Interstate 80 East - Sacramento County

Interstate 80 east
After the midpoint of the 1971 Sacramento River bridge, Interstate 80 loses elevation and descends into the city of Sacramento. Photo taken 07/07/07.
The next exit along Interstate 80 east is Exit 85, West El Camino Avenue (next right). Photo taken 07/07/07.
The city of Sacramento is the capital of the State of California and seat of Sacramento County. Sacramento sits at a low elevation (approximately 25 feet) and is situated at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers. This major city features a beautiful Capitol Mall and an historic old town park along the river. Due to recent budget problems in California, Sacramento has seen its name become synonymous with California's often maligned state government. Home to 407,018 people as of the 2000 Census, approximately 18 inches of precipitation (mostly rain) falls on the city each year. Most rain falls in the winter months. The city was laid out during the Gold Rush in 1848, incorporated on February 27, 1850, and became the state capital in 1854. Sacramento is the first city in California to incorporate. Photo taken 07/07/07.
All motorist services are available at Exit 85, West El Camino Avenue. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Eastbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 85, West El Camino Avenue. Photo taken 07/07/07.
The next exit along Interstate 80 east is Exit 86, Interstate 5 and California 99 north to Redding and south to Los Angeles (one mile). Photo taken 07/07/07.
An Interstate 80 east reassurance shield is posted shortly after the on-ramp from West El Camino Avenue. Photo taken 07/07/07.
To Sacramento International Airport, use Interstate 5 north. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Interstate 80 approaches Exit 86, Interstate 5 and California 99 north to Redding and south to Los Angeles. Interstate 5 and California 99 travel north along a shared alignment for a few miles, then separate. While Interstate 5 serves the more sparsely populated western Sacramento River Valley, California 99 leads north to Marysville-Yuba City and Chico. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Eastbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 86, Interstate 5 and California 99 north to Redding and south to Los Angeles. Photo taken 07/07/07.
A collector distributor lane connects to the ramps to Interstate 5/California 99 south (first right) and Interstate 5/California 99 north (second right). Photo taken 07/07/07.
The next exit along Interstate 80 east is Exit 88, Truxel Road (one mile). In the background are the ramps that constitute the interchange between Interstate 80 and Interstate 5. This interchange connects two of the most significant highways in California: Interstate 5 and Interstate 80. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Looking again at the collector distributor lanes, we see the loop transition ramp from Interstate 80 east to Interstate 5 and California 99 north. The left lane of the c-d lane will lead back to Interstate 80 east. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Interstate 80 leaves the junction with Interstate 5 and California 99 and approaches Truxel Road (Exit 88). Truxel Road travels south from the ARCO Arena area to Garden Highway and the American River Parkway. Photo taken 07/07/07.
The right two lanes connect to Exit 88, Truxel Road. Photo taken 07/07/07.
ARCO Arena, home of the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise, lies 1.1 miles north of Interstate 80 at the Truxel Road intersection with Arco Park Drive and Arco Arena Boulevard. The sports and entertainment venue opened in 1988 at a cost of $40 million and seats 17,317. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Exit 88 comprises a six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange between Interstate 80 and Truxel Road. Truxel Road heads 1.4 miles south to El Camino Avenue and 1.7 miles to Garden Highway. Truxel Road in conjunction with Arco Arena Boulevard leads to Del Paso Road and Natomas Boulevard in the northwest suburbs of Sacramento. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Next in line for eastbound travelers is the Exit 89 six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with Northgate Boulevard. Northgate Boulevard travels north-south between California 160 and Del Paso Road parallel to the Natomas Main East Drainage Canal. Photo taken 07/07/07.
A two-lane off-ramp departs Interstate 80 eastbound to Northgate Boulevard at Exit 89. Northgate Boulevard ends one mile to the north at Del Paso Road. Southward the road travels 3.1 miles to California 160 at the American River. Photo taken 07/18/09.
Centerline posted mileage sign listing the north Sacramento interchanges to Northgate Boulevard (Exit 89), Norwood Avenue (Exit 90), and Raley / Marysville Boulevard (Exit 91). Northgate Boulevard constitutes a multi-lane surface arterial southward from Del Paso Road to the Arden-Garden Connector. Exit 89 serves a business park area north of Interstate 80 along Market Boulevard. Photo taken 07/07/07.
