Fix 50 road work continues as busy Sacramento freeway on-ramp closing for 11 days
Capital region motorists will once again need to navigate around construction that will shut down a Highway 50 on-ramp in Sacramento for just under two weeks and trigger multi-day lane closures, according to the California Department of Transportation.
The on-ramp from Stockton Boulevard, which is in the Alhambra Triangle neighborhood, onto the freeway’s westbound lanes as it transitions to the W-X portion of the Capital City Freeway will be closed for 11 days — between 10 p.m. Friday and 4 a.m. May 18 — as crews repair hinges on the bridge approach slab, Caltrans District 3 said in a news release. Slabs provide a gradual transition between the road and the bridge deck.
To avoid the westbound on-ramp closure, Caltrans is suggesting drivers instead take the eastbound on-ramp from Stockton Boulevard, take Exit 6B, turn left on 65th Street and then take the loop on-ramp to westbound Highway 50. Motorists can also use adjacent city streets to maneuver toward another westbound on-ramp.
In the final 55 hours, crews will close down a few exterior lanes to repair the joints of two bridge hinges. Two lanes between 53rd Street and a point just east of Alhambra Boulevard will be shut down during the day and a third lane will be closed at night during the construction. During the closure, crews will be applying a joint seal that will need to cure for hours before drivers can safely cross the affected lanes.
The speed limit through the work zones was reduced to 55 mph. Caltrans is encouraging drivers to plan for trips to take more time, expect delays and pay attention when traveling through construction.
The construction is a part of the $511.1 million “Fix 50” project that will add carpool lanes and resurface aging pavement between I-5 and just east of Watt Avenue. The project, which began in 2021 and has faced delays and rising costs, remains on track for a July completion, Caltrans officials said, a year later than originally planned.
The work is scheduled for 11 days, but it could shift or be extended due to weather, supply availability or other factors, Caltrans said.
