Fix 50 Explainer: Project Information and What To Expect During Construction

The Fix 50 project by Caltrans will repair a section of U.S. Highway 50 known as the W/X Viaduct. The portion carries six lanes of traffic over surface streets and other transportation infrastructure through downtown Sacramento. 

According to CalTrans, the area has some cracking and needs to be repaired. This includes placing a 4-inch concrete deck, repairing cracks and adding steel column casings. The project will cost $46.21 million.

Important Dates:

EASTBOUND

April 22 to May 6

Phase 1 begins and will impact eastbound lanes. During this period, the 11th Street onramp will be closed. 

May 7 to May 21

Phase 2 begins and will also impact eastbound lanes. The 16th Street onramp, 11th Street onramp, the connector ramp from eastbound Highway 50 to southbound Highway 99, and the connector ramp from eastbound Highway 50 to eastbound Business 80 will be closed.

WESTBOUND

May 27 to June 10

Phase 1 begins.

June 11 to June 25 

Phase 2 starts and will shut the 16th Street offramp and the connector ramp from westbound Business 80 to westbound Highway 50.

Project Details: 

Caltrans says at least three lanes (two regular lanes and the third is the auxiliary lane for merging) are expected to be open for the side of the freeway where construction is taking place. Traffic should be normal on the opposite side of the highway, where construction is not happening.

Delays:

Officials are warning it may take motorists as much as an hour to get to their destinations during commute hours, according to multiple media reports. Several insitutions, including the Sacramento International Airport and UC Davis Medical Center, warned that commuters should calculate possible delays into their drive times. Fix 50 provided a map that shows hospital locations and where the construction is taking place. 

Caltrans officials say an average of 8,300 vehicles per hour travel on both directions of the W/X Viaduct, but the full extent of how the project will impact drivers won't be clear until the project starts. That will still depend on how many motorists stay away and how many don't, according to CalTrans.

Detours:

Officials provided a list of detours corresponding with the different phases of the project.