A set of Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) power lines cross over Interstate 80. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Eastbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 89, Northgate Boulevard. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Attached to the Northgate Boulevard overpass is the one-mile overhead for the next interchange along Interstate 80 east: Norwood Avenue (Exit 90). Interstate 80 passes over the Natomas drainage canal ahead. Norwood Avenue travels three miles north-south between Grove Avenue and Main Avenue. Photo taken 07/07/07.

Interstate 80 reaches Exit 90, Norwood Avenue (diamond interchange). Use Norwood Avenue south for Robertson Park and North Sacramento, and north for the Robla community. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Intersecting the freeway next is Marysville Boulevard and Raley Boulevard at Exit 91. Marysville Boulevard travels south to the Hagginwood and Del Paso Boulevard. Raley Boulevard continues the arterial northward to Bell Avenue. Photo taken 07/18/09.
This Interstate 80 east reassurance shield (neutered) is posted after the on-ramp from Norwood Avenue. Photo taken 07/18/09.
The Exit 91 six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange resides within the Del Paso Heights community of Sacramento. Rio Linda lies north of the freeway via the continuation of Marysville Boulevard from north of Bell Avenue. Marysville Boulevard was severed due to the construction of Interstate 80. Photo taken 07/18/09.
Motorists bound for Raley Boulevard north and Marysville Boulevard south depart Interstate 80 eastbound at Exit 91. Raley Boulevard transitions to 16th Street and meets Elkhorn Boulevard (Sacramento County E14) in three miles. Marysville Boulevard stems 1.5 miles northwest from Raley Boulevard via Bell Avenue to Rio Linda Boulevard and the Robla neighborhood of the city. Photos taken 07/18/09 and 09/10/05.
Interstate 80 continues east through Del Paso Heights toward the Winters Street diamond interchange (Exit 92). Winters Street travels south from Bell Way and the former Mc Clellan Air Force Base to Grand Avenue and a viaduct to the light rail station at Longview Drive. The viaduct passes over a railroad line and adjacent Roseville Road. Photo taken 07/18/09.
North Avenue and Pinell Street both cross over Interstate 80 and intersect nearby in the Del Paso Heights neighborhood. A button copy overhead advises motorists bound for Exit 92 to move into the right-hand lane for the upcoming Winters Street off-ramp. Notice the wider shoulder to the right at the overpasses. The shoulders were constructed in anticipation of off-ramps to a planned freeway from Del Paso Park southward to Business Loop I-80 near California 160 and the American River. The freeway was to replace the existing Capital City Freeway from the American River northeast to Exit 94. The aforementioned viaduct between Winters Street and the Sacramento Light Rail station at Longview Drive was also built for the 1980 freeway. Photo taken 07/18/09.
The extra wide shoulders end ahead of the Exit 92 off-ramp to Winters Street. Winters Street ends at a cul-de-sac south of Interstate 80. A connector provides access to the viaduct of the cancelled freeway. Until 1982, Interstate 80 followed the present day alignment of Business Loop I-80 (Capital City Freeway). A new freeway was planned in the 1970s to replace the substandard freeway from the American River northeast to Del Paso Park. The alignment would have followed the present day Sacramento Light Rail southward to Arden Way and rejoin the original freeway just across the American River near Elvas Avenue. City officials elected not to build the freeway and relocated funds to the light rail system. Portions of the freeway were built by that time however, and those include the wider shoulders to the west of Exit 92, the freeway viaduct from Winters Street east to the Longview Drive transit station, and two carriageways within the median of Interstate 80 between Longview Drive and Watt Avenue. Photo taken 07/18/09.
Interstate 80 continues east over the railroad line and Roseville Road ahead of the Longview Drive diamond interchange (Exit 93). Once it was decided not to construct the new alignment for Interstate 80 between the American River and Watt Avenue (Exit 94A), transportation officials revoked the Interstate mileage along the original freeway between U.S. 50 and Interstate 880 through east Sacramento. Officials then decommissioned Interstate 880 in favor of a relocated Interstate 80 mainline, thus creating Business Loop I-80 along the old alignment. Photo taken 07/18/09.
