With Labor Day weekend approaching, there's one thing certain on Sacramento roads: Fall congestion season is about to rev up.
A slow economy and high gas prices – $3.85 unleaded average Wednesday in Sacramento – may mean fewer cars on the road and a bit more breathing room for commuters this September.
But an unusually robust summer road-repair and construction season is still going strong, causing commute pinchpoints across the region.
Here are some pressing questions, and answers, about the road ahead:
How much worse will traffic be after Labor Day, when all schools are in session and summer vacations are over?
Expect 10 percent more cars on the road, state Transportation Department operations guru Jim Calkins said. It may not sound like much, but it's enough to turn every freeway into stop-and-go slog at peak commute hours.
What's the worst trouble spot?
Highway 99 north of Fruitridge wins the dubious distinction. Even carpool lanes there can slow to 40 mph and worse at times.
Any other stretches to avoid?
Caltrans officials acknowledge the Capital City Freeway (the W/X) westbound toward downtown is a daily nightmare. It has arguably the toughest traffic "weave" in town. Vehicles must decelerate rapidly from 55-mile per hour lanes into 10-mph exit lanes to get into downtown on 16th and 10th streets and onto Interstate 5.
What's the worst construction-related headache?
It could be the notorious Roseville bottleneck on Interstate 80 between Douglas Boulevard and Highway 65. Crews will be building lanes on both sides of the freeway for the next few years. Commuters must run a gantlet on narrowed lanes shouldered by concrete construction barriers.
Other construction projects to watch out for?
One of the biggest is on heavily traveled South Watt Avenue at Folsom Boulevard where crews are building a light-rail bridge. Expect lane closures nights and possibly some days on Watt for the next few months. All turn lanes should be open.
And West El Camino Avenue is completely closed through year's end just east of Northgate Boulevard for a bridge rebuilding. Use the Arden-Garden Connector, city officials say.
How about downtown?
Partial closures are upcoming, possibly at the end of the month, on N Street between 21st and 28th streets. The city will convert that one-way street into two-way.
What's up with I-5 in downtown Sacramento? Did they finish that Big Fix rehabilitation project or not?
Not! The summer's full freeway closures are history, but there seems to be an endless list of finish work to do. That includes finally painting the permanent lane striping, probably starting next week. Expect some lanes to be closed nights this month after 10 p.m.
Any advice?
Caltrans' Calkins suggests heading to work earlier than usual. Or at least avoid that ugly 8 a.m. hour. Transit officials report numbers remain up as more people look to leave the car at home. The weather is still good for bike commuting. People interested carpools and vanpools can check www.sacregion511.org.
Call The Bee's Tony Bizjak, (916) 321-1059.
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