Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50/Capital City Freeway east (Interstate 305)
We begin our journey on Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50 east after Interstate 80 splits to the northeast to bypass Sacramento. Interstate 305 is not signed and not acknowledged as a signed or legislative route by Caltrans; it is only used by the Federal Highway Administration to acknowledge that the east-west segment of Business 80 is part of the Interstate Highway System. The first exit along Business 80/Capital City Freeway and U.S. 50 east is Exit 1, Harbor Boulevard to the Port of West Sacramento. This sign was added in 2009 to replace the signs shown in the next photobox. The business loop freeway begins in West Sacramento (as of the 2000 Census, the city had a population of 31,615) in Yolo County. Photo taken 05/14/11.
This upcoming exits mileage sign in the middle of the freeway and the upcoming cities mileage sign were the first two guide signs along eastbound Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50; both were removed during a sign replacement project in 2009. The upcoming cities mileage sign used to indicate the distance to Placerville (46 miles); South Lake Tahoe (107 miles); and the eastern terminus of U.S. 50 in Ocean City, Maryland (3,073 miles). The 2003 picture of the distance sign to Ocean City originally indicated that the distance is an erroneous 3,037 miles, but that was corrected (before the sign disappeared). A similar mileage sign conveying the distance from there to Sacramento is in place at the eastern terminus in Ocean City, Maryland. Photos taken 11/23/07 and 01/19/03.
The nascent business loop and its erstwhile companion, U.S. 50, pass under the main lanes of Interstate 80 east first, followed by the transition ramp from Interstate 80 west to Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50 east. Photo taken 11/23/07.
Installed in 2009, this mileage sign provides the distance to the first two exits along Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50 east: Exit 1, Harbor Boulevard and Exit 3, Junction California 84/Jefferson Boulevard and Tower Bridge Gateway east to California 275/Capitol Mall (downtown Sacramento). Photo taken 05/14/11.
Traffic from Interstate 80 west merges onto Business 80 (Capital City Freeway) east. This area saw some reconfiguration in 2009 to allow additional merging room. A roadside sign advises motorists to use Exit 1, Harbor Boulevard, south to the Port of West Sacramento. The deep water port is located just south of the freeway along Union Pacific Railroad tracks near Industrial Boulevard. Photos taken 05/14/11 and 11/23/07.
The right two lanes of Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 east become exit only for Exit 1, Harbor Boulevard. The first reassurance shield for Business Loop I-80 east is posted at the base of the Harbor Boulevard guide sign. Photos taken 05/14/11 and 11/23/07.
Eastbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway, Interstate 305, and U.S. 50 meet the offramp to Exit 1, Harbor Boulevard. This interchange was reconfigured so that the offramp begins here, rather than under the overpass (as seen in the 2007 picture). The next exit is Exit 3, Junction California 84/Jefferson Boulevard and Tower Bridge Gateway east to California 275/Capitol Mall (downtown Sacramento). Photos taken 05/14/11 and 11/23/07.
The reconfigured interchange between the Capital City Freeway and Harbor Boulevard is a modified partial cloverleaf. All exiting traffic departs at the Exit 1 gore point, and the exit ramp splits into two ramps. The first links to Harbor Boulevard south to the port, and the second ramp links to Harbor Boulevard north. This is not a collector-distributor lane, so all traffic departing here will exit the freeway. Photos taken 05/14/11.
The next exit along eastbound Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 east is Exit 3, Tower Bridge Gateway east to California 275 and Junction California 84 (Jefferson Boulevard). This sign is mounted on the Harbor Boulevard overpass. Photo taken 05/14/11.
Use Exit 3 to Raley Field, home of the baseball's AAA Pacific Coast League Sacramento Rivercats. Follow the sign for downtown Sacramento and exit at Riske Lane (note that the overpass at Riske Lane was removed in April 2007, so traffic patterns have changed on Tower Bridge Gateway at Riske Lane). Raley Field is located on the south side of the Capital Gateway. Photo taken 11/23/07.
As traffic from Harbor Boulevard merges onto eastbound, we see a Business Loop I-80 east reassurance shield posted. However, its signed companion U.S. 50 is not posted here. This reassurance shield was added in 2009 (there were no reassurance shields on Business 80 between Interstate 80 and California 99 since at least 1991 if not earlier). It would be nice to see U.S. 50 also signed on this assembly. Photo taken 05/14/11.
