Last month’s issue featured a story entitled “Yolo 80 Corridor Improvements Project Underway” and included details on the two distinct projects that extensively overlap within the project limits. However, adequate delineation wasn’t provided to clearly illustrate the features of each project separately.

The concrete pavement work described in last month’s issue is the Yolo 80 Rehabilitation Project. That work is being performed by the Joint Venture of Flatiron and Teichert.

Here now are the details of the Yolo 80 Corridor Improvements Project, also known as the Yolo Managed Lanes Project.

Caltrans and the Yolo Transportation District joined forces for this freeway expansion initiative with the goal of enhancing traffic flow within the I-80 corridor on the west side of the Sacramento-Yolo metropolitan area. It will feature the introduction of approximately 17 miles of tolled managed lanes in both directions, new lane construction, and intelligent transportation system enhancements.

At the 30,000-foot level, one goal of the project is to establish a highway management system that can be replicated and integrated regionwide.

The designed purpose of the Yolo Managed Lanes Project is to:

  • Ease congestion and improve the efficiency of moving people through the region;
  • Improve freeway operation on the mainline, ramps, and at system interchanges;
  • Support reliable transport of goods and services throughout the region;
  • Improve modality and travel time reliability; and

Provide expedited traveler information and monitoring systems.

The project is needed for the following reasons:

  • Recurring congestion during the AM and PM peak periods;
  • Operational inefficiencies lead to the formation of bottlenecks;
  • Inefficient movement of goods and services impedes regional and interstate economic sustainability; and
  • Lack of real-time traveler information and coordinated traffic communication systems impedes timely response to roadway incidents, resulting in secondary collisions and increased congestion.

To resolve those issues, a high-occupancy toll lane is being added in each direction for free use by vehicles with three or more riders. Vehicles with less than three riders will also be able to use the new lane by paying a toll fee.

The Yolo 80 Corridor Improvements Project was awarded late last year to De Silva Gates, with construction tentatively scheduled to start in April.

Big thanks and a tip of the hard hat to Gurtej Bhattal, Caltrans District 3 (Acting) Office Chief – PPM, for all of his contributions to this article.