommodations are being made so far, so buses will be in with the cars.

One commuter says:

Jan Mendoza commutes from Wheatland to the DMV office on Broadway and has asked for flex work time.

"I'm dreading May 30. I've pondered going into West Sacramento via I-80 then Highway 50, or surface streets to Northgate to 160, but I don't think that will be a good idea because of all of the traffic lights. I'll probably have to figure it out on a day-by-day basis."

I-80 West: Davis to downtown

Welcome to the wild card corridor. Caltrans is telling truckers to use this as a detour, so expect congestion anytime from May 30 to mid-July. The worst of it may be during the closure of I-5 northbound in downtown from May 30 to early morning June 9, and from late on June 26 to early morning on July 3.

What you should know

Caltrans says the real slowdowns should start as you come off the causeway into West Sacramento.