The right two lanes will depart the business route and connect to Jefferson Boulevard and the Tower Bridge Gateway. Jefferson Boulevard is part of California 84, which travels north-south along the west bank of the Sacramento River. Use California 84 south to California 12 at Rio Vista or take California 84 north to Interstate 80 to the Exit 83 interchange (Reed Avenue). Plans call for the state to turn over maintenance of Jefferson Avenue to the city of West Sacramento, which would result in the decommissioning of California 84 within city limits. The Tower Bridge Gateway was formerly part of California 275, but it is now a city expressway. The Tower Bridge Gateway was a freeway until a new traffic signal was installed at Garden Street. However, the Tower Bridge Gateway is still the best route into downtown Sacramento. The Tower Bridge itself (part of Old U.S. 40 and U.S. 99W), along with Capitol Mall, is state maintained and thus is the only remaining part of California 275, complete with postmiles. Photos taken 05/14/11 and 11/23/07.
This upcoming exits mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50 east: Exit 3, Junction California 84/Jefferson Boulevard and Tower Bridge Gateway east to California 275/Capitol Mall (downtown Sacramento); Exit 4A, Junction Interstate 5 and California 99 north to Redding and Interstate 5 south to Stockton and Los Angeles; and Exit 4B, Fifth Street and X Street. Photo taken 05/14/11.
Eastbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway and U.S. 50 meet Exit 3, Tower Bridge Gateway east and Jefferson Boulevard. The ramp immediately splits after exiting from the business loop: the left lane of the ramp connects to Tower Bridge Gateway (former California 275) east, while the right lane exits onto California 84/Jefferson Boulevard. Tower Bridge Gateway east is a parkway with traffic signals at Garden Street and Third Street, then crosses the Sacramento River via the Tower Bridge. California 275 along the Tower Bridge Gateway was decommissioned in 1999, and the City of West Sacramento converted the former freeway into a parkway in 2007. Former California 275 was renamed as "Tower Bridge Gateway," and the freeway overpasses at Riske Lane near Raley Field and Third Street. The Riske Lane overpass was removed in 2007 and replaced with a signalized intersection with Garden Street. As a result of these changes, this road is no longer a freeway. Photos taken 05/14/11 and 11/23/07.
To Old Sacramento State Historic Park, use Exit 4A, Junction Interstate 5/West Side Freeway north. Prior to the Interstate 5 interchange, Business 80 will cross over the Sacramento River. The park is located on the west side of Interstate 5's "Boat Section" north of the Tower Bridge. Follow the signs for parking next to Interstate 5. Photos taken 05/14/11 and 11/23/07.
The next exit along eastbound Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 is Exit 4A, Junction Interstate 5/West Side Freeway (one mile). Interstate 5 is the primary north-south route through the Central Valley, originating in San Diego and extending north through Orange County and metropolitan Los Angeles before bypassing most cities in the Central Valley by staying the western edge of the valley. Interstate 5 serves Stockton before entering Sacramento alongside the Sacramento River. From here, Interstate 5 proceeds north to Woodland, Redding, Yreka, Ashland, Grants Pass, Eugene, Salem, Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle. This interchange also serves as a connection to California 99 and California 70 north to Yuba City-Marysville. There used to be signs for both state routes in downtown Sacramento and along Interstate 5; many of them have been removed. For California 99 south to Modesto and Fresno, follow Business 80 and U.S. 50 east. Photos taken 05/14/11 and 11/23/07.
Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway gains elevation after passing under the Tower Bridge Gateway transition ramp. The freeway will cross over the Sacramento River, then interchange with Interstate 5 and California 99 at Exit 4A. U.S. 50 and Interstate 305 continue to be silently merged with the business loop freeway. Photo taken 11/23/07.
Eastbound Business Loop I-80/Interstate 305/U.S. 50 approaches Exit 4A, Junction Interstate 5, one-quarter mile. Interstate 5 is the backbone of the state, connecting the northern towns with the cities of the south. Northbound Interstate 5 is also northbound California 99; southbound California 99 merges onto eastbound Interstate 305/Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50. Photo taken 04/03/05.
Passing over the Sacramento River on the Pioneer Bridge, Business Loop I-80 leaves Yolo County and enters Sacramento County near the centerline of the river. The Capital City Freeway leaves West Sacramento/Yolo County and enters the state capital city of Sacramento. The skyline for this major California city can be seen along eastbound Interstate 80 and Business Loop I-80 from as far west as the Yolo Bypass. The city was founded in 1849 and was incorporated in 1849 (one year before statehood), which makes Sacramento the oldest incorporated city in California. It has served as the state capital since 1854, even it sits at a low 25 feet above sea level. The city has seen tremendous growth through the years, and as of the 2000 Census, the population was 407,018 people. Sacramento is the primary city for the surrounding counties of Yolo, Sacramento, Placer (Interstate 80 east corridor), and El Dorado (U.S. 50 corridor). Photo taken 04/03/05.
