Interstate 5 parallels the Sacramento River as it enters the metropolitan area. At some points lower than the nearby riverbed, Interstate 5 snakes through a depressed section of freeway as it passes through downtown Sacramento. The freeway emerges on the north side to meet Interstate 80, then continues to the Sacramento International Airport, the Sacramento River Bridge, the northern Central Valley, following old U.S. 99W. Interstate 5 is the major north-south corridor for the movement of goods and services along the West Coast, and the traffic delays in the city of Sacramento have created some ideas of either relocating the freeway to a new alignment or creating a bypass around the city. Such talk is in the preliminary stages and may result in a very expensive project.
Interstate 80 is the region's primary east-west route, following Old U.S. 40. It begins in the San Francisco Bay Area, then heads northeast into Sacramento via Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, and Davis. Interstate 80 used to follow Business Loop I-80 into the city, but it was rerouted in the 1980s to follow old Interstate 880 around Sacramento to the north. Interstate 80 continues northeast into suburbia, passing through a variety of bedroom communities on its way up the hill to Donner Pass and Truckee. The freeway continues its cross-country journey, entering Reno as the next city of significance.
Business Loop I-80 is the Capital City Freeway. It is the original route of Interstate 80 prior to the mid-1980s when it was renumbered due to substandard segments of the Elvas Freeway. Business Loop I-80 is hidden Interstate 305 between Interstate 80 in West Sacramento and California 99 in Sacramento, and it is hidden California 51 between California 99 and Interstate 80/California 244 (Auburn Boulevard).
U.S. 40 is the historic route of Interstate 80. It is signed in some areas with brown shields, but it is generally difficult to follow without a good old map. In West Sacramento, it is signed with a black and white shield along West Capitol Avenue.
U.S. 50 is the primary freeway leading from Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and central Nevada. It rapidly changes from a two-lane mountain highway into a ten-lane freeway as it enters Sacramento. Ending at the Interstate 80 interchange in West Sacramento, no signs herald the end of this important transcontinental route. However, there is a mileage sign along eastbound that shows the distance to Ocean City, Maryland, the eastern terminus of U.S. 50.
California 99 is Historic U.S. 99 as it approaches the capital city from the south. Joining with Business Loop I-80 and silently merging onto Interstate 5 northbound, California 99 is hard to locate without a map from downtown Sacramento. The freeway frees itself from Interstate 5 just east of the Sacramento International Airport, and it continues north into the Sacramento Valley, serving Yuba City and Chico en route to Redding.
California 16 is a split route, with the western segment connecting California 20 in Colusa County with Interstate 5 in Woodland. At one time, California 16 continued into downtown Sacramento via Sacramento Avenue, but it was decommissioned in the city center. The eastern segment of California 16 begins at its junction with U.S. 50 and continues southeast toward the Gold Country. See California 16 page for more.
California 84 is Jefferson Boulevard, a north-south route leading from the delta north into West Sacramento. This route is not signed in Yolo County but is mileposted. In Solano County, it is signed. See California 84 page for more.
California 160 is now a split route, having the portion through downtown decommissioned in the early 2000s. The northern segment is the North Sacramento Freeway, and the southern segment follows the Sacramento River via Freeport Boulevard en route to the California Delta. See California 160 page for more.
The section of California 275 is the Tower Bridge across the Sacramento River, including the link to the Capital Mall. This route is not signed but some mileposts remain. The state route previously included a former spur freeway route between Business Loop I-80 in West Sacramento and the foot of the Tower Bridge over the Sacramento River. This section was decommissioned and returned to local maintenance in October 1999. The freeway has since been converted to a surface boulevard.
Former California 275 was renamed as the Capitol Gateway, which was the former Jefferson Avenue off ramp and brief freeway between Business Loop I-80 and the Tower Bridge. According to the West Sacramento City Webpage, now that West Sacramento has control of the roadway, the city renamed the former freeway as "Capitol Gateway." According to the report: "Originally built in the 1940s as a bypass of West Capitol Avenue, the road segment now serves as a high speed, limited access connection between U.S. 50/Business Loop I-80 and the Tower Bridge. Planned intersection improvements – including the Riske Lane intersection that is the subject of the City’s application to SACOG’s Community Design funding program – will significantly alter the nature and function of (former) State Route 275. With the addition of three at-grade intersections, at Third Street/South River Road, Fifth Street, and Riske Lane/Garden Street, former California 275 is no longer a controlled access freeway. The vision for the future is as a major arterial with landscaped edges, more akin to a parkway. While still providing a high-capacity through route linking the Tower Bridge and U.S. 50/Business 80, the street will also serve emerging West Sacramento neighborhoods better." The conversion of former California 275 from a freeway into a parkway with at least three additional at-grade intersections is partially funded through a grant from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) in July 2004, and the first intersection is currently under environmental review. Construction of the first intersection is tentatively scheduled to begin for Summer 2005. (Thanks to Maureen Pascoe for the latest construction and funding information.)
California 275/Tower Bridge
The former freeway section of California 275 between Business Loop I-80 in West Sacramento and the foot of the Tower Bridge over the Sacramento River, was decommissioned and returned to local maintenance in October 1999. However, the state route resumes to cross the river (the Tower Bridge is still under state maintenance and is considered part of California 275). These pictures show a milepost located inside a fence along eastbound California 275 as it approaches the bridge. Photos taken by Jerry Mullady, 04/99.
Sacramento International Airport
Leaving Sacramento International Airport Terminal A is this sign for Interstate 5. A short expressway spur leads from the airport to Interstate 5. Photos taken 02/17/07.
