California 275 - California Travel Information

California 275

California 275 is the Tower Bridge crossing the Sacramento River and Capitol Mall leading toward the California State Capitol. The former freeway route (now called the Tower Bridge Gateway) from Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 (Capital City Freeway) east through West Sacramento up to the Tower Bridge approach was decommissioned in 1996. The city of West Sacramento has since demolished the interchange between the Tower Bridge Gateway and West Capitol Avenue/Riske Lane. The state route ended near the State Capitol on the Capitol Mall.

The state highway was decommissioned legislatively in 1996, with the portion in West Sacramento given to the city for maintenance. As part of the Tower Bridge Gateway redevelopment project, the freeway portion of former California 275 in West Sacramento is in the process of being downgraded to expressway standards with traffic signals rather than exit ramps and overpasses. The first overpass to be removed is at Riske Lane, and demolition began in Spring 2007. Eventually the entire route through West Sacramento will be more like an urban boulevard and less like a fast route into downtown Sacramento. The goal is to revitalize West Sacramento's neighborhoods on the west bank of the Sacramento River.

The Tower Bridge, which crosses the Sacramento River, opened on December 15, 1935 and repainted after a contest to decide its color in 2002. Currently, the bridge and Capitol Mall in the city of Sacramento is maintained by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) even though it is disconnected from the rest of the state highway system.

Site Navigation

Tower Bridge Gateway (Former California 275) east
	The Tower Bridge Gateway, which is signed as "Downtown Sacramento/Jefferson Boulevard," is Exit 3 from Business 80/U.S. 50 (Capital City Freeway). The right two lanes of Business 80 split off toward the Tower Bridge, which was the original route of U.S. 40-99W over the Sacramento River into downtown Sacramento. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	Eastbound Tower Bridge Gateway splits from California 84/Jefferson Boulevard, with the left two lanes connecting to the former route of California 275 and the right lane connecting to Jefferson Boulevard (which is unsigned California 84). California 275 was a prior route of U.S. 40-99W west into downtown Sacramento before the Interstate 80 (now Business Loop I-80) bridge over the Sacramento River was built in 1966. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	The ramp to the eastbound Tower Bridge Gateway carries two lanes over Business 80 and U.S. 50. The advance sign for the Interstate 5 interchange on eastbound Business 80 can be seen below the flyover ramp. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	The ziggurat and West Sacramento skyline comes into view on eastbound Tower Bridge Gateway. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	Raley Field, which is home to the minor league baseball team Sacramento Rivercats, comes into view on the south side of the Tower Bridge Gateway. The section of freeway that can be seen in the distance ahead was converted into a surface boulevard in 2007. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	The Tower Bridge Gateway drops to ground level as an onramp merges from Jefferson Boulevard (secret California 84). The overpass in the distance for Riske Lane, which connects to old U.S. 40-99W (West Capitol Avenue), was demolished in 2007, and a signalized intersection was put in its place. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	Both the Riske Lane exit (signed as West Capitol Avenue) and South River Road exit connect to Raley Field on the south side of the boulevard. Photo taken 01/16/06.

California 275/Tower Bridge east
	Eastbound Tower Bridge Gateway (old California 275) used to meet Riske Lane at this interchange, but the interchange was removed in 2007. Now this is a signalized intersection. Use Riske Lane north to West Capitol Avenue (old U.S. 40-99W, which was briefly signed as Business U.S. 40 from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s and as Business Spur I-80 before the business loop freeway was defined in 1980). Photo taken 01/16/06.
	Eastbound Tower Bridge Gateway (old California 275) reaches Riske Lane at this former offramp. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	The second exit on eastbound Tower Bridge Gateway (old California 275) is with South River Road, which also serves Raley Field and connects to downtown West Sacramento. A railroad crosses over old California 275 at this point. Traffic from West Capitol Avenue merges onto eastbound Tower Bridge Gateway. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	A drawbridge warning sign is located on Tower Bridge Gateway (old California 275) east. When flashing, slow down since the bridge is in lift operation. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	Eastbound Tower Bridge Gateway reaches the sharp offramp to South River Road. This exit Raley Field and connects back with Riske Lane. The yellow towers of the Tower Bridge come into view. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	The Tower Bridge Gateway ends as the state takes over maintenance for the approach to the Tower Bridge. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	A California 275 postmile is the only indication that the state has taken over maintenance. The Tower Bridge is a vertical lift bridge that opened on December 15, 1935 (note the large date stamp on the concrete tower on the south side of the Tower Bridge approach). The yellow towers are 160 feet tall, and the bridge was built in cooperation between the state of California, county of Sacramento, and Sacramento Northern Electric Railroad replaced the original M Street bridge that dates back to 1926. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	The Tower Bridge has a length of 737 feet, and the center lift segment 209 feet long. The bridge has a width of 52 feet. The width was designed to accommodate four dedicated lanes for autos, and the center lane was planned for the railroad with curbing between the rail and auto lanes to avoid accidents. Today, the railroad component was removed, although some have discussed the possibility of a light rail trolley to cross the bridge. Pedestrian sidewalks are located on both sides of the bridge.¹ Photo taken 01/16/06.
	The Tower Bridge has a unique feel with yellow arches crossing the bridge's width. This offers a unique and beautiful approach into the city of Sacramento, the capital of the state of California and seat of Sacramento County. Sacramento was founded in 1849 and is the oldest incorporated city (on February 27, 1850). Voters adopted the current Sacramento City Charter in 1920. The Sacramento area (El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo Counties) is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of California (behind Greater Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego County) with a population in excess of 2.1 million. As of the 2000 Census, 407,018 people lived in Sacramento city. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	After the final arch covering the road, the California state capitol building comes into view along eastbound California 275. From here, California 275 shifts onto the Capitol Mall from the Tower Bridge. Photo taken 01/16/06.
California 275/Capitol Mall east
	California 275 crosses the Sacramento Southern Railroad and approaches a signalized intersection with Front Street. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	Interstate 5 and California 99 pass below California 275 at this bridge; there is no connection to the freeway until Fifth Street. Capitol Mall has three lanes in each direction on this, the original main street to the California state capitol. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	A turf median serves as part of Capitol Mall as the gateway route approaches the Third Street traffic signal. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	The next intersection is with Fourth Street, followed by Fifth Street. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	Turn left (north) on Fifth Street to Interstate 5 and California 99 north via I Street westbound. This overhead sign refers to California 70 and not Interstate 5; it probably needs to be updated since California 70 does not enter Sacramento County anymore. California 275 continues east toward the state capitol. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	Two blocks ahead, eastbound Capitol Mall intersects Seventh Street at this traffic signal. The state highway ends in two blocks at Ninth Street. Photo taken 01/16/06.
	California 275 and Capitol Mall end at Ninth Street. Turn right to connect to N Street to continue east around Capitol Mall. Photo taken 01/16/06.
California 275/Capitol Mall west
	Traveling west on California 275/Capitol Mall, the last signalized intersection before the Tower Bridge is with Front Street. Photo taken 01/16/06.
California 275/Tower Bridge west
	Westbound California 275 prepares to cross the Sacramento River via the picturesque Tower Bridge, which opened to traffic on December 15, 1935. The first exit upon crossing the bridge and entering the city of West Sacramento is West Capitol Avenue (Old U.S. 40-99W). Photo taken 01/16/06.
Tower Bridge Gateway west
No photos are available at this time; please check back later!
Scenes Pertaining to California 275
	View of the California state capitol as seen from N Street looking north. Photo taken 01/16/06.