Watt Avenue Improvements Enhance Road Safety

Sacramento, CA, July 30, 2025

News Summary

Sacramento County is implementing significant safety improvements along Watt Avenue between Orange Grove Avenue and Roseville Road. The project includes repaving, enhanced sidewalks, and dedicated bicycle lanes, with the aim of creating a safer environment for all road users. Local businesses express concern over traffic disruptions, but officials believe these upgrades will benefit the community. The completion date has been accelerated to late 2023, addressing the demands of a corridor that sees over 53,000 vehicles daily.

Sacramento, CA – Sacramento County officials are advising drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to be cautious along Watt Avenue as a significant construction project is underway. The Watt Avenue Complete Street Improvements project, which began in March, aims to enhance safety along a crucial stretch of road between Orange Grove Avenue and Roseville Road.

The initiative includes several improvements, such as repaving portions of Watt Avenue, enhancing sidewalks, and establishing dedicated bicycle lanes. The primary focus of these upgrades is to create a safer environment for all road users, including motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Traffic congestion has been a concern for local businesses. Haitao Yang, the business manager of Furniture Mart, reported a noticeable decrease in customer traffic due to the ongoing construction. Despite this, he expressed optimism that the enhancements will ultimately benefit the community. The construction has also affected the commute times for drivers, with Chris Donaldson noting that while the roadwork has slowed traffic, the long-term benefits will be worth the temporary inconvenience.

The need for improvements along Watt Avenue was identified by the Department of Transportation in 2019 due to safety concerns. This corridor is one of the busiest in Sacramento County, with an estimated 53,000 vehicles traversing it daily. These statistics underline the urgency of the project to address safety issues that have arisen in recent years, following a series of deadly collisions.

Drivers navigating the construction zone are urged to pay attention to existing road signs and guidance from construction crews. They should remain vigilant for open holes and altered road conditions as work progresses. The original completion timeline for the project was set for February 2026, but crews now anticipate wrapping up the improvements by late 2023.

In addition to the Watt Avenue project, other roadway upgrades are in the pipeline. The ongoing South Watt Avenue Improvement Project aims to enhance transportation infrastructure further. A separate endeavor will focus on replacing the Arcade Creek Bridge on Auburn Boulevard. This bridge is currently considered functionally obsolete, and its replacement has been over a decade in planning. The new structure will feature a width increase to 100 feet, adding a second left-turn lane, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes. Funding for this bridge project is primarily sourced from a $9.2 million federal grant, along with contributions from local city and county funds.

To minimize disruptions during the summer, a short section of Auburn Boulevard will be closed for approximately three months after Memorial Day. This closure is strategically timed to coincide with the summer break at American River College. Detour plans will redirect drivers to Highway 244, facilitating connections with major routes, including Interstate 80, the Capital City Freeway, and Watt Avenue.

The Watt Avenue Complete Streets Project is a crucial part of an overarching strategy to bolster safety for all road users within Sacramento County. The community is encouraged to exercise patience and understanding during this construction phase as officials work to enhance the overall safety and functionality of the area.

FAQ

Key Features of the Watt Avenue Improvements

Feature	Description
Project Start Date	March 2023
Expected Completion	Late 2023
Daily Traffic Volume	53,000 vehicles
Improvements Included	Road repaving, enhanced sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes
Other Projects	South Watt Avenue Improvement, Arcade Creek Bridge replacement

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Additional Resources

• KCRA: Watt Avenue Construction Impacts Sacramento Businesses
• Sacramento Bee: Transportation News
• KCRA: Groundbreaking Held for Watt Avenue Safety Improvements Project
• Google Search: Watt Avenue construction Sacramento
• Sac Observer: Sacramento County Homelessness Center
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Watt Avenue construction