On the connector road from Sacramento International Airport, this view looks northwest along Interstate 5 toward the city of Woodland. The airport is located north of downtown Sacramento and is surrounded by farm fields and the Sacramento River. Photo taken 02/17/07.
Historic Rainbow Bridge over American River in Folsom
Views of the Rainbow Bridge over the American River in Folsom as seen from the Cliff House. This is an early generation concrete arch bridge built in 1917. Photos taken 04/01/04.
Now on the Lake Natoma Bike Path (north side of lake) are more views of the Rainbow Bridge over the American River in Folsom. Photos taken 02/17/07.
These views show the Rainbow Bridge as seen from the adjacent historic truss bridge. Somehow people manage to cross the bridge and spray graffiti on it, which is a feat onto itself from such great heights! Photos taken 02/17/07.
Northbound Greenback Lane leaves downtown Folsom and crosses the American River (Lake Natoma) on the Rainbow Bridge, which is identified by this bridge marker. It is not very common to see this bridge empty and devoid of traffic! Photos taken 02/17/07.
Views of the Rainbow Bridge over the American River as seen along southbound. As noted by the historical sign, the bridge was constructed in 1917 and is situated next to an even older truss bridge that today serves as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge. These bridges are located just north of downtown Folsom. Photos taken 04/01/04.
Traveling north on Greenback Lane (which changes into Riley Street south of Scott Street in downtown Folsom), the historic truss bridge comes into view prior to crossing the Rainbow Bridge. Photo taken 02/17/07.
Historic Bike/Pedestrian Truss Bridge over American River in Folsom
The Folsom Truss Bridge was originally built across the American River on February 22, 1893, replacing the Ecklon Toll Suspension Bridge, which collapsed the previous year. For a time, this truss bridge served as the only crossing at this location, but it was replaced with the opening of the concrete arch Rainbow Bridge in 1919. By 1930, the bridge was removed from Folsom and became known as Walker Bridge, crossing the Klamath River along Walker Road. On April 15, 2000, the truss bridge was returned to Folsom and reopened back in its original location for bicycles and pedestrians. Photos taken 02/17/07.
Folsom Boulevard Bridge over Lake Natoma (American River) in Folsom
Views of the Folsom Boulevard Bridge over the American River/Lake Natoma as seen from a pathway along the south shore. This is a much newer bridge than the Rainbow bridge located upstream in Folsom (opened on August 14, 1999, after two years of bridge construction). Two of the photos show the Folsom Boulevard bridge as seen from the Rainbow Bridge, looking west at the newer bridge. The last photo shows the crossing traveling north between Sutter Street and Greenback Lane. Photos taken 04/01/04 and 02/17/07.
New American River Bridge in Folsom
The new "Folsom Lake Crossing" connects East Natoma Street with Folsom-Auburn Road. The new road leads east of Folsom Prison and west of Folsom Dam (dam built in 1955). In spite of the name, "Folsom Lake Crossing" does not actually cross the lake but instead crosses the American River. On March 28, 2009, the city of Folsom opened the bridge in a special opening celebration; the road opened to traffic at 4:00 p.m. These pictures show the bridge traveling north on the crossing road, the bike paths alongside the bridge and approach road, some views of the side of the bridge, and nearby approach roads and paths. Note the use of Clearview font on the construction sign and the street blade sign. Photos taken 04/11/09.
Riley Street: Historic U.S. 50
South of downtown Folsom, a Historic U.S. 50 sign is posted along northbound Riley Street prior to the traffic signal with Natoma Street. This sign was gone by April 2009. Photo taken 02/17/07.
Northbound Riley Street meets Natoma Street. Turn left here to Folsom Boulevard and right to the Folsom Lake Crossing and points east in El Dorado County via Green Valley Road (Blue Ravine Road). This sign was gone by April 2009. Photo taken 02/17/07.
Sutter Street - Folsom Boulevard Interchange
Traveling northeast on Folsom Boulevard is this interchange with Sutter Street just west of downtown Folsom after the Natoma Street intersection. Use Natoma Street east to the Folsom Lake Crossing near Folsom Dam. Photos taken 02/17/07.
These views look north from the Sutter Street overpass toward the Folsom Boulevard bridge over the American River. The interchange facilities through traffic on Folsom Boulevard while allowing easy access to downtown Folsom and also provides for a transit center. Photo taken 02/17/07.
Folsom's Bike Path System
Folsom has a system of bikeways independent from the road network that offer connections from the downtown area to the various nearby neighborhoods. This suite of photos shows some of the bike paths that are on dedicated rights of way, typically located alongside streets, on utility corridors, and behind homes in parts of Folsom. At the time these pictures were taken, spring yielded a bouquet of flowers, including a profusion of California poppies. Most of these pictures were taken along paths near the Briggs Ranch and Parkway developments. There's also a pile of power lines (most likely Bureau of Reclamation, PG&E, and/or SMUD) to see wending their way through the neighborhoods south of Folsom Dam. Photos taken 04/11/09.
A bike path also encircles Lake Natoma, which extends west from downtown Folsom on the south side of the lake toward the dam at Hazel Avenue, then switches to the north side of the lake for the return to Folsom. This tour follows a clockwise direction around Lake Natoma, with passage over the American River afforded via the Hazel Avenue bridge west of the Lake Natoma Dam. Photos taken 02/17/07.
Sunset in Roseville
Just for fun, this is a sunset seen from a parking lot near the intersection of Roseville Parkway and Harding Boulevard in Roseville. A monopole power line, shopping mall, and cars pass in front and obstructs a beautiful sunset scene. Photos taken 04/11/09.
