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PUBLIC MEETINGS

In announcing the new Fix 50 work plan, Caltrans District 3 Director Jody Jones said the transportation agency had “listened to hundreds of local community groups, public officials and law enforcement,” and incorporated their best recommendations into the revision.

More public meetings are in the offing:

• Wednesday, April 2 — Tsakopoulous Library Galleria, 828 I St., 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 8 — California State Lottery, 700 N. 10th St., noon-1 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 9 — Conference room, secretary of state’s office, 1500 11th St., two sessions, 9-10 a.m. and 2-3 p.m.

: The latest information, plus helpful links.

By Dateline staff

Caltrans late last week announced a revised work plan to reduce congestion and lane closures during rehabilitation of U.S. Highway 50 in central Sacramento. But if you use the elevated freeway to get to or from the Davis or Sacramento campuses, Fix 50 is still going to get you, in one direction or another.

Caltrans originally planned to close either side of the freeway for three weeks at a time, and squeeze traffic in both directions onto the other half.

Now, each side will stay open while the contractor works on the other side, three lanes at a time, leaving the other three open. But there are still some ramp closures you may need to be concerned about, at the construction zone's east end, where U.S. 50 connects with Business 80 and state Highway 99. See details below.

The revision adds about two weeks to the project — work is scheduled to start earlier and end later — and still includes a break during Memorial Day weekend.

Caltrans is still estimating a one-hour traffic delay, but in the eastbound direction only during the first half of the project and the westbound direction only during the second half.

“Drivers should still expect significant congestion … but this new plan keeps more lanes open to traffic during construction,” Jody Jones, Caltrans District 3 director, said in a March 27 news release.

Here is the new timetable (construction is planned 24 hours a day, seven days a week):

• Stage 1, April 22-May 21 — Construction in the eastbound direction, three lanes open, three lanes closed; all westbound lanes and ramps open.
• Stage 2, May 27-June 25 — Construction in the westbound direction, three lanes open, three lanes closed; all eastbound lanes and ramps open.

Connector closures

For each half of the project, the contractor will start with the inside lanes, leaving all ramps open.

But, when the contractor moves to the outside lanes, certain connectors will be closed for a week or so at the outset of construction on the outside lanes, as follows:

• Eastbound construction, outside lanes, starting May 7 — Ramp closures from U.S. 50 to eastbound Business 80 and southbound state Highway 99. Detour: Continue east on U.S. 50 to Howe Avenue. Halfway down the ramp, there's another exit, this one for California State University, Sacramento. Careful as you take this exit — it's a sharp curve. Follow the exit around and under the freeway, and get right back on U.S. 50 going west. Then you can make your connection to eastbound Business 80 or southbound state Highway 99.
• Westbound construction, outside lanes, starting June 11 — Ramp closure from Business 80 to westbound U.S. 50. Detour: Go east on U.S. 50 to the exit for Howe Avenue. Halfway down the ramp, there's another exit, this one for California State University, Sacramento. Careful as you take this exit — it's a sharp curve. Follow the exit around and under the freeway, and get right back on U.S. 50 going west.

The contractor will reopen the connectors as soon as crews finish their work at the east end of the construction zone, for each half of the project. The work crews will then work their way west.

Plan ahead

If you’re a commuter, or you need to travel between the campuses during the day, you need to plan accordingly. You may want to consider flexible scheduling (to come to work earlier or later) or telecommuting — options that require supervisor approval.

You also may want to consider conference calls and video conferencing, to avoid having to drive on U.S. 50.

And, of course, event planners should advise their guests about the delays either coming or going.

The westbound half of construction could be particularly problematic for commencements, as family members and friends make their way to the Davis campus, which will host all but one of the ceremonies (including the School of Medicine’s) from May 29 to June 15.