RANCHO CORDOVA — A major infrastructure project years in the making has cleared a key milestone, as the Rancho Cordova City Council has given final approval to advance plans for a new Highway 50 interchange that will provide long-awaited access to the city’s rapidly growing southern region.
The $182 million US 50/Rancho Cordova Parkway Interchange Project will be built between the Hazel Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard exits, creating a new connection to White Rock Road via a planned two-mile stretch of Rancho Cordova Parkway. The project, already included in the city’s multi-year Capital Improvement Plan, is expected to remain in the design and environmental phase through 2026 before construction begins.
City officials describe the new interchange as a critical link to relieve traffic congestion on Hazel Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard while improving regional access to developing neighborhoods, business corridors, and emergency routes. It will also serve as a gateway to thousands of new homes and businesses planned in the southern portion of the city, which has long lacked direct access to Highway 50.
The project will include eastbound and westbound auxiliary lanes on U.S. 50 between the two existing interchanges, expanded bicycle and pedestrian paths, and improved connections to the Folsom South Canal Class I trail that links to the American River Bike Trail. It will also provide access to Regional Transit’s future Mine Shaft Light Rail Station, currently in the design phase.
While the interchange is intended to alleviate congestion, transportation research has consistently shown that new roadways can also encourage additional driving and long-term traffic growth. In Rancho Cordova’s case, planners argue that the project’s integrated design—connecting multiple modes of transportation—will promote safety and mobility for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
The project area adds a layer of complexity due to its location south of Highway 50, which includes land designated as a federal Superfund site. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to monitor cleanup from toxic waste contamination tied to historic operations by Aerojet General Corp. in the mid-20th century.
According to city planning documents, the interchange will also play an important role in supporting regional economic development and emergency response capabilities. By linking Highway 50 directly to White Rock Road, the project will provide a faster route to major employment centers, Mather Airport, and neighboring communities in El Dorado and Sacramento counties, including Folsom. It will also improve emergency access to hospitals outside Rancho Cordova, where no full-service medical center currently exists.
The project is also identified as a key component of Caltrans’ US 50 Integrated Corridor Management Implementation Plan, intended to strengthen connectivity and traffic management during incidents along the busy freeway corridor.
City leaders have framed the project as a cornerstone of Rancho Cordova’s next phase of growth—one that balances housing expansion, job creation, and transportation efficiