By Sara Beth Williams–
Drivers passing across the border between Citrus Heights and Roseville may have noticed the beginnings of two pillars being constructed on either side of Auburn Boulevard just south of Whyte Avenue in recent days.
The construction of a new gateway arch and stoplight at the border between Citrus Heights and Roseville is part of the plans of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets Project Phase 2. The gateway arch will have a “Welcome to Citrus Heights” sign across the top.
Additionally, the city plans to install a stoplight just south of Whyte. According to the owner of Sam’s Liquor, who has a front-row view of the daily construction from his storefront, the stoplight is being installed just south of Whyte Avenue where two driveway entrances face each other on either side of the road—one leads into the small strip mall that currently houses Tea It and Sam’s Liquor, and one leads into the Citrus Grove shopping center, which houses California Burger and several other businesses.
Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney said in an update early in the week that the Complete Streets project is moving along on schedule and that utility undergrounding and corridor updates are underway. Feeney emphasized that businesses are still open and encouraged residents to shop at businesses on Auburn Boulevard during construction.
In an update at the end of September, the Economic Development and Community Engagement Department said the city has created over two dozen video shorts highlighting businesses along Auburn Boulevard. Video shorts can be viewed on the city’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The city also said a new “Love Local” campaign website is underway, which will feature local businesses in a dedicated webpage on the city’s website.
Since construction began at the end of July in 2024, at least one lane has remained closed—even outside construction hours. On social media, many residents have expressed frustration, calling traffic “a nightmare” and describing lane closures as “inconvenient.”
Business owners have consistently complained about the construction, telling The Sentinel the constant construction along points of entry creates confusion for customers. One business has said customers frequently call asking if their store is still open. Another business owner relayed that at least one small shop nearby has closed and that customers with appointments for gym classes sometimes do not show up due to difficulties navigating into the parking lot.
To address questions and concerns, the city said it is holding weekly drop-in office hours at Rusch Community Park’s Community Center from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Thursday during the construction project, where construction management team members will be on hand. Residents can also contact the city’s General Services Department to schedule a meeting.
Bright orange signs with directional arrows indicating that businesses are open have been placed at all driveway entrances impacted by construction.
Business owners also complained of impacts to their establishments during construction on the first phase of improvements on Auburn Boulevard over ten years ago, but celebrated the completion of the project in 2014.
Planned improvements in the second phase of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Street project 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.
Project costs are expected to remain at approximately $35 million, the city reported in its Five-Year Capital Improvement Program report, with $14 million of that cost being spent this year and another $4 million in the following year. The major capital works project is expected to be complete in the fall of 2026.
