Sacramento has a start and end date on I Street Bridge construction. Here’s when
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sacramento plans to begin I Street Bridge construction in spring 2026.
- Project will span four years and cost $300 million, mostly from public funds.
- City will enter financing deals to manage grants and annual reimbursement caps.
Sacramento’s plan to replace the aging I Street Bridge is no longer just talk.
Construction is set to begin next spring following the City Council’s approval to move forward with a funding plan on Tuesday night. Work is anticipated to take four years, said city spokesperson Gabby Miller on Thursday.
Tuesday’s decision comes after more than a decade of the city discussing plans of a bridge that will connect West Sacramento to the Railyards in downtown. Until recently, the city hadn’t fully secured funding for the project.
“It’s exciting to get at least to this point … there were thoughts at some point that it might be another decade before we got going,” said Councilmember Eric Guerra.
The bridge is estimated to cost about $300 million, according to a recent city staff report. Built north of the current 114-year-old one, the new bridge will provide lanes for cars, bicyclists and pedestrians.
“We’re going to increase safety for everyone,” said Councilmember Roger Dickinson.
Most of the costs — $275 million — will be covered by federal and state funds. The remaining funding will be shared between the cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento. The two cities have also submitted an application to the Sacramento Area Council of Governments for another $4.25 million.
The city will enter several funding and financing agreements in the next months, said Lucinda Willcox, assistant public works director, on Tuesday.
All the grants are on a “reimbursement basis,” meaning that the city spends the money and is refunded. In the case of $250 million from CalTrans, the agency can only reimburse up to $20 million per year.
To make up for the costs, the city plans to enter a financing agreement with the Sacramento Transportation Authority. The county-wide agency “makes sense” because it has an “excellent” credit rating and is designed to support transportation projects, Wilcox said.
The financing plan will be presented to the Sacramento Transportation Authority in August. Further agreements will be brought to the City Council throughout the fall and winter.
This story was originally published July 31, 2025 at 3:04 PM.
