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 hidden 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. Photo taken 01/19/03.
Westbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway and southbound California 51 at 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/Hidden southbound California 51/Capital City Freeway approaching 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 hidden southbound California 51)/Capital City Freeway at 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.
Some of the substandard shoulders are evident here, along westbound Business Loop I-80/Capital City Freeway/southbound California 51 approaching Exit 7B, E Street, one-quarter mile. Photo taken 01/19/03.
Westbound Business Loop I-80/southbound California 51/Capital City Freeway reaches 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 WX-31/32 interchange: Junction 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 transition from the 31-32 Freeway onto the WX Freeway. 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 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 01/19/03.
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 01/16/07.
