The closure comes during a weekend filled with events in the capital city.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Weekend drivers in the capital city are navigating one of the last major closures in Caltrans’ ongoing “Fix 50 Project,” as crews shut down a key interchange through Monday morning.

The Sacramento interchange connecting westbound Business 80 to eastbound Highway 50 closed Friday night for extensive roadwork that includes excavation, drainage installation, and new pavement along the shoulders.

“Just part of it is going to be closed,” said Caltrans spokesperson Sergio Ochoa Sanchez. “They’re going to be doing in-depth excavation to remove all the old pavement and concrete that is there, and they’re going to insert some drainage systems. They’re going to be adding some pavement, new pavement to the shoulders.”

The project, which has brought years of 55-hour weekend closures, is taking a longer pause this time — 70 hours — after the contractor requested one extended closure instead of two separate weekends.

“The contractor requested to do a 70-hour closure instead of having to do two separate 55-hour closures,” Ochoa Sanchez said.

The timing comes as Sacramento hosts several large weekend events, including the Ironman marathon, the Sacramento Kings Fan Fest, and multiple youth sports tournaments. The packed schedule has drivers looking for alternate routes.

“Yeah, I’m taking the back road, taking Power Inn instead of jumping on the freeways,” said high school football coach and Sacramento driver Kenneth Taylor.

Caltrans is advising a detour for drivers looking to get from west on Business 80 to east on Highway 50: take westbound 50, exit at 10th Street, turn onto 11th, then X Street before rejoining eastbound 50.

“This is just a suggested detour,” Ochoa Sanchez said. “I am sure many of our local drivers will know their way around.”

Taylor said using local roads cuts his drive time in half. “Faster — take 15 minutes instead of a 30-minute ride,” he said.

As construction continues, he’s hoping the final product is worth the delays. 

“I hope they’re bettering the roads because they are beat up,” Taylor said. “They’re tearing up tires. Hopefully, we just get it done before summer starts.”

Caltrans previously said it expects the Fix 50 Project to be completed by July.

Watch more from ABC10: Streets close as Sacramento gears up for Ironman 2025

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