New meter to be installed on Antelope Road on-ramp; closures planned

Sentinel staff report–
Drivers should expect upcoming lane closures and restrictions as Caltrans installs a new ramp meter at the on-ramp for Eastbound Interstate 80 at Antelope Road.

A temporary construction sign near the on-ramp initially said dates for construction would be March 29-April 1, but now indicates the on-ramp will be closed beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, April 5, and ending at 5 a.m. on Monday, April 8.

Caltrans Spokesman Gilber Mohtes-Chan told The Sentinel on Wednesday that the initial install date had to be pushed back due to weather. He also said it’s likely that construction will have to be pushed back again, to occur on the weekend of April 12-14.

Caltrans previously announced in December that a $12.5 million contract had been awarded to Granite Rock Construction for the installation of four new ramp meters on I-80, including one in Citrus Heights.

In a Dec. 3, 2018, news release, Caltrans said ramp metering is “an important part of our ‘Intelligent Transportation System’ program to relieve congestion on California freeways and cut travel time for motorists.” The agency said metering results in “[d]ecreases in stop and go traffic directly translate to reductions in vehicle emissions and fuel consumption.”

Over 191,000 vehicles travel east on I-80 past Antelope Road every day, according to Caltrans. The agency said 11,600 vehicles per day enter the interstate via the Antelope on-ramp, which causes congestion during commute hours.

The other three meters included in the contract are located in West Sacramento. Caltrans said funding for the project is provided by SB 1 funds, commonly referred to as the “gas tax” that was passed by the legislature in 2017.