Tina's Big Fix Blog

The southbound I-5 side is set to reopen for good this afternoon at 1pm!  Hurray!  They’ll start repaving the northbound I-5 side tomorrow (Friday, July 18) at 8pm.  It’s set to reopen on Monday, July 28^th. 

 This email from Jo Atherton…

 I have to drive to Stockton tomorrow and will be going through Sacramento about 6pm--can you tell me how to get around I-5 in this area?

 My response:

 Hi Jo - this is Tina....

 The SB 5 detour is posted... you'll take WB 80 towards SF then you'll want to get on EB 50 towards Lake Tahoe/downtown Sac... then get back on SB 5... detour will only take about 10 minutes... you're curving around downtown roadwork... Tina

Paula writes:

Tina, I have read your blogs about the alternative routes to the airport from the central valley. Will these still work on June 19th? I have family coming in for a wedding. Are there any tricks to look for in the return trip? (ie: watch for harbor blvd) I also get lost in SAC very easy.  Thank you.

Tina writes back:

Hi Paula!  Southbound 5 is closed this week so here’s the alternate route from the airport… Take Southbound I-5 and then take WB I-80 through West Sac (it will say to San Francisco).  After you cross the river and see Reed Avenue, get in the right lane to take the Eastbound 50 transition.  It’s a big curve over the freeway that goes towards the left.  It will take you towards Sacramento.  You can then get back on Southbound I-5.  

Hi Tina,  Oh what a Blessing you were for me.  Your directions were so nice and helpful and by saying Harbor Blvd exit get into right lane helped make it so easy.  They do have lots of signs for the detour but you did make the detour easier Thanks so much... I made the trip fine. thanks again.  Marlene

Tina writes:

Wonderful!  Seems like the freeway commute has been pretty good all week.  A lot of commuters are using the surface streets.  Take care, Tina

 

Krystle Judish writes:

Good morning Tina! So I am experimenting with new routes as you know! This morning I left my house around 7:10am a little later than expected. I took Capital City Freeway to Arden then jumped on Hwy 160 south. I exited Richards and took that to I-5 then got off at West El Camino around 7:35am. Thought I would share this because there was NO traffic on 160 this morning. It’s another great way for people to get to Natomas from the Rancho Cordova area. Have a great day!!!

Tina:  

Thanks Krystle!  Yes, that’s another great route.  I heard some people got stuck in slow traffic using 12th and 16th Streets through downtown.  If anybody plans on driving those roads, give yourself extra time and take time to explore places you haven’t been before!

Here are some suggested alternate routes…. If you have another route, please share!  Blog here and let us know what works and what doesn’t!  Thanks, Tina

South Sac:
99 to CCF to Arden/Garden Hwy to I-5
I-5 to Florin  to 99 or to 65th Street to 50

North Sac:
80 to Northgate or Norwood to W. El Camino or
80 to W. El Camino to Truxel to Garden Hwy to Arden/Garden to CCF or Northgate to Hwy 160

West Sac:
West Capitol, cross Tower Brg. To downtown
Reed to Sac Ave. to I Street Brg. To downtown

East Sac:
H or J Sts. To CCF to Arden Or
Take Howe to Arden to Garden Hwy to I-5 or Truxel to 80

Best of out Sac:
I-5 – 50 to west sac to – 80 – back to 5

Central Valley to airport:
NB I-5 to WB 50 to west sac to EB 80 (Reno) back to I-5 

Krystle Judish writes:

Hi Tina!! Thank you for showing so much interest in the I-5 project. There are a lot of people who are going to be affected by this including myself! I live in Rosemont and work in Natomas, I also have to get my daughter to preschool in Natomas. This project is going to affect my commute to and from work. Wanted to share my route plan. I am going to take Hwy 50 - 80 (capital city) exit Arden, then take Garden Hwy to Truxel! We'll see how this works. I really don't want to go through West Sac since this is what they are advising trucks to take. I think that will be real congested along with Watt/Howe ( then again everything is going to be congested :)). If you know of any other routes that may help, please share!!

Hi Krystle!

I think that's a good plan!  You can also use El Camino which turns into West El Camino that will take you to Northgate, Truxel and I-5.  I would stay on the surface streets like you have planned!  You can also go up Watt to Arden or El Camino too.  Let me know which works best for you! 

Tina

Got this email from Pati Jio from Stockton…

Hi Tina You sent me the website of the detour for the I-5 fix and I went to it and it looked like noodles!! I'm still lost! Can you help me find a route fromStockton to Sac Airport and back. I live by I-5 but 99 isn't that far away if that is easier.  Thank you once again. Pati Jio

I suggested this route:

Take NB 5 to Sac... then take the I-80 to San Francisco (west)
transition which will lead you to West Sacramento... Get into your right
lane eventually especially when you see Harbor Blvd.. then you'll want
to take I-80 to Reno... then transition to NB I-5 to the airport. Tina

Pati’s response:

Hi Tina, just wanted to let you know we did our trial run to the airport with your instructions and it went great!!  Not bad at all.  The return trip was a different story and I ended up in Yolo county!!  Pretty out there :-).. Not sure where I went wrong but will try again this morning as I am headed up there again.  Thanks for your help..Pati

Do you have a route planned?  Will it work?  We’re looking for suggestions.  Let’s all get through this together!  Post your I-5 commute blog here.  Thanks!  Tina
 

Hi – some of you have asked me to post an alternate route from the Central Valley to the Sacramento Int’l Airport.  Here’s one way but keep in mind you may want to add an extra hour or more just in case of traffic slowdowns.

Take NB 5 to Sac... then take the I-80 to San Francisco (west) transition which will lead you to West Sacramento... Get into your right lane eventually especially when you see Harbor Blvd..  then you'll want to take I-80 to Reno... then transition to NB I-5 to the airport.  

A longer route would be NB 5 to WB 80 (towards San Francisco)… go over the Yolo Causeway towards Davis.  Take Hwy 113 north towards Woodland.  Transition to SB I-5 back towards Sacramento which will lead you to the airport.  It’s a longer route.

Tina Macuha