Throughout the day Saturday, crews sliced up the thick concrete roadway of Interstate 5 in downtown Sacramento as part of the historic Big Fix freeway project that's expected to last for six weeks.
A mile stretch of northbound lanes was shut to traffic Friday night for the first of what will be a succession of closures to shelter crews as they repair the decaying roadway.
Crews also were power-washing the freeway walls in the sunken "boat section" area to prepare them for a decorative blue, green and yellow paint stain.
"We're right on schedule," said Beth Ruyak, spokeswoman for the Rancho Cordova-based C.C. Myers Construction company. "It's going smoothly."
Or nearly:
Although traffic was reported generally light around Sacramento, construction workers alerted the California Highway Patrol Saturday morning of a four-vehicle rear-end collision on the freeway in the southbound lanes adjacent to the job site, tying up southbound traffic.
Caltrans officials said they also were disappointed to see some large commercial trucks cutting through downtown streets Saturday rather than following the designated freeway detour route.
For the next nine days, northbound traffic is being funneled at the closure into the right three lanes and forced to exit onto Q Street downtown or onto Highway 50.
The freeway was empty for only minutes Friday.
As the last cars passed, lime-vested crews from the Rancho Cordova-based C.C. Myers company assembled on the mottled pavement, unloading equipment, setting up construction lights and chalking the pavement for saw cuts.
Gawkers watched from freeway overpasses and news photographers scurried for views of the historic closure.
Chris and Cindy Huber of South Natomas watched excitedly from the Sutterville Road overpass.
"Anything that can come off this well, with all these government agencies involved, is quite impressive," Cindy Huber said. "Let's see what Monday brings."
More than 60 mobile message boards announced the closure on freeways from Stockton to Redding. Not all was smooth, however.
Weekend closure of the P Street onramp to southbound I-5 caught some unaware. Laura Trejo of south Sacramento was among the first to get caught up.
"I'm just trying to get home," Laura Trejo lamented Friday night after being turned away at the freeway entrance.
Work is scheduled to continue around the clock through next weekend. The northbound lanes will reopen for traffic - with a new surface - by 5 a.m. June 9, officials said.
Crews then will close southbound lanes for identical work. The freeway-closures portion of the $37 million project is expected to finish by July 15.
Caltrans has published a suggested detour for drivers seeking to reconnect with I-5 north of downtown: Head west on the Capital City Freeway, also Highway 50, into West Sacramento. Merge onto Interstate 80, Reno direction, and reconnect with I-5 in the Natomas area.
Call The Bee's Tony Bizjak, (916) 321-1059.
