Interstate 80 - California Travel Information

Westbound - Sacramento County

Interstate 80 West
	Interstate 80 westbound on the approach to the Exit 96 six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with Madison Avenue. Madison Avenue travels 11.4 miles between Watt Avenue at North Highlands and Greenback Lane (Sacramento County E14) at Orangevale. Interstate 80 meets Watt Avenue 1.25 miles to the west at the split with Business Loop Interstate 80 (Capital City Freeway). Photo taken 01/19/03.
	Traffic for Sacramento International Airport should use Interstate 80 east to Interstate 5 north, avoiding Business Loop I-80. The airport lies north of Interstate 5 Exit 528 (Airport Boulevard). Photo taken 01/19/03.
	Exit 96 departs Interstate 80 westbound to Madison Avenue. Madison Avenue transitions to Roseville Road at Watt Avenue and the former Mc Clellan Air Force Base. President Clinton signed the orders to close Mc Clellan Air Force Base. The installation closed in 2001. Madison Avenue meets College Oak Drive and Auburn Boulevard (Historic U.S. 40) just east of the freeway. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	A look at the original button copy overheads attached to the Madison Avenue overpass for the Business Loop Interstate 80 (Capital City Freeway) split from Interstate 80 west. All signs for the Exit 53 directional interchange were replaced by 2004. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	This sign, placed in Winter 2003-2004, reflects the sign replacement project along westbound Interstate 80 between Exits 96 and 94. The overheads pictured above were removed. Business Loop Interstate 80 follows the original Interstate 80 through downtown Sacramento. The "Over the Top" section of Interstate 80 was signed as Interstate 880 until 1982. At that time Interstate 80 saw relocation to the bypass, Business Loop I-80 was christened along the old route, and Interstate 880 was retired. Interstate 880 was reborn along the California 17 corridor between Oakland and San Jose in 1984. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller (01/04).
	Continuing west toward the next sign bridge for the Business Loop Interstate 80 (Exit 53) split from Interstate 80. This set of overheads, like the previous set, represents the original button copy signs installed during the original completion of interstate 80. Note that traffic interests to California 99 south and Interstate 5 are partitioned between the two versions of Interstate 80. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	Interstate 80 widens to seven lanes in anticipation of the Exit 53 directional interchange. Watt Avenue joins the reflective overheads that replaced the ones depicted above. Watt Avenue (Exit 14B) represents the first off-ramp of Business Loop Interstate 80 (Capital City Freeway) westbound. Five lanes continue west onto the "Over the Top" segment of Interstate 80 toward Interstate 5, Sacramento International Airport, and San Francisco. Photo taken 09/10/05.

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	A pair of lanes constitute the Exit 95 beginning of Business Loop Interstate 80 from Interstate 80 west. The right-hand lane serves interests to the Exit 14B off-ramp to Watt Avenue. Watt Avenue travels north-south between Arcade and North Highlands, just west of the Exit 95 split. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Continuing toward the Business Loop Interstate 80 (Exit 95) split from Interstate 80 west. California 244, the shortest state maintained freeway in the state, ties into the interchange from Auburn Boulevard (Historic U.S. 40) to the southeast. The freeway essentially is nothing more than a set of glorified ramps to/from Interstate 80. Additionally the city of Sacramento planned for a replacement of Interstate 80 (the pre-1982 alignment) from here southwest to roughly California 160. The $1 billion project never came to fruition however and the intended mainline of the freeway west of Exit 95 remains in use as the corridor of the Sacramento Light Rail System. Exit 94 provides a slip ramp between Interstate 80 west and the planned "new" Interstate 80 mainline. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	A historic look at the Interstate 80 and Business Loop Interstate 80 westbound split at Exit 95. The set of button copy signs posted here include an overlay that covers what used to read "Business Loop Freeway." The Business Loop Freeway moniker was applied to Business Loop Interstate 80 until the route was reclassified the Capital City Freeway. Business Loop Interstate 85 in Spartanburg, South Carolina features a similar "Freeway Loop" designation. Also of interest is that the Capital City Freeway carries the hidden designation of California 51 between Exit 95 and junction U.S. 50. Photo taken 01/19/03.
	An updated look at the Exit 95 split of Interstate 80 and Business Loop Interstate 80 westbound. Interstate 5 interchanges with Interstate 80 eight miles to the west. The north-south freeway overlaps with California 99 (Exit 525B) 7.3 miles between and junction Business Loop Interstate 80, U.S. 50, and hidden Interstate 305 (Exit 518). Travelers bound for California 99 should use the Capital City Freeway southwest 8.6 miles to the junction with U.S. 50 & California 99. California 99 and Interstate 5 head south to Stockton from Sacramento. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	A parting shot of the Business Loop Interstate 80 westbound beginning and Exit 14B ramp departure onto Watt Avenue. Exit 14A follows suit on the Capital City Freeway and departs via California 244 eastbound to Auburn Boulevard (Historic U.S. 40). Historic U.S. 40 follows Business Loop Interstate 80 closely from Watt Avenue west to Howe Avenue. Photo taken 09/10/05.

