This project will increase the deficient vertical clearance at seven over crossing structures in the project limits as identified in the District 3 Goods and Movement Study.
Construction crews from Flatiron are embarking on one of the largest highway construction projects in the California region.
Overseen by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the $480 million Fix50 project will see a long-awaited upgrade of the busy section of Highway 50, a key corridor in mid-town and East Sacramento (Sacramento County), with the addition of high-occupancy vehicle lanes; widening of 12 bridges; and newly-built retaining walls.
"This is one of the largest projects in the Sacramento region, one of the largest projects we've seen in a very long time," said Angela DaPrato, public information officer of Caltrans District 3.
One main purpose of this massive project is to replace the existing Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavement, reduce maintenance expenditures and reduce congestion. The existing PCC pavement was built between 1967 and 1971 and has reached the end of its service life. It is deteriorated and has a poor ride quality that requires annual maintenance to repair and maintain.
A recent pavement condition survey conveyed that there is severe slab cracking and faulting in the third and fourth lanes in both directions and minor slab cracking in the first and second lanes in both directions.
A portion of Highway 50, between W and X streets, is comprised of elevated bridges. Flatiron Construction will be tasked with building and connecting a third bridge between the east and westbound sides of the freeway to make room for the new HOV lanes.
The project also includes the restoration of other roadway elements such as drainage, lighting and intelligent transportation systems.
"In addition to widening 12 bridges and adding three miles of retaining walls, crews will replace all lanes with new concrete pavement and long-life asphalt," said Flatiron Construction. "The project also includes adding a sound wall on the south side of the highway in the Elmhurst neighborhood, between Stockton Boulevard and 65th Street. [This is] an innovative project to serve the expanding needs of the Sacramento community. The U.S. 50 Multimodal Corridor Enhancement and Rehabilitation project will add seven miles of new carpool lanes in each direction to complete the U.S. 50 carpool system from the eastern Foothill communities into downtown Sacramento.
"The sound walls are designed to be 8-to-14 feet tall and will make a total of 10,400 feet in length," said Flatiron Construction. "The team applied masonry aesthetics best used in neighboring communities and anti-graffiti clear coating to minimize future maintenance costs. The sound walls, once complete, will provide a significant improvement to lessen highway noise in neighborhoods south of U.S.-50 between Stockton Ave and 65th Ave."
Construction Progress
Currently, Flatiron crews are working along and on U.S.-50 from the I-5 Interchange to Watt Avenue around the clock. Nighttime demolition work is taking place in the Elmhurst area. The median section is being demolished to provide space for the new lanes.
According to Flatiron, in order to improve clearance for truck traffic, the highway will be lowered at seven overpasses. The project also includes rehabilitation of three pumping plants that move groundwater away from the highway as well as upgrading all signs, ramp metering and intelligent transportation systems.
K-rail installation also is underway to complete the traffic split on eastbound U.S 50 from Howe Avenue to Watt Avenue.
"I know the residents in the Elmhurst and South Park area are very excited about the sound wall that's going to be extending from U.S. 50 from Stockton Boulevard all the way down to 65th Street," said DaPrato.
Light rail riders also will see some improvements with the addition of a second track along the Gold Line between Sunrise Boulevard and downtown Folsom.
Additionally, crews continue to perform piledriving and other construction activities on/under U.S. Highway 50 between W & X Streets from 6th Street to 26th Street in Sacramento.
Currently, the California Highway Patrol is performing rolling breaks and lane closures in both directions of U.S. 50 between Howe and Watt avenues for utility work with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District replacing power lines.
Overall, the project also proposes to:
- Allow connectivity and consistency with the planned HOV system in the Sacramento Region;
- Enhance mobility and provide incentives for ride sharing during peak period travel;
- Achieve the goals of the current SACOG MTP by promoting ride sharing;
- Provide an option for reliable peak period travel time;
- Use the highway facilities as efficiently as possible;
- Improve general traffic operations by reducing congestion and travel time;
- Improve bicycle and pedestrian access.
Project Background
The project is being funded by the State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP), Roadway Rehabilitation Program, Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP) by the State of California's Senate Bill (SB) 1 – Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 and Sacramento Measure A Transportation Sales Tax Program managed by the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA).
The estimated capital cost is $398 million and the estimated support cost is $62 million.
"This project will also increase the deficient vertical clearance at seven over crossing structures in the project limits as identified in the District 3 Goods and Movement Study," DaPrato said. "This increased vertical clearance will reduce the frequency of ‘high load' hits, reduce maintenance worker exposure to traffic, and improve freight mobility in this corridor."
The design-build initiative, which received project and environmental approval in May 2017, strives to deal with many inter-connected issues.
CHP is designing the new lanes and highway infrastructure.
Flatiron secured the design-build contract in the fall of 2020 and between November 2020 and last January, crews were removing debris and trees on the south side of US 50, from Stockton Blvd. to 65th Street to prep the sit for the construction of a sound wall. CEG
Irwin Rapoport
A journalist who started his career at a weekly community newspaper, Irwin Rapoport has written about construction and architecture for more than 15 years, as well as a variety of other subjects, such as recycling, environmental issues, business supply chains, property development, pulp and paper, agriculture, solar power and energy, and education. Getting the story right and illustrating the hard work and professionalism that goes into completing road, bridge, and building projects is important to him. A key element of his construction articles is to provide readers with an opportunity to see how general contractors and departments of transportation complete their projects and address challenges so that lessons learned can be shared with a wider audience.
Rapoport has a BA in History and a Minor in Political Science from Concordia University. His hobbies include hiking, birding, cycling, reading, going to concerts and plays, hanging out with friends and family, and architecture. He is keen to one day write an MA thesis on military and economic planning by the Great Powers prior to the start of the First World War.
Read more from Irwin Rapoport here.
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