Highway 99 Closure Expected To Cause Major Traffic Delays In Sacramento

A Highway 99 closure is expected to cause major traffic delays in Sacramento, reports CBS13.

With the highway being shut down for more than four days, many residents around the South Sacramento area are not looking forward to the inevitable congestion.

The closure will be between 47th Avenue and the Highway 50 interchange starting at 8:00 P.M. on Friday, June 11 until 4:00 A.M. on Wednesday, June 16.

Crews will work on the bridge deck at 99 and 21st Avenue during the closure.

According to Caltrans, the nearly $6 million project is much needed after six decades.

“The existing bridge has deteriorated to the point that the deck has to be replaced,” Amarjeet Benipal, the director for Caltrans District 3 told CBS13.

The designated detour is Interstate 5 and construction will stop there and Highway 50 during the shutdown, reports CBS13.

However, it's expected that instead of using Interstate 5 many people will cut through city streets and police will be doing the same to monitor traffic.

“We’re going to be looking for people who aren’t obeying the law,” said a spokesman for the CHP’s South Sacramento office. “We’re also going to have our freeway service patrol which is a free service for people who break down if they are stuck in traffic. They are going to be working 24 hours a day providing services.”

To help alleviate some of the expected congestion, Sacramento Regional Transit will be offering free rides on light rails during the Highway 99 closure.

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