Caltrans closes Capital City Freeway and State Route 20 for construction | The Locally Times
Northbound Business 80 closes for 28 hours through May 31, while State Route 20 detours begin June 1.
Caltrans scheduled a full closure of the northbound Capital City Freeway, also known as Business 80, between N Street and Exposition Boulevard from 11 p.m. Friday, May 29, until 3 a.m. Sunday, May 31. The closure facilitates the $239.5 million American River Bridge Rehabilitation Project, which uses $236.8 million from the State Highway Operation and Protection Program and $2.7 million from the Active Transportation Program to replace the bridge deck and install a bike path. ## Traffic Diversions Motorists must use alternate routes as on-ramps at P Street, J Street, and E Street, along with connectors from U.S. Highway 50, remain closed. The closure allows for the curing of a polyester concrete overlay applied to the bridge deck. Caltrans District 3, which maintains 4,385 lane miles, directs drivers to the agency’s QuickMap application for real-time updates. ## State Route 20 Closures Caltrans scheduled a three-day closure of eastbound State Route 20 at the junction with Interstate 80 in Nevada County from 6 a.m. Monday, June 1, through 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 3. This work is part of the $112 million Yuba Pass Separation Overhead Bridge Project, the rebuild of the I-80 freeway overpass at SR 20 to increase load capacity for heavy trucks. During this period, traffic on State Route 20 between the Omega Scenic Overlook and the Interstate 80 junction will detour via State Route 49 in Auburn or State Route 174 in Colfax. Large trucks must use State Route 49. The eastbound Interstate 80 off-ramp to westbound State Route 20 will also close, requiring motorists to continue to Eagle Lakes Road before heading west. ## Climate Program Updates On May 30, 2026, the California Air Resources Board adopted updates to the Cap-and-Invest Program, the system that regulates greenhouse gas emissions. This program accounts for 80% of state climate emissions and directs funds into local transit, rail expansion, affordable housing, and clean water. The program aims to meet statutory climate targets through 2045. ## Key Questions **How will the Capital City Freeway closure affect my weekend travel?** The northbound Capital City Freeway is closed from N Street to Exposition Boulevard until 3 a.m. Sunday, May 31, requiring drivers to use alternate local routes. **What detours are in place for the State Route 20 closure?** Starting June 1, eastbound State Route 20 traffic must detour via State Route 49 or State Route 174 to reach Interstate 80 for the three-day construction period.