North Sacramento Freeway Album

Below you will see a complete photo log of the North Sacramento Freeway, from the bridges over the American River to the Marconi overpass. Where this route changed to the Roseville/Ben Ali Freeway from Marconi Ave. to Roseville.

American_River_Bridge_Approaches.jpg (39665 bytes)

In the photos on the left taken from the approaches to the bridges over the American River. The photo on top is looking north on 16th Street, the old alignment veered to the left to go over the 1934 closed spandrel concrete arch bridge. At this point the North Sacramento Freeway begins, around the bend on the right-hand side you go over two 1968 bridges with tubular railing.

In the photo on the left is taken at the end of the westbound section of the North Sacramento Freeway just after crossing the 1934 closed spandrel arch bridge. The small sign on the light pole indicates End Freeway, and the large sign reads Richards Blvd, the line of poles on the right side is for the lightrail train. This bridge was widen in 1934 from two lanes in 1915 to four lanes. In 1986 the number one & two lanes were used for the new lightrail line and the number 3 & 4 lanes remained.

In the photo to our left shows the Richards Blvd offramp at the south end of the 1934 bridge over the American River, at this exit the North Sacramento Freeway ends and becomes North 12th Street into Downtown Sacramento. On the right side you can see the solid railing of the bridges also you can see a light pole the original one were smaller in height and wider at the base

Richards_Blvd_Exit.jpg (26142 bytes)

15-34_American_River_Bridge.jpg (19542 bytes)

In this photo to our left as we go over the 1934 bridge over the American River, you can see the solid railing and the narrow sidewalks, along with the three traffic lanes, and to our far left, on the other side of the Jersey barrier is the lightrail tracks. You can see the downtown high-rises in the distance

In the photo to our left is a bridge sign for the 1934 bridge. You can see on the second line on the right-hand side 1967, this brings a question to mind is this a date when the sign was placed or maybe something else? The bridge log saids this is a 1934 bridge, and the L stands for the left bridge over the American River, so there sign is in the correct position.

American_River_Bridge_Sign_34-67.jpg (24087 bytes)

Old_Alignment_onramp.jpg (20941 bytes)

In this photo on our right you are looking towards the 1934 bridge from the end of the 1942 bridge over the Natomas East Main Drainage Canal, This bridge was constructed because Old US 40-99E during the winter months would close due to flooding, in order to keep this main route linking the Bay Area & the Central Valley with the Sierra Nevada and points east open year round without delays. On the right you can see a onramp this is where the old alignment rejoins the Freeway. Notice the different overhead sign post for Richards Blvd.

In the photo to our right is a 1942 date stamp from the Natomas Main Drainage Canal Viaduct. In the photo above & below the date stamp is at the end of the sidewalk on the curb facing the roadway.On this bridge there is a date stamped on all four ends of the bridge.

1942_Date_Stamp.jpg (17883 bytes)

1942_Bridge.jpg (40293 bytes)

In the three photos to our right of the 1942 Natomas Viaduct, in the top photo you can see the lightrail track to the right side of the viaduct, beside the lightrail you can see two lanes and what appears to be a third lane. When the Viaduct open in 1942, there were four lanes in each direction plus a median strip if you look closely you can see where it was beside the white striping. To the left the onramp is where the 1925 alignment approached the bridge over the American River. In photo # 2 you can see the steel railing still in good condition and the narrow sidewalk. The original lighting was on smaller poles with a glass box surrounding the light with a pointed crown on top. You can see striping where the number 4 lanes was, this lane was eliminated when lightrail was constructed in 1986. Photo # 3 looking toward downtown Sacramento give you a detailed look at the viaduct from its summit. In the background you can see the 1934 bridge over the American River along with the onramp by the Richard Blvd over head sign, to the far left you can see the sign bridge on the 1967 bridge. If you look very closely you can see the Tower Bridge over the Sacramento River, look over the left billboard on top of the railing by the trees

In the photo to our right is the North Sacramento UC (Del Paso Blvd) from the Northbound freeway offramp. This bridge use to have the old steel railing before 1986 when Jersey Barrier was installed because of Lightrail construction, if you look over the jersey Barrier you can still see the ends of where the steel railing use to be.

North_Sacramento_UC_1946.jpg (21089 bytes)

In the photo to our left you can see the overhead sign saying Freeway Ends Reduce Speed, this sign was correct until 1968 when the freeway was extended to Richards Blvd, that is why in the distance you can see End Freeway half mile. This section is the most beautiful treelined and landscaped with oleander median strip.

In the photo to our right the lightpole you can see a ring mark on it use to have the following shields on it US 40-99E from 1946 to 1954, US 40 from 1955 to 1966, US 40 & SR 160 from 1965-66, SR-160 from 1965 to the Present. In the distance you can see the Freeway Ends overhead sign.

SR-160_Sign.jpg (24718 bytes)

In the photo to our left you can see the typical onramp to the North Sacramento Freeway a triangular channelization with divits in the curbing notice that the right freeway entrance post has no shield all entrances use to be like this one

Canterbury Road/Leisure Lane

In the photos to the right you can see the offramp sign for the north and southbound exits. Canterbury Road sign is for the Southbound side

Canterbury_Rd.jpg (12291 bytes)

Canterbury_Rd_LeisureLn.jpg (10050 bytes)

Expo_Blvd_Royal_Oaks_Dr.jpg (7083 bytes)

Royal_Oaks_Dr.jpg (11407 bytes)

Exposition Blvd/ Royal Oaks Drive

In the photos to our left are the offramp signs for north & southbound lanes, notice the Overhead sign to the far left in 1997 when Expo Blvd was extended to Leisure lane a new overhead sign was installed. The old style sign Royal Oaks Drive is on the right

Photo on the right taken from the Leisure Lane overpass looking west you can see the four concrete lane freeway with the on & offramps for the exit above, you can see the landscape shoulders and the oleander median strip in the distance you can see the Canterbury Road overpass

North_Sac_Fwy_Overview.jpg (23682 bytes)

Arden Way

In the photos to our left you can see the approach and offramp signs for Arden Way. in the distance you can see the overpass I took the photo above from.

In the photos to our left You can see the sign for the approaching Royal Oaks Drive offramp at this point only southbound freeway is in its original alignment northbound was realigned in 1953 for the Elvas Freeway. In the photo to the right is a California 160 shield new style, also a two digit shield. In my opinion I don't like the new style shield they are too pointed on top and spade shape is too sharp. This sign is posted 50 feet from Cal Trans office.

New_SR-160_Sign.jpg (8995 bytes)

Royal_Oaks_Dr_Right_Lane.jpg (8535 bytes)

Coming soon

Arden Way to Marconi Ave

Coming Soon

Ben Ali/ Roseville Freeway Page

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