
By Sara Beth Williams–
Businesses and residents alike have expressed frustration regarding roadwork on Auburn Boulevard, as the city’s $35 million revitalization project along the boulevard continues.
Since construction began at the end of July, at least one lane has remained closed — even outside construction hours. While the city has emphasized through multiple social media posts that businesses along Auburn Boulevard are still open, many residents have expressed frustration, calling traffic “a nightmare” and describing lane closures as “inconvenient.”
In comments on social media, many drivers said they were purposely avoiding the area until the work is complete, due to traffic backups.
According to several businesses The Sentinel spoke with, even with one lane open, it’s difficult for drivers to tell whether their businesses are still open and operating.
Beto’s Tacos manager Hortencia Molina said business has decreased by at least 50 percent. On the weekends, Molina said business is better, but not during the week, even with the added benefit of no longer having bushes in front of the restaurant’s sign.
“It’s really frustrating,” Molina said, adding that she’s considering talking with the city to ask for help with rent. Beto’s Tacos is located on Auburn Boulevard between Grand Oaks Avenue and Rollingwood Boulevard and is still open for business. Since the start of construction, the restaurant has installed three new vertical banners to help attract more restaurant patrons and has also ramped up their catering services to offset the loss of revenue from everyday patrons.
Next door, Kely’s Crepes and Burgers’ general manager echoed Molina’s concerns, saying that business has been “terrible.” Garcia said she was frustrated when construction crews removed a row of bushes in front of the restaurant’s small outdoor patio because it had provided the space with some privacy. Garcia also said she was told by regular customer before construction began that they would not be coming to eat during construction.
Down the street, optician Lori Egan with Texas L. Smith Optometry said she felt “very fortunate” that their business operates through appointments only and wondered whether other businesses were struggling due to the lane closures and ongoing construction.
“It’s kind of tough,” Egan said during a visit by Sentinel staff. Egan lives on the opposite end of Auburn Boulevard off Pratt Avenue, and since construction has begun, she has reportedly witnessed at least five fender-benders occur due to construction, where two lanes transition to one on Auburn Boulevard, just after Antelope Road.
Egan also said turning off Pratt Avenue onto Auburn Boulevard is “so dangerous” now because of the addition of new trees and bushes that were installed during phase one of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets project ten years earlier.
“Two years seems like a long time,” Egan said, referring to the construction timeline for the project.
Business owners also complained of impacts to their establishments during construction on the first phase of improvements on Auburn Boulevard, but celebrated the completion of the project in 2014. The second phase of the project, which began in July this year, is expected to be completed in 2026.
Planned improvements include undergrounding of overhead utilities, installation of bicycle lanes and wide sidewalks, upgrading traffic signals to meet current standards, increasing safety and visibility through decorative street lighting, beautifying the corridor with new landscaping and trees, replacing old storm drain infrastructure, and enhancing transit stops for ADA compliance. The city also plans to erect a “Welcome to Citrus Heights” gateway structure at the northern city limits, and complete a full roadway overlay and new striping.
As previously reported, the city chose to implement 24-hour lane closures of one lane in each direction in sections of active construction, as a way to control costs on the project. City Engineer Leslie Blomquist said implementing 24-hour lane closures will save nearly $3 million over the course of the project.
In order to ensure drivers know businesses are still open, the city has displayed temporary bright orange signs with arrows pointing toward open driveways wherever businesses operate.
To address questions and concerns, the city is holding weekly drop-in office hours at Rusch Park Community Center from 10:30-11:30 a.m. every Thursday during the construction project. The city also invites residents to contact the General Services Department at (916) 727-4770, or email ABC2@citrusheights.net to schedule a meeting.
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Businesses and residents alike have expressed frustration regarding roadwork on Auburn Boulevard, as the city's $35 million revitalization project along the boulevard continues...
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