What the heck is going on?

An overview of Sacramento’s Fix 50 project

Crews are working 24/7 to renovate Highway 50. | Photo via Fix50

City Editor Jordan here — I hate traffic y’all. We’ve all felt like this at some point driving in Sacramento, and it does not get any easier with the seemingly never-ending construction on our freeways.

So I’ve taken it upon myself to take a look the Fix50 project, meant to repair and renovate Highway 50.

One quick note, this is not the same project as FixSac5 —that’s a different bag of peanuts that we can munch on at a later date. However, both projects are being overseen by CalTrans and funded by California’s SB 1.

🏗️ What’re they even doing?

The scope of the Fix50 project is massive — the largest of its kind in the Sacramento region. At a cost of $433 million, 51 lane miles between I-5 and Watt Avenue will get a full makeover with upgrades that include:

Replacing and reinforcing pavement
Building new sound walls
Improving connector ramps
Widening multiple on-ramps and a dozen bridges
Replacing lighting, signage, and railing
Adding carpool lanes that run in each direction
Upgrading sidewalks
Replacing drainage systems
Expanding SacRT service between Sunrise Boulevard and Downtown Folsom

📆 What’s the timeline for this sort of thing?

Work officially began in March 2021, and the estimated completion window is December 2024 or early 2025. According to the project’s website, it currently is 35% completed, with crews working nonstop.

🚗 What if I need to take Highway 50 now?

Residents can text “Fix50" to 34304 or follow the project’s Twitter account to get the latest updates on construction and related road closures.

Click here to have your event featured.

Wednesday, Feb. 15

Science Uncorked | Wednesday, Feb. 15 | 6 p.m. | UC Davis, 1 Shields Ave, Davis | Free | Pair wine with science as UC Davis researchers give a series of talks.

Thursday, Feb. 16

German Expressionism On Film | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 6:30 p.m. | Crocker Art Museum, 216 O St., Sacramento | $8 | See this exploration of Weimar Era filmmaking and German Expressionist work with a viewing of “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.”
Drag Bingo | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 7 p.m. | Flatstick Pub, 630 K St. Ste. 120, Sacramento | $1-$5 | Attempt to win a variety of prizes with host Apple Adams.
“Grease, the Musical” | Thursday, Feb. 16-Sunday, Feb. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Harris Center, 10 College Pkwy., Folsom | $67-$117 | This performance is automatic. It’s systematic. It’s hyyyyydromatic. Why it’s greased lightning!

Friday, Feb. 17

Acoustic Showcase | Friday, Feb. 17 | 6-8 p.m. | Two Rivers Cider, 4311 Attawa Ave., Ste. 300, Sacramento | Free | Sip on cider while local musicians add to the ambiance.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Membership perks good enough to shout

Are you ready to take advantage of our membership benefits? | Graphic by 6AM City

Today our parent company, 6AM City, is celebrating a birthday! To celebrate, we want you to be a part of our newsletter membership program.

The SACtoday membership program will be rolling out member shoutouts in our newsletters, and members will have the opportunity to submit shoutouts such as celebrations, births, engagements, anniversaries, and more. 🎉

Other membership perks include special birthday shoutouts + discounts to our local shop, Six and Main.

Now is the time to start taking advantage of these awesome benefits.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY

Weather

60º | Sunny | 1% chance of rain

Transit

SacRT announced two more light rail stations will close for renovations this month. The 48th St. station will close this weekend, Feb. 18-19, and the 39th St. station will undergo construction the following weekend, Feb. 24-26. 🚧 (FOX40)

Trending

The Sacramento Zoo is offering folks a chance to name its newest addition — a baby giraffe. An online auction will run through Tuesday, Feb. 28, with the highest bidder winning the opportunity to name the calf. Grab your wallets — bidding starts at $5,000. 🦒 (FOX40)

Sports

Republic FC has added a trio of new players to its roster — defender Johnny Fenwick, forward Sebastian Herrera, and midfielder Arnold Lopez. The Indomitable Club’s season kicks off with a road match against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday, March 11. ⚽️ (Sac Bee)

Real Estate

Sacramento rents increased by an average of 0.5% in January. This uptick brings the city’s median rent to $2,746. Learn more about the cost of living in Capital City. 🏠 (Redfin)

Eat

Pastry Nouveau — the latest restaurant from the owner of Julian’s Patisserie and Cafe — opens at 1490 Eureka Rd. in Roseville today. Offerings include coffee, gelato, and freshly-baked pastries. (Sac Biz Journal)

Shop

We love our furry friends, so it’s a good thing Love Your Pet Day is Monday, Feb. 20. Celebrate your beloved pet with this “Out of this World” bandana from Hannah Chloe Co. That’s something worth barking about. 🐾

Number

55°. That’s the optimal temperature for storing wine. So unless you enjoy keeping your humble abode chilled year round, we recommend buying a wine fridge to foster favorable conditions for long-term aging. Our pick: this sleek wine fridge with touch-panel control and capacity for 24 bottles. Cheers. 🍷 *

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

A monument-al occasion

Build a statue at Robert T. Matsui Park

The city’s hopes for the renovated Robert T. Matsui Park. | Render via City of Sacramento

Last week, we told you about the city’s new Creative Corp Capital Region program — but the city needs even more artists for a big public project.

The Office of Arts and Culture is looking for creatives to design and construct a statue in Robert T. Matsui Park, which sits along the Sacramento River.

Guidelines for the project:

The statue will need to be at least 20 ft tall
The piece must be tree-related in some way to match the aesthetic of Hanami Lane
Applicants must have examples of other public artworks
Anyone around the world can apply, but “additional consideration” will be given to Californian artists, residents from the Sacramento Valley, and “artists with a connection to Japanese culture and history”

Make sure to apply before the deadline on Monday, March 6, and check out the city’s webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 5:30 p.m. to learn more.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Jordan.

Editor’s pick: Whoever is in charge of the text on the Raley’s sign on Freeport Blvd. — you deserve a raise.

Missed Monday’s newsletter? We saved Valentine’s Day at the last minute.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Jordan Radach, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY