How bad is I-80? Fans at A’s game share traffic woes amid construction
A major construction project on eastbound Interstate 80 in West Sacramento, which transportation officials warned could result in additional travel time this weekend, caused relatively small delays ahead of Saturday afternoon’s game between the Athletics and the New York Yankees.
However, drivers reported a few more significant delays coming into the stadium from other directions as road work and congestion mounted by early afternoon.
The planned closure between the Yolo Causeway crossing and the Reed Avenue exit, which is in effect until early Monday morning, forced drivers to take a detour around a key stretch of I-80.
Some baseball fans traveling to Sutter Health Park reported typical congestion on their drive, while others were stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on their way to the game — including those coming in from directions other than the west.
Emily Watson, of Land Park, said she hit major delays on the two-mile drive to the stadium on Saturday.
“It took us 45 minutes,” she said, to drive in by way of Interstate 5 and westbound I-80.
The A’s faced off against the Yankees on Saturday afternoon in the second game of the three-game series at Sutter Health Park. On Friday, the Yankees dominated the A’s, 10-2.
It took a Sacramento Bee reporter 25 minutes on Saturday at noon to drive from Davis to West Sacramento, a drive that takes about 15 to 20 minutes in light traffic. Saturday’s game started at 1:05 p.m.
Drivers coming from the Bay Area reported heavier than usual traffic, though there were no reports of major delays. Jonathan Correa said his typical 1-hour drive from the East Bay took 90 minutes. Eastbound I-80 was slow throughout, he said.
Road work appeared to contribute to delays midday Saturday for westbound drivers on Highway 50.
Traffic smartphone apps as of 3 p.m. Saturday — as the A’s game entered the late innings — showed heavy traffic near the Sacramento region’s main interchanges. Those are the I-80 “split” near Reed Avenue, where the major construction is underway; the juncture of Highway 50 and I-5 near downtown Sacramento; and the connection between Highway 50, Highway 99 and the Capital City Freeway near midtown Sacramento.
The A’s and Yankees play again at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday, which is Mother’s Day.
What are the closures and detours?
Between Friday evening and Monday morning, Caltrans will be conducting “ongoing replacement and striping work” on eastbound I-80 and Highway 50 in West Sacramento. During that time, the eastbound portion of I-80 will be completely closed from the Yolo Causeway crossing to Reed Avenue, according to a Caltrans release.
According to Caltrans, eastbound I-80 drivers will be detoured via eastbound Highway 50, over the Sacramento River, to northbound Interstate 5 to Redding via Exit 4A or to eastbound I-80 to Reno via Exit 522.
Driver coming from westbound Highway 50 will have to take a more circuitous detour, which involves taking the Enterprise Boulevard off-ramp, then heading onto Industrial Avenue, then to Harbor Boulevard. Drivers from Harbor can then get on northbound I-5, which rejoins I-80 in Sacramento’s Natomas area.
Those motorists should take the Enterprise Boulevard off-ramp at Exit 81 and stay left, then continue on Enterprise to take a left turn at the light onto Industrial Avenue. Continue on Industrial Avenue to Harbor Boulevard, turning left at the light, take Exit 82 and continue over the Sacramento River to northbound I-5 to Redding at Exit 4A or eastbound I-80 to Reno at Exit 522.
As a result of the detours, Caltrans urged motorists “to expect delays and use the designated detour route.”
