Caltrans closes Capital City Freeway and State Route 20 for construction | The Locally Times
Construction crews are closing the Capital City Freeway through Sunday and SR 20 in Nevada County starting Monday for bridge repairs.
## Capital City Freeway Closure Caltrans District 3 closed the northbound Capital City Freeway (SR 51/Business 80) in Sacramento at 11 p.m. Friday, May 29. The road remains closed between N Street and Exposition Boulevard until 3 a.m. Sunday, May 31. Crews are applying a polyester concrete overlay to the American River Bridge deck, which requires an extended curing period. During the closure, the northbound P Street, J Street, and E Street on-ramps are inaccessible. Connectors from eastbound and westbound U.S. Highway 50 to the northbound Capital City Freeway are also closed. The $239.5 million project includes $236.8 million from the State Highway Operation and Protection Program, a fund for state highway repairs, and $2.7 million from the Active Transportation Program, which provides money for bike and pedestrian infrastructure. The project includes the addition of a Class I bike path. ## State Route 20 Construction Caltrans scheduled a closure of eastbound State Route 20 (SR 20) at the Interstate 80 junction in Nevada County from 6 a.m. Monday, June 1, to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 3. The work is part of the $112 million Yuba Pass Separation Overhead Bridge Project, which rebuilds the I-80 freeway overpass at SR 20 to allow for heavier freight loads. The closure allows for the demolition of a bridge pier and footing. Flatiron Construction of Concord manages the project, which includes installing median barriers and drainage systems. Westbound SR 20 remains open between Truckee and the Nevada City/Grass Valley area. Eastbound motorists must detour via SR 49 to Auburn or SR 174 to Colfax. Large trucks must use SR 49 for the duration of the work. The speed limit in the construction zone is 55 mph, with California Highway Patrol officers present for enforcement. ## Project Scope Caltrans District 3 manages 4,385 lane miles across 11 counties in the Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra. The department has not released a specific traffic delay estimate for the SR 20 detour as of May 30. Records do not specify the exact duration of the commute increase for individual drivers on the SR 49 or SR 174 detours. ## Key Questions **How will the Capital City Freeway closure affect my commute?** Northbound traffic between N Street and Exposition Boulevard is closed until 3 a.m. Sunday, May 31, 2026, requiring the use of alternate routes. **Which detours are available for the State Route 20 closure?** Eastbound motorists must detour via SR 49 to Auburn or SR 174 to Colfax from 6 a.m. Monday, June 1, to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 3. Large trucks must use SR 49.