Stretch of Highway 50 to close in Sacramento area for more than 2 days. See when and where
A key section of Highway 50 will close in the Sacramento area for more than two days due to construction, according to the California Department of Transportation.
Crews will do striping and pavement work on the half-mile stretch during the 55-hour closure, which is slated to start Friday night.
Closing part of Highway 50 for one lengthy stretch — as opposed to “four or five partial closures” — “saves time” and allows crews to “complete the work that needs to be done,” Sergio Ochoa Sanchez, public information specialist for Caltrans, told The Sacramento Bee.
Drivers can “expect commercial trucks traveling in and out of the work zone,” Caltrans said in a news release on Thursday, March 20.
The state roads department urged motorists to plan ahead and “expect delays and additional travel time for detours.”
Where is Highway 50 construction?
The Highway 50 Multimodal Corridor Enhancement and Rehabilitation Project, also known as Fix50, aims to rehabilitate pavement on Highway 50 and add 14 miles of high-occupancy lanes from Interstate 5 downtown to the Watt Avenue interchange.
The $529 million project is the largest roadwork project in the Sacramento region, Caltrans said on the project’s website.
Which part of the highway will be closed? When?
The westbound Highway 50 connector to southbound Highway 99 will be closed from 10 p.m. on Friday, March 21, through 5 a.m. on Monday, March 24.
Which detours can I take to avoid roadwork?
Southbound drivers on Highway 99 should use southbound Interstate 5 as an alternate route, Caltrans said in the release.
Westbound motorists can continue on westbound Highway 50 and stay in the right lane to southbound I-5, the agency said.
Do I have to slow down in work zones?
According to Caltrans, the speed limit in the construction zone has been reduced to 55 mph and California Highway Patrol officers will be present to enforce it.
According to California Vehicle Code 22362, it is illegal to exceed the posted speed limit in highway construction zones even if workers are not present.
Speed limits on highways are typically reduced by 10 mph from the normal limit when under construction. Some work areas can have speed limits up to 25 mph lower than usual.
Drivers caught speeding can be ticketed and fined, with the penalty depending on their speed.
“The safety of the drivers and our workers is extremely important for us, so that’s why it is better to close the full connector,” Ochoa Sanchez said.
Other tips for driving in work zones
Caltrans provided tips for safely navigating work zones:
- Don’t change lanes unnecessarily.
- Avoid using mobile phones while driving in work zones.
- Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
- Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
- Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
- Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
- Anticipate lane shifts, and merge when directed to do so.
- Watch for workers; drive with caution.