Without returning to grade after the Pioneer Bridge, eastbound Business Loop I-80/Interstate 305/U.S. 50 meets Exit 4A, Junction Interstate 5 and California 99 (the latter of which is curiously absent from these overhead signs). The right two lanes depart onto Interstate 5 north to Redding/Portland and south to Stockton/Los Angeles, while the left four lanes continue east toward downtown Sacramento. The next exit is Exit 4B, 5th Street, which leads north into downtown Sacramento. Photo taken 11/23/07.
This picture shows the transition from eastbound Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 to Interstate 5 (Exit 4A). The ramp splits to serve both directions of Interstate 5. Photo taken 04/03/05.
This centerline view of Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway is afforded from the left lane on eastbound. Photo taken 11/23/07.
Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50/Capital City Freeway east (Interstate 305) and California 99 south
Eastbound Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50 (Capital City Freeway) now includes a brief overlap with California 99 south. The Capital City Freeway meets Exit 4B, Fifth Street north into downtown Sacramento at this point. To reach the California state capitol, take Fifth Street north to Capitol Mall then turn east. The next exit is Exit 5, Junction Former California 160, 15th/16th Streets. Photo taken 05/14/11.
This upcoming exits mileage sign along Business 80 and U.S. 50 provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 5, Junction Former California 160/15th-16th Streets; Exit 6A, Business Loop I-80 east (if you're continuing east on U.S. 50 east - for traffic continuing east on the business loop, this exit is for U.S. 50 east); and Exit 6B, Junction California 99 south. Photo taken 11/23/07.
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 5, 15th Street. California 160, which used to follow the 15th and 16th Street couplet through downtown Sacramento, was decommissioned between Freeport (at its junction with Interstate 5) and Richards Boulevard just south of the American River bridge. As a result, California 160 has a gap in the routing, with the freeway segment north of Richards Boulevard and the section in the Delta still intact. The remainder of the route is now maintained by the city of Sacramento. Photos taken 05/14/11 and 11/23/07.
This upcoming exits mileage sign along Business 80 and U.S. 50 shows the same list of exits as the newer one seen a bit earlier (next three exits): Exit 5, 15th Street and 16th Street (Former California 160); Exit 6A, Business Loop I-80 east (if you're continuing east on U.S. 50 east - for traffic continuing east on the business loop, this exit is for U.S. 50 east); and Exit 6B, Junction California 99 south. Photo taken 11/23/07.
Eastbound Business Loop I-80/U.S. 50/Interstate 305 and southbound California 99 reaches Exit 5, Junction Former California 160/15th-16th Streets. Signs for California 160 remain in place along Business Loop I-80, but many of the shields on the route itself have been removed. As for the 15th/16th Street couplet, the highway skirts the eastern edge of the Capitol Park. The next exits, Exits 6A-B, represent the split of the four routes that share this stretch of freeway. Photos taken 05/14/11 and 11/23/07.
In early October 2009, this U.S. 99 sign was erected at the point where eastbound Business Loop I-80 and U.S. 50 meet Exit 5, 15th Street and 16th Street. Of course this should be a California 99 shield. This is the first time since 1968 that a U.S. 99 shield has graced the W-X Freeway. Photos taken by Joel Windmiller (10/05/09).
Traffic for California 99 south (Exit 6B), which is silently merged onto Business Loop I-80 here, should remain in the right lane. Through traffic on Business Loop I-80 should take the next two lanes to the left, U.S. 50 follows a four-lane left exit (Exit 6A). Photos taken 05/14/11 and 04/05/05.
This sign reminds through traffic to Interstate 80 destinations such as Reno and North Lake Tahoe (Tahoe City and Incline Village) should remain right and follow Business Loop I-80 through the upcoming interchange. Photos taken 11/23/07 and 04/05/05.
At this point, Business Loop I-80 east and California 99 south (Exit 6A) exit to the right, while the left four lanes carry U.S. 50 east into eastern Sacramento (Exit 6B). Business Loop I-80/Interstate 305 transition from U.S. 50 onto hidden California 51 north. Photos taken 05/14/11 and 04/05/05.
