Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway west and California 51 south
After exiting from westbound Interstate 80 onto westbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway (and southbound California 51), Exit 14B (Watt Avenue) appears before the transition ramp from Interstate 80 crosses over the parent freeway! The next exit, Exit 14A, is California 244 east to Auburn Boulevard. (Yes, we know that these old pictures are in desperate need of replacement. Stay tuned for updates.) Photo taken 01/19/03.
Westbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway and southbound California 51 meet Exit 14A, to Auburn Boulevard (Hidden California 244 east). Auburn Boulevard is Historic U.S. 40, and some historic route signage is present. This exit sign is the first overhead sign to feature an exit number in the state of California; it was placed in August 2002. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 08/14/02.
Westbound Business Loop I-80 and southbound California 51/Capital City Freeway approach Exit 12, Fulton Avenue, one mile. The next exit is Auburn Boulevard/Marconi Avenue. Photo taken 01/19/03.
Westbound Business Loop I-80 and southbound California 51/Capital City Freeway meet Exit 12, Fulton Avenue. Business Loop I-80 is considered to be below Interstate standards for the stretch of freeway between Fulton and U.S. 50, with the Marconi curve and below standard shoulders. Plans call for construction of a high occupancy vehicle lane, which will require a reworking of the lanes through this relatively narrow stretch. Photo taken 01/19/03.
Skipping ahead (and past the Marconi Curve), some of the substandard shoulders of Business 80/Elvas Freeway become evident here, as we approach Exit 7B, E Street (1.25 miles). Photo taken 01/19/03.
Westbound Business Loop I-80 and southbound California 51/Capital City Freeway reach Exit 7B, E Street. Note the unusual mileage sign here, which points to the distance to J Street (one-half mile) and P Street (one mile). Photo taken 01/19/03.
Meanwhile, the Capital City Freeway is rapidly approaching the turbine interchange between the 29th-30th viaduct and the WX viaduct, where the business route will meet California 99 and U.S. 50. Although not signed on many of these approach signs, westbound Business Loop I-80 also carries westbound U.S. 50 and northbound California 99. Photo taken 01/19/03.
Traffic following the westbound Capital City Freeway is advised to follow Business Loop I-80 west to reach Junction Interstate 5. It is a bit unclear to refer to the "San Francisco exit" -- it seems easier to advise motorists either to use the right lanes or follow Business Loop I-80 west. Photo taken 01/19/03.
These two signs along westbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway/Southbound California 51 at P Street and approaching Junction California 99 (left lanes) and Business Loop I-80 west/U.S. 50 east (right lanes). Photo taken 01/19/03.
These two signs along westbound just after P Street again advise motorists looking for Interstate 5 or U.S. 50 to use the right lanes. Photo taken 01/19/03.
Westbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway transitions from the 29th-30th Freeway onto the WX Freeway (and leaves behind California 51). Although not signed here, the Capital City Freeway follows westbound Business Loop I-80 onto this transition ramp. Meanwhile, Exit 6B is the left exit for southbound California 99, which has more "exiting" lanes than the mainline! This marks the southern terminus of California 51 ... and the eastern terminus of Interstate 305. The Capital City Freeway is Interstate-standard for the rest of its westerly journey. Photo taken 07/27/12.
Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway west
Immediately thereafter, westbound Business Loop I-80 reaches Exit 6A, Junction U.S. 50 east. U.S. 50 heads due east through the foothills, over the Sierra Nevada at Echo Pass, and leaving California as it skirts the south shore of sapphire Lake Tahoe. Although not signed, Business Loop I-80 west is technically U.S. 50 west as well. Northbound California 99 slides onto the WX as well, but signage on the freeway has deemphasized this additional route. In a way, California 16 is also merged through here (along U.S. 50), but it's better to think of California 16 in two segments that are separated by Interstate 5 and U.S. 50 from Woodland to Sacramento. Photo taken 07/27/12.
This series of pictures follows the transition ramp from Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway west to U.S. 50/El Dorado Freeway west through the turbine interchange. The two-lane ramp has a dedicated offramp to 34th Street as shown here. Photos taken 04/12/12.