	Interstate 80 passes underneath the Business Loop Interstate 80 westbound mainline ahead of the Exit 94 slip ramp onto the planned new Interstate 80 mainline. The mainline now serves as an access road and parking area for the nearby light rail stations. The Sacramento light rail corridor occupies the freeway right of way westward from Exit 94 to California 160. Had the freeway been built, it would have replaced the existing Capital City Freeway from Exit 95 southwest to the American River. When the $1 billion Interstate 80 project was cancelled, the money was diverted to the Sacramento Regional Transit District. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Interstate 80 reduces to four through lanes at the Exit 94 ramp departure to the light rail stations. The "Over the Top" section carries eight overall lanes between Exit 95 and Exit 93, and six lanes west from there to the merge with Business Loop Interstate 80, U.S. 50, and unsigned Interstate 305. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Westbound at the Watt Avenue over crossing and Sacramento Regional Transit District light rail station accessible from Exit 94. Another transit station lies one mile to the west at Longview Drive (Exit 93). Photo taken 09/10/05.
	A look at the Watt Avenue upcoming exits sign from the California 244 westbound on-ramp. California 244 originally was planned as an east-west freeway between Interstate 80 and the unconstructed California 143 freeway. The highway remains on the books but no construction is currently planned. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	California 244 traffic merges with Interstate 80 west of the Watts Avenue partial-cloverleaf interchange. Exit 93 claims the right-hand lane as it departs the freeway for both Longview Drive and the second Sacramento light rail station. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Exit 93 leaves Interstate 80 westbound for Longview Drive and the light rail station. Longview Drive meanders westward from Watt Avenue through Del Paso Park to nearby Roseville Road. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Exit 93 partitions into ramps for Longview Drive and the light rail station. The light rail ramp loops into the station west of Longview Drive before returning to Interstate 80 eastbound. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Approaching the Longview Drive over crossing on Interstate 80 westbound. Note the abandoned freeway mainline within the median of Interstate 80 that was intended for the "new" Interstate 80. The new Interstate 80 was cancelled in 1979, thus relegating the mainline to the sub-standard route through downtown. In 1980 the section of Interstate 80 between U.S. 50 and Interstate 880 & California 244 was downgraded to California 51 and the segment from U.S. 50 west to Interstate 80 was redesignated hidden Interstate 305. In 1982, Business Loop Interstate 80 emerged and Interstate 80 saw relocation to the "Over the Top" freeway for continuity purposes. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Interstate 80 westbound at the Longview Drive overpass, one half mile east of the Winters Street diamond interchange. The freeway passes over the Union Pacific Railroad line and Roseville Road between Del Prado Park and the Del Paso Heights neighborhood of Sacramento. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Westbound at the Exit 92 ramp departure to Winters Street on Interstate 80. Winters Street stems north from a portion of the "new" Interstate 80 built between the Longview Drive area light rail station. What would have been the westbound mainline of Interstate 80 crosses the railroad and Roseville Road before ending prematurely at Winters Street. A short access ramp connects the viaduct with the Winters Street cul-de-sac south of Grand Avenue. Winters Street otherwise heads north to Bell Avenue and the former Mc Clellan Air Force Base. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Westbound Interstate 80 reassurance shield and Interstate 5 trailblazer assembly posted after the Winters Street on-ramp (Exit 92). Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Intersecting the freeway next is Marysville Boulevard and Raley Boulevard at Exit 91. Marysville Boulevard travels south to the Hagginwood and Del Paso Boulevard. Raley Boulevard continues the arterial northward to Bell Avenue. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Nearing the Pinell Street over crossing on Interstate 80 westbound. The Exit 91 six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange resides within the Del Paso Heights community of Sacramento. Rio Linda lies north of the freeway via the continuation of Marysville Boulevard from north of Bell Avenue. Marysville Boulevard was severed due to the construction of Interstate 80. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	North Avenue and Pinell Street both cross over Interstate 80 and intersect nearby in the Del Paso Heights neighborhood. A button copy overhead advises motorists bound for Exit 91 to move into the right-hand lane for the upcoming Raley Boulevard off-ramp. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Motorists bound for Raley Boulevard north and Marysville Boulevard south depart Interstate 80 westbound at Exit 91. Raley Boulevard transitions to 16th Street and meets Elkhorn Boulevard (Sacramento County E14) in three miles. Marysville Boulevard stems 1.5 miles northwest from Raley Boulevard via Bell Avenue to Rio Linda Boulevard and the Robla neighborhood of the city. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	The first overhead for Norwood Avenue (Exit 90) resides within the Raley Boulevard interchange on Interstate 80 west. Norwood Avenue travels three miles north-south between Grove Avenue and Main Avenue. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Westbound at the Exit 90 diamond interchange with Norwood Avenue. Use Norwood Avenue south for Robertson Park and North Sacramento, and north for the Robla community. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	The one-mile overhead for Northgate Boulevard (Exit 89) is attached to the Northwood Avenue overpass. Northgate Boulevard serves North Sacramento to the south and Del Paso Road to the north. