Folsom Segment of the Capital Southeast Connector Expressway Completed
Mariah Pearson, ABC10
(PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA) Oct 21, 2022 — The expressway will connect Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Folsom and El Dorado Hills.
The long-awaited Folsom segment of the Capital Southeast Connector Expressway is now complete and open to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
This is phase 1 of the planned 34-mile expressway that will connect Interstate 5 in Elk Grove to Highway 50 in El Dorado County.
White Rock Road from Prairie City Road to East Bidwell Street has been fully reconstructed. It is now a higher-capacity four-lane expressway that is also said to be much safer for drivers.
The 3-mile segment also includes new traffic signals, improved intersections, bridges over Alder Creek and a Class 1 bike/pedestrian trail. A Class 1 bike trail means it is separate from other roadways and is reserved for walking pedestrians and bicyclists.
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, a local cycling group will take an honorary first ride on the new section of the trail, according to the City of Folsom. This bike and pedestrian trail will ultimately be a separated 35-mile-long regional Class 1 bike trail.
City of Folsom believes these following benefits will come of the Capital Southeast Connector Expressway:
- Provide regional traffic congestion relief and better access to job centers
- Dramatically improve vehicular and pedestrian safety
- Enable more efficient goods movement
- Enable more efficient farm-to-fork agricultural commerce
- Reduce vehicle miles traveled and improve regional air quality by reducing pollutants
- Create a backbone of south county bicycle infrastructure
Labor groups, business leaders and federal, state and local officials will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the milestone. The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26 near the corner of East Bidwell Street at White Rock Road in Folsom.
The project’s first phase includes construction of four continuous lanes from Interstate 5 and Highway 99 in Elk Grove to the new Silva Valley interchange at Highway 50 in El Dorado Hills, expanded at-grade intersections at all major access points, and a continuous path for pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians.
The Connector JPA is partnering with the City of Folsom, County of Sacramento, and the County of El Dorado on final engineering and environmental analysis for the 7.4-mile Connector alignment between Grant Line Road and Latrobe Road. Environmental review is complete and right of way acquisition is underway.