Longview Drive meanders east from Roseville Road through Del Paso Park to Watt Avenue. The Longview Drive transit station of the Sacramento light rail line resides within the median of Interstate 80 west of Exit 93. Ramps to the facility depart from Interstate 80 west and return via Interstate 80 east independent of Longview Drive. Photo taken 07/18/09.
The light rail corridor comes into view at the Longview Drive over crossing, three quarters of a mile west of Exit 94A (Watt Avenue). Watt Avenue travels north from the Florin area of southeast Sacramento to North Highlands and Placer. Locally the road crosses both Interstate 80 and Business Loop I-80 near their merge at Exit 95. Photo taken 07/18/09.
Exits 94A-B serves both Watt Avenue and the California 244 freeway spur to Auburn Boulevard. Auburn Boulevard (Historic U.S. 40 and U.S. 99E) travels east along Business Loop I-80 to Watt Avenue before diverging from the freeway to Foothill Farms. California 244 provides direct access to Historic U.S. 40 southeast of the Interstate 80 and Business Loop I-80 merge. Photo taken 07/18/09.
Use Exit 94A to North Highlands. All motorist services are available at this exit. Photo taken 07/18/09.
There is no direct access from Interstate 80 east onto Business Loop I-80 (Capital City Freeway) west. Motorists bound for Sacramento via the Capital City Freeway west should use Watt Avenue south via Exit 94A to its on-ramp to the westbound business loop. Photo taken 07/18/09.
Exit 94A leaves Interstate 80 eastbound for Watt Avenue. From here, Watt Avenue travels south 2.3 miles to El Camino Avenue at Arcade, 4.8 miles to Fair Oaks Boulevard at Arden, and 6.7 miles to U.S. 50 near Rosemont. North of the freeway, Watt Avenue continues 1.7 miles to A Street at the former Mc Clellan Air Force Base, 3.2 miles to Elkhorn Boulevard, and 7.7 miles to its end at Baseline Road. Photo taken 07/18/09.
At the next exit (Exit 94B), eastbound California 244 departs Interstate 80. A very short, unsigned state highway, California 244 travels approximately one mile to a premature and presumably permanent end at Auburn Boulevard (Historic U.S. 40). The state route originally was planned as an east-west freeway between Interstate 80 and the unconstructed California 143 freeway. California 244 remains designated in the California Street & Highways Code legally as a paper route, but no planning or construction for this planned freeway is being considered at this time. Photo taken 07/18/09.
The westbound lanes of Business Loop I-80 (Capital City Freeway) crosses over Interstate 80 shortly thereafter. This junction between Interstate 80 and Business Loop I-80 (Capital City Freeway) (unsigned California 51) is known as the 80-80 Split interchange and is very busy during commuting hours. Around this point, Interstate 80 leaves the city of Sacramento and enters unincorporated Foothill Farms. With a population of 17,426 as of the 2000 Census, Foothill Farms is one of several unincorporated areas within Sacramento County (along with Carmichael, Fair Oaks, and Gold River) that are primarily residential and suburban in nature. Interstate 80 serves Foothill Farms between the 80-80 Split (Business Loop I-80) northeast to the Citrus Heights city limits northeast of Exit 98 (Greenback Lane). Photo taken 07/07/07.
Interstate 80 curves east over the California 244 westbound on-ramp and shortly merges with eastbound traffic from Business Loop I-80 (Capital City Freeway). The first exit after Interstate 80 and Business Loop I-80 (Capital City Freeway) merge together is Exit 96, Madison Avenue. A flyover ramp in the background links California 244 west with the Capital City Freeway west. Photo taken 07/18/09.
Interstate 80/Roseville Freeway east
Traffic from both Business Loop I-80 east and California 244 westbound merge onto Interstate 80 east ahead of the Exit 96 six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with Madison Avenue. Traffic interests to Exit 96 should use the right-hand two lanes after the respective merges. Photos taken 07/18/09 and 11/23/12.
An Interstate 80 east reassurance shield is posted shortly thereafter. Photo taken 11/23/12.
After the 80-80 Split interchange, eastbound Interstate 80 becomes known as the Roseville (State) Freeway. Interstate 80 next approaches Exit 96, Madison Avenue. A major east-west arterial, Madison Avenue originates at Roseville Road near the former McClellan Air Force Base and proceeds east, skirting the south edge of Citrus Heights, before entering the city of Folsom. Photos taken 08/22/03 and 07/18/09.