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Interstate 80 crosses over the Sacramento levee system and a parallel railroad line ahead of the Exit 89 six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with Northgate Boulevard. Northgate Boulevard ends one mile to the north at Del Paso Road. Southward the road travels 3.1 miles to junction California 160 at the American River. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Next in line for westbound motorists is the Truxel Road six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange (Exit 88). Truxel Road journeys 2.9 miles north from Garden Highway to Arco Arena Boulevard and North Market Boulevard. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Another set of Interstate 80 west and to Interstate 5 shields posted between Northgate Boulevard (Exit 89) and Truxel Road (Exit 88). The freeway begins its southwesterly curve back to Business Loop Interstate 80 here. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	A two-lane off-ramp serves the Truxel Road north-south arterial. Truxel Road meets the Arco Arena area in 1.1 miles at the intersection with Arco Park Drive and Arco Arena Boulevard. Arco Arena Boulevard continues the divided highway northward to Del Paso Road and Natomas Boulevard. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	The first sign of the forthcoming interchange (Exit 86) with Interstate 5 & California 99 exists one half mile east of Truxel Road. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Arco Arena traffic should use Truxel Road north from Interstate 80 west. Interstate 5 & California 99 also serve the sports venue from their interchange with Del Paso Road. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Sacramento International Airport traffic should remain on Interstate 80 west to Interstate 5 & California 99 north (Exit 88). The airport resides six miles to the northwest of Exit 88. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Westbound at the Truxel Road ramp departure (Exit 88) on Interstate 80. Truxel Road heads south one half mile to San Juan Road, 1.5 miles to El Camino Avenue, and two miles to Garden Highway at the American River Parkway. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Interstate 80 continues west three quarters of a mile from Truxel Road to junction Interstate 5 & California 99. Interstate 5 & California 99 split three miles to the north. From there Interstate 5 heads 150 miles north to Redding at the end of the Central Valley. California 99 ventures 40 miles north to Yuba City. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Interstate 80 westbound widens to five lanes in anticipation of the Exit 86 directional-cloverleaf interchange. Although signs indicate Interstate 5 as "To California 99", and Caltrans refers to the segment along Interstate 5 officially as a "Route break", the two routes overlap for 7.3 miles through west Sacramento. Interstate 5 & California 99 constitute the main north-south freeway through the capital city. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Yet another reminder of the Interstate 5 northbound connection to Sacramento International Airport from Interstate 80. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Three lanes depart the Interstate 80 westbound mainline for Interstate 5 & California 99 (Exit 86). Interstate 5 & California 99 head south four miles to their split at junction Business Loop Interstate 80, U.S. 50, and unsigned Interstate 305 (Capital City Freeway). California 99 south turns east on the Capital City Freeway briefly before resuming a southward trek via the Golden State Highway to Stockton, Fresno, and Bakersfield. Interstate 5 meanwhile travels south out of Sacramento 60 miles to junction Interstate 205 at Tracy. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Exit 86 splits into ramps for Interstate 5 & California 99 north and south. Interstate 5 south heads 50 miles to Stockton and 388 miles to Los Angeles. Northbound travelers destined for Portland, Oregon have a 576-mile drive ahead of them. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Interstate 80 continues one mile west from Interstate 5 & California 99 to El Camino Avenue (Exit 85). El Camino Avenue ventures 11.5 miles east from El Centro Road nearby to Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Drawing to within one half mile of the El Camino Avenue six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange on Interstate 80 west. El Camino Avenue heads east 1.25 miles to junction Interstate 5 & California 99 in west Sacramento. Photo taken 04/02/05.
	Westbound at the Exit 86 ramp departure to West El Camino Avenue. While much of the land north and west of the freeway is vastly rural, suburban sprawl exists south of El Camino Avenue via Orchard Lane and West River Drive. El Centro Road heads north from El Camino Avenue to San Juan Road, Del Paso Road and Bayou Way adjacent to the Interstate 5 & California 99 split. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Interstate 80 continues southwest 1.75 miles to Exit 83 and West Sacramento. Meeting the freeway ahead is Reed Avenue, unsigned California 84. California 84 begins at Exit 83 and follows Reed and Sacramento Avenues east and Jefferson Boulevard south through West Sacramento to the Solano County line. The route is signed on its portion through Solano County. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	A traditional style westbound reassurance shield for Interstate 80 posted between the El Camino Avenue interchange and the American River crossing. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Interstate 80 ascends over the "Caltrans Maintenance Worker Memorial Bridge", a six-lane span over the American River. The Exit 83 folded-diamond interchange with California 84 (Reed Avenue) lies just south of the bridge in West Sacramento. Reed Avenue travels east-west between Riverside Parkway and Sunset Avenue. Photo taken 09/10/05.
	Interstate 80 westbound at the Yolo County line. The American River constitutes the county line between Yolo and Sacramento Counties from Courtland northward to Sacramento International Airport. Photo taken 09/10/05.

Page Updated October 28, 2005.