When will Sacramento’s I Street Bridge be replaced? Here’s the latest construction update

For more than a decade, the city of Sacramento has discussed plans to replace the I Street Bridge would connect West Sacramento to the Railyards in downtown.

Lately, locals have been asking for updates on the project.

“When does construction begin on the new Sacramento River Bridge to the Railyards? (If ever),” a resident asked The Sacramento Bee’s Bee Curious, a community-driven series where reporters answer questions about the region, in 2023.

In December 2023, Sacramento city spokeswoman Gabby Miller told The Bee that construction on a new bridge connecting West Sacramento and the Railyards was anticipated to begin in 2025.

However, she said at the time the start date depended on funding.

One year later, local residents are eager for updates on the project.

“Does anyone have information relating to the construction timeline or funding status of the new bridge?” a Reddit user asked in a post on Dec. 3.

“It is ridiculous how long this is taking,” a Reddit user replied in a comment.

“I hate going over that bridge when it’s backed up,” another commenter wrote. “I’m paranoid thinking it’ll collapse.”

So what’s the status of the project? Is there a firm timeline for completion? Here’s what we know:

Why does Sacramento’s I Street Bridge need to be replaced?

In 2011, the cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento completed the Sacramento River Crossings Alternatives Study, which identified the need for new bridge crossings in the area, the city of Sacramento said on its website.

That included a North Market crossing to replace the I Street Bridge, the study found.

Built in 1911, the I Street Bridge is 900 feet long with a 330-foot main swing span, according to architecture film Modjeski and Masters, which is headquartered in Pennsylvania. There’s highway access on the upper deck of the bridge and railway access on the lower deck.

“The nine-foot lanes are too narrow to serve buses, there are no bicycle lanes, and the sidewalks are too narrow to meet current accessibility standards,” the city’s website said.

According to the city of Sacramento, the I Street Bridge Replacement Project will include the construction of a new bridge upstream of the existing I Street Bridge.

The bridge would span the Sacramento River, connecting the planned West Sacramento Washington District neighborhood development and the Sacramento Railyards, the future site of the new Sacramento Republic FC soccer stadium and, potentially, a new entertainment district.

What could the new bridge look like?

Unlike the original I Street Bridge with its dark brown metal trusses, the new bridge is expected to have a more modern look.

The final design was released in February 2020, after a year of potential design.

“This is an exciting step for the city as we move on to the next stage of building the new I Street Bridge,” then-Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said in a 2020 news release. “This strikingly modern design will make the new bridge an instant landmark and an important piece of redesigned waterfront.”

The vertical-lift bridge would be the first of its kind with this type of design, according to a city news release.

The bridge is projected to have a daily traffic volume of more than 25,000 vehicles and include six-foot bike lanes and 12-foot shared paths for pedestrians and bicyclists.

According to the city, the new bridge project will promote economic development by allowing cars, bikes, buses and pedestrians easy access to the Railyards, West Sacramento and the Sacramento waterfront.

Meanwhile, the existing I Street Bridge’s lower deck will “continue to serve as a railroad crossing,” the city said, while the upper deck of that structure could be used by pedestrians and bicyclists.

“The approach viaducts to the existing I Street Bridge will be demolished, resulting in better access to the waterfront and further development in both cities,” the city said.

When will construction begin on new bridge?

As of Friday, Dec. 6, the city was actively seeking funding for the I Street Bridge replacement project, Miller said.

The timeline for construction remains uncertain until that funding is secured.

“Currently, we are waiting to hear back on construction funding requests from the California Transportation Commission, (California Department of Transportation) and the Federal Highway Administration,” Miller said. “If construction funding is granted, we could advertise the project for construction as soon as next year.”

How much will it cost to replace I Street Bridge?

Replacing the I Street Bridge with a new structure could cost approximately $260 million to $320 million, depending on prices for steel and other materials, the city said in the summer of 2022.

The cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento agreed to share the local costs of bringing the I Street Bridge project to life, including federal matching requirements and other non-federally eligible expenses.

Potential partnerships to help with funding include Caltrans’ Highway Bridge Replacement and the Local Partnership Program created by Senate Bill 1.

The cities are seeking additional funds from the Bridge Investment Program established as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the city of Sacramento said in a news release.

How long would it take to complete the project?

Even if construction starts in 2025, the city would still have to follow certain regulations.

“The project will take approximately four years to construct to comply with environmental mitigation and flood control work windows,” Miller said.

If everything goes according to plan, Miller said, the new bridge would be completed in 2029.

This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 6:00 AM.