Exit 96 departs Interstate 80 eastbound for Madison Avenue. Madison Avenue ends 1.4 miles to the west at the intersection of Watt Avenue and Roseville Road. The arterial continues east of the freeway five miles to Sacramento County E2 (Sunrise Boulevard) at Citrus Heights and 9.5 miles to Sacramento County E14 (Greenback Lane) near Folsom. Photo taken 11/23/12.
Taking the off-ramp, we find this overhead sign on the Exit 96 for Madison Avenue. Traffic interests to Date Avenue north should stay to the left once on Madison Avenue east. Date Avenue serves commercial shopping areas to the north. Madison Avenue otherwise crosses paths with Auburn Boulevard (Historic U.S. 40) at Foothill Farms within the next mile. Photo taken 09/10/05.
This mileage sign along eastbound Interstate 80 provides the distance to Exit 98, Sacramento County E-14 (Elkhorn Boulevard) west and E-14/Greenback Lane east as well as Exit 100, Antelope Road. Interstate 80 through here is almost always busy, even on weekends. Approximately 232,000 cars a day on average traveled the stretch of freeway between Exits 95 and 96 according to data collected by Caltrans in 2002. Photos taken 07/18/09 and 11/23/12.
An Interstate 80 east reassurance shield is posted as traffic from Madison Avenue merges onto the freeway. Photo taken 11/23/12.
The next exit along Interstate 80 east is Exit 98, Sacramento County E-14 (Elkhorn Boulevard) and Greenback Lane, one mile. Sacramento County E-14 is an east-west route. It follows Elkhorn Boulevard west to California 99 and the east edge of the Sacramento International Airport before connecting to Interstate 5 via Power Line Road. Sacramento County E-14 follows Greenback Lane east through Citrus Heights into Folsom; it joins U.S. 50 at Exit 27/Bidwell Street. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Another mileage sign provides the distance to Roseville (seven miles) and the eastbound control city of Reno (122 miles). Photo taken 07/18/09.
To unincorporated Orangevale, which is situated along E-14/Greenback Lane between Citrus Heights and Folsom, use Exit 98 and turn east on Greenback Lane. Photo taken 11/23/12.
The next three exits from Interstate 80 will serve the city of Citrus Heights, which was incorporated on January 1, 1997, and had a population of 83,301 as of the 2010 Census. Photo taken 11/23/12.
Exit 98 consists of a six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange between Interstate 80 and Sacramento County E-14. The county highway follows Elkhorn Boulevard west of the freeway three miles to Watt Avenue and seven miles to Rio Linda. Greenback Lane continues Sacramento County E-14 east 3.5 miles to the Sunrise Mall, six miles to Orangevale, and nine miles to Folsom. Photos taken 07/07/07 and 11/23/12.
This mileage sign along eastbound Interstate 80 provides the distance to Exit 98, Sacramento County E-14 (Elkhorn Boulevard) and Greenback Lane and Exit 100, Antelope Boulevard. Photo taken 07/18/09.
Eastbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 98, Sacramento County E-14 (Elkhorn Boulevard) and Greenback Lane. Photo taken 07/18/09.
Interstate 80 eastbound passes under Sacramento County E-14 (Elkhorn Boulevard and Greenback Lane) about two miles southwest of the Exit 100 partial-cloverleaf interchange with Antelope Road. Another mileage sign is posted on the overpass. From here, Interstate 80 turns northeast for its journey through the foothills toward Donner Summit in the Sierra Nevada. Photos taken 07/18/09 and 11/23/12.
The next exit is a weigh station (Exit 99). Photos taken 07/07/07 and 11/23/12.
Traffic for the weigh station should merge right. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Interstate 80 leaves Foothill Farms and enters the city of Citrus Heights. One of the many growing suburbs that surround the city of Sacramento, Citrus Heights had a population of 85,071 as of the 2000 Census and sits at an elevation of 164 feet. Already we are making gains in elevation from the area near the Sacramento River. Citrus Heights incorporated on January 1, 1997. Photos taken 07/07/07 and 11/23/12.
One mile ahead of Exit 100 to Antelope Road at Citrus Heights on I-80 east. Antelope Road ventures east four miles from Watt Avenue through Antelope to Interstate 80. Photo taken 07/18/09.
The right two lanes connect to the weigh station prior to the Antelope Road exit. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Eastbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 99, Weigh Station. Photo taken 07/07/07.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Exit 100, Antelope Road and Exit 102, Riverside Avenue and U.S. 40-99E/Auburn Boulevard. Photo taken 07/07/07.
The right lane of Interstate 80 east becomes exit only for Exit 100, Antelope Road. A major east-west arterial, Antelope Road leads into the central commercial districts of Citrus Heights from Interstate 80. Antelope Road provides connections to both Auburn Boulevard (Old U.S. 40-99E) and Sunrise Boulevard (Sacramento County E-2) to the east. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Eastbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 100, Antelope Road to the city of Citrus Heights. Antelope Road heads east one mile to Auburn Boulevard (Historic U.S. 40) and 2.3 miles to its end at Old Auburn Road. This is the last interchange within Sacramento County. Photos taken 07/07/07.
Interstate 80 continues northeast toward the Exit 102 six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with Auburn Boulevard south and Riverside Avenue north. Historic U.S. 40-99E heads northeast from Citrus Heights along Auburn Boulevard to Riverside Avenue and Vernon Street in Roseville. Photo taken 07/18/09.
The next exit along Interstate 80 east is Exit 102, Auburn Boulevard to Riverside Avenue and Vernon Street in Roseville. Photo taken 11/23/12.
This interchange sequence sign along Interstate 80 east provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 102, Auburn Boulevard to Riverside Avenue and Vernon Street and Exits 103A-B, Douglas Boulevard. The next three interchanges serve the city of Roseville. This interchange sequence sign lists the distances to Exit 102 and Exit 103A (Douglas Boulevard). A small guide sign in the background directs motorists to the Central Roseville Fairgrounds via Riverside Avenue north. Founded in 1909, Roseville lies 165 feet. Interstate 80 climbs gradually to 1,300 feet at Auburn and the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Photos taken 07/18/09 and 07/07/07.
All motorist services are available from Interstate 80 Exit 102 in Roseville. Use this exit to historic downtown Roseville, where U.S. 40 and U.S. 99E historically separated after sharing alignment from downtown Sacramento northeast to downtown Roseville. Riverside Avenue (Historic U.S. 40) leads north to Vernon Street east and Atlantic Street east through downtown Roseville. Historic U.S. 40 (Atlantic Street) intersects Interstate 80 again at Exit 105A before turning north onto Taylor Road en route to Rocklin. Photos taken 07/18/09 and 07/07/07.
The right two lanes of Interstate 80 east link to Exit 102 interchange with Auburn Boulevard and Riverside Avenue on Interstate 80 east. Riverside Avenue continues Auburn Boulevard north to Cirby Way and Douglas Boulevard. Auburn Boulevard leads south back into Citrus Heights. The 2005 photo shows the original sign for Exit 102 as well as the newer overhead sign. Photos taken 07/18/09 and 09/10/05.
Eastbound Interstate 80 reaches Exit 102, U.S. 40-99E/Auburn Boulevard south and U.S. 40-99E/Riverside Avenue north. This interchange serves as the point where Auburn Boulevard changes into Riverside Avenue en route to downtown Roseville. Orlando Avenue stems east from the off-ramp alongside the freeway to Cirby Way. Photo taken 07/18/09.
Once on the off-ramp, stay left for Historic U.S. 40 east and U.S. 99E/Riverside Avenue north or right for Historic U.S. 40 west and U.S. 99E/Auburn Boulevard south. Photo taken 07/07/07.
Immediately after the Exit 102 off-ramp but prior to the overpass, Interstate 80 leaves the city of Citrus Heights and Sacramento County and enters the city of Roseville and Placer. We continue to gain elevation as we leave Sacramento County and ascend from the Central Valley into the Sierra Nevada foothills. Interstate 80 will climb over 7,000 feet from the banks of the Sacramento River (el. 25 feet) to reach its highest point in California at Donner Summit (el. 7,239 feet). Photos taken 11/23/12 and 07/07/07.

Continue east to Auburn  Back to Interstate 80 Index  Return to the California Gateway

Page Updated December 1, 2012.

© AARoads