Improvements to the Folsom on-ramps connecting Bidwell Street and Iron Point Road to Highway 50 are on the horizon. Following approval by the Folsom City Council during Tuesday night’s meeting, the City Manager is set to finalize a contract for the project’s execution.
The undertaking will be entrusted to St. Francis Electric LLC, which will spearhead the enhancements to both the East Bidwell Street and Iron Point Road onramps to Highway 50.
This development traces its roots back to December 2020 when the Folsom City Council adopted Resolution 10571. This pivotal move authorized city staff to seek grants from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) as part of the 2020-2021 funding round, with the improvement project ranking as the city’s top priority.
Early discussions with the Caltrans Freeway Operations and Safety divisions prompted the city to seek a grant encompassing various improvements, including the construction of an additional westbound off-ramp lane, as per Caltrans’ request. Additionally, one of the westbound Iron Point Road lanes was slated for conversion into a third left-turn lane onto East Bidwell Street. This initial plan carried a price tag of $5,000,000.
Subsequent dialogue between Caltrans and city officials led to a reevaluation of the necessary improvements. The focus shifted from constructing an extra onramp lane to converting the existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane into a metered general-purpose lane. This adjustment not only significantly reduced project costs but also aligned with the original plan to add a third turn lane at the intersection of East Bidwell Street and Iron Point Road.
According to documents from the City of Folsom, the contract with St. Francis Electric LLC will authorize $625,000, and the total project budget will amount to $687,500, inclusive of a $62,500 contingency fund. This cost-efficient adaptation allowed for the preservation of the project’s core objective – enhancing the intersection of East Bidwell Street and Iron Point Road with an additional third turn lane.
As for the timeline of the project commencement, specific details are yet to be determined.
