The Fourth of July weekend is behind us and that can mean only one thing: The "Fix I-5" project continues! Southbound lanes will be shut starting tonight at 8...as crews start to apply a sealant on concrete poured last month. That section of I-5 has been caputuring headlines for the past month or so as repairs are done to repair the "Boat Section" of the interstate just south of Old Sacramento from the Richards Boulevard, Capital City, Highway 50 interchange. Southbound lanes should be re-opened by the early morning hours of July 15th. But, dont' mark you calenders just yet. Apparently the unusually hot weather (even by Sacramento standards) could push back Phase 3. Construction managers say the polyester blend sealant and traffic lane markings to be installed this week...can't adhere to the concrete properly if temperatures are above 90 degrees. KXJZ's Steve Milne was told in a recent interview with Caltrans Spokesman Mark Dinger that the record high temperatures near 105 degrees or warmer in Sacramento this week will require most work to be done overnight or in the early morning hours when conditions are cooler. We're still not certain if the hot weather will ultimately push back next week's completion date for the southbound lanes.
Work on the northbound lanes of I-5 in downtown Sacramento has been delayed until later this month because the newly poured concrete needs more time to cure properly before sealant and lane markings can be applied on that side of I-5. That has delayed completion of the entire "Fix I-5" project until at least July 24th, and Phase Four of construction starts on the northbound side on July 17th. (It was originally scheduled to be done by July 15th). But, things happen and considering most Sacramento commuters have been cooperating with instructions to find alternate routes...only minor traffic jams have occurred due to the I-5 closures. Transportation officials hope that continues through the remainder of the project. Mark Dinger with Caltrans says he's concerned some motorists may have become complacent and have forgotten about the importance of trying to navigate through downtown without adding to congestion the I-5 project may have caused. The true test comes tomorrow morning (Wednesday, July 9) when rush hour commuters try to get to their destinations despite the I-5 closures. It's been a few weeks since Phase Two of the 37-million dollar project so some folks may have forgotten about the situation and might proceed down I-5 without thinking about the detour ahead.