It has to get worse before it gets better. In less than two months, thousands of people who use a popular stretch of I-5 will experience a major inconvenience. That's when a resurfacing project begins, closing down sections of the freeway for weeks at a time. In Rocklin, some major roadway construction will cause problems for several weeks. Caltrans is closing the Westbound Interstate 80 on and off ramps beginning today until April 14th. Then on the 15th, the entire interchange and overpass will be closed for another 10 days. Amador residents who commute or have any reason to travel to Sacramento are advised to avoid the area whenever possible. "We bid the I-5 project for 27 million dollars for 114 days.

Currently we're discussing a compressed schedule which will limit the traffic interfering work to 40 days, 24 hours a day seven days a week," says Caltrans Manager Ken Solak. That was the good news for last Monday's packed house at the Sacramento library galleria. The I-5 construction project through downtown Sacramento will now take only 40 days instead of four months. The bad news: expect delays, and look for traffic signals at ramps to determine if they're open or closed. Based on Caltrans maps, construction on I-5 will be done from R Street to Richards Boulevard. Caltrans says 190,000 drivers use this route every day. Businesses downtown and in Old Sacramento will remain open. Caltrans will release a list of alternate routes on their project website in the coming days. The project kicks off May 30th at eight at night. If you don't have alternate plans in place for that Monday, June 2nd, you're in for a long wait.