Business Loop I-80 Sacramento - California Travel Information

WESTBOUND Business Loop I-80 Sacramento

Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway west
	After exiting from westbound Interstate 80 onto westbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway (and hidden southbound California 51), Exit 14B (Watt Avenue) appears before the transition ramp from Interstate 80 crosses over the parent freeway! The next exit, Exit 14A, is California 244 east to Auburn Boulevard. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway and southbound California 51 at Exit 14A, to Auburn Boulevard (Hidden California 244 east). Auburn Boulevard is Historic U.S. 40, and some historic route signage is present. This exit sign is the first overhead sign to feature an exit number in the state of California; it was placed in August 2002. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 08/14/02.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80/Hidden southbound California 51/Capital City Freeway approaching Exit 12, Fulton Avenue, one mile. The next exit is Auburn Boulevard/Marconi Avenue. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80 (and hidden southbound California 51)/Capital City Freeway at Exit 12, Fulton Avenue. Business Loop I-80 is considered to be below Interstate standards for the stretch of freeway between Fulton and U.S. 50, with the Marconi curve and below standard shoulders. Plans call for construction of a high occupancy vehicle lane, which will require a reworking of the lanes through this relatively narrow stretch. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	Some of the substandard shoulders are evident here, along westbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway/southbound California 51 approaching Exit 7B, E Street, one-quarter mile. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80/southbound California 51/Capital City Freeway reaches Exit 7B, E Street. Note the unusual mileage sign here, which points to the distance to J Street (one-half mile) and P Street (one mile). Photo taken 01/19/03.

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	Meanwhile, the Capital City Freeway is rapidly approaching the WX-31/32 interchange: Junction California 99 and U.S. 50. Although not signed on many of these approach signs, westbound Business Loop I-80 also carries westbound U.S. 50 and northbound California 99. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	Traffic following the westbound Capital City Freeway is advised to follow Business Loop I-80 west to reach Junction Interstate 5. It is a bit unclear to refer to the "San Francisco exit" -- it seems easier to advise motorists either to use the right lanes or follow Business Loop I-80 west. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	These two signs along westbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway/Southbound California 51 at P Street and approaching Junction California 99 (left lanes) and Business Loop I-80 west/U.S. 50 east (right lanes). Photo taken 01/19/03.
	These two signs along westbound just after P Street again advise motorists looking for Interstate 5 or U.S. 50 to use the right lanes. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway transition from the 31-32 Freeway onto the WX Freeway. Although not signed here, the Capital City Freeway follows westbound Business Loop I-80 onto this transition ramp. Meanwhile, Exit 6B is the left exit for southbound California 99, which has more lanes than the mainline! This marks the southern terminus of California 51 ... and the eastern terminus of Interstate 305. The Capital City Freeway is Interstate-standard for the rest of its westerly journey. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80 reaches Exit 6A, Junction U.S. 50 east. U.S. 50 heads due east through the foothills, over the Sierra Nevada at Echo Pass, and leaving California as it skirts the south shore of sapphire Lake Tahoe. Although not signed, Business Loop I-80 west is technically U.S. 50 west as well. Northbound California 99 slides onto the WX as well, but signage on the freeway has deemphasized this additional route. In a way, California 16 is also merged through here (along U.S. 50), but it's better to think of California 16 in two segments that are separated by Interstate 5 and U.S. 50 from Woodland to Sacramento. Photo taken 01/16/07.

Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50 Capital City Freeway west (Interstate 305) and California 99 north
	What a difference some sunshine makes! Westbound Business Loop I-80, Interstate 305, U.S. 50 and (hidden) northbound California 99 carry up to six lanes along the WX Freeway/Capital City Freeway as it passes along the southern edge of downtown Sacramento. The first exit along combined Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 west is Exit 5, Junction Former California 160. California 160 was decommissioned between Interstate 5 Exit 512 and the American River bridge northeast of downtown Sacramento. However, this sign still has the state route shield on it. California 160 is now a split route. Photo taken 08/23/03.
	Through traffic is advised to remain on westbound Business Loop I-80 as it approaches the former California 160 interchange. You have to love a sign that advises motorists to use the "four left lanes." That gives you a pretty fair idea of how many lanes are on this freeway! Photo taken 08/23/03.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50/Interstate 305 and Northbound California 99 (unsigned) at Exit 5, 16th Street (former California 160). California 160 used to follow a couplet through Sacramento, 16th Street for northbound and 15th Street for southbound. This exit also leads to southbound Sacramento County Route J-8 (Franklin Boulevard) via Broadway, which is lost in the maze of ramps here. Photo taken 08/23/03.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80 at Exit 4B, 10th Street. Tenth Street north leads into downtown Sacramento, passing the state capitol complex and Capitol Mall (hidden California 275) between N Street and L Street. Exit 4A is Junction Interstate 5. Photo taken 08/23/03.
	The next exit after the downtown exit is Interstate 5. Interstate 5 is the major north-south corridor of the state, providing the only freeway connection to the Pacific Northwest and the most direct (and boring) route to Southern California via the Westside Highway. At this interchange, westbound Business Loop I-80/Interstate 305/U.S. 50 continue west, while Cailfornia 99 leaves the Capital City Freeway and silently merges with northbound Interstate 5. Photo taken 08/23/03.
	This mileage sign is found along westbound prior to Exit 4A, Junction Interstate 5. Although the Interstate 5 exit is not listed on this sign (but you can see the overhead signs for it in the distance), the West Sacramento/California 84/Jefferson Boulevard exit (Exit 3) and Harbor Boulevard (Exit 1B). Photo taken 08/23/03.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80/Interstate 305/U.S. 50/Capital City Freeway reaches Exit 4A, Junction Interstate 5 and California 99 north. Follow Interstate 5 north to California 99 (and California 70) en route to Marysville and Yuba City. Interstate 5 south leads to Los Angeles and San Diego. Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 continue west along the Capital City Freeway over the Sacramento River and into Yolo County, leaving Sacramento County. Photo taken 08/23/03.
	After the ramp splits between south and north Interstate 5, two lanes transition onto northbound Interstate 5 and California 99. Once on this ramp, there is an exit to Q Street east into downtown Sacramento, including the California State Capitol. Photo taken 01/17/06.
Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50 Capital City Freeway west (Interstate 305)
	Westbound Business Loop I-80/Interstate 305/U.S. 50/Capital City Freeway on the Sacramento River Bridge (the Sacramento/Yolo County Line is signed just beyond the overhead sign) approaching Exit 3, Junction Hidden California 84/Jefferson Boulevard to Hidden California 275. We're not sure why these two routes are not shielded. Nevertheless, Jefferson Boulevard is a north-south route that follows the west bank of the Sacramento River through the Delta region. California 84 is not signed in Yolo County but is signed in Solano County. It does not connect to California 84 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Taking Jefferson Boulevard northbound leads to an onramp for east California 275, which crosses the Tower Bridge into downtown Sacramento, approaching the state capitol complex. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	At the top of the Sacramento River bridge, Business 80 leaves Sacramento city/county and enters Yolo County and the city of West Sacramento. As of the 2000 Census, 31,615 called West Sacramento home. A growing skyline is forming on the west bank of the Sacramento River. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50 (Capital City Freeway) reaches Exit 3, Junction California 84/Jefferson Avenue and Tower Bridge Gateway in West Sacramento. Again notice how not a single shield along westbound indicates that this is still U.S. 50. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	The next exit on westbound Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50/Interstate 305/Capital City Freeway is Exit 1B, Harbor Boulevard, three-quarters of a mile. This is the last exit along westbound before reaching the western end of the business loop at Interstate 80. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	Harbor Boulevard leads north from this interchange to meet California 84 just south of Interstate 80, then follows the west bank of the Sacramento River en route to Woodland. Heading south, Harbor Boulevard leads to Industrial Boulevard. Photo taken 08/23/03.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50/Interstate 305/Capital City Freeway at Exit 1B, Harbor Boulevard, in West Sacramento. Photo taken 08/23/03.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50/Interstate 305/Capital City Freeway at Exit 1A, Junction Interstate 80 east. This marks the western terminus of all three routes. Photo taken 08/23/03.
	Westbound Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50/Interstate 305/Capital City Freeway passing under the interchange at its junction with Interstate 80. Through traffic is defaulted onto westbound Interstate 80. Prior to the transfer of Interstate 80 from Business Loop I-80 onto the bypass, Interstate 80 across the top of Sacramento was known as Interstate 880. That designation has since been transferred to the Nimitz Freeway in Oakland and San Jose. Photo taken 08/23/03.
	Traffic from westbound Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50/Interstate 305/Capital City Freeway merges with traffic from westbound Interstate 80 as they approach Enterprise Road/West Capitol Avenue. It is a challenge to get from the main lanes of the business route over to the West Capitol exit ramp. This marks the western terminus of Business Loop I-80, U.S. 50, Interstate 305, and the Capital City Freeway. Photo taken 01/19/03.

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Page Updated January 13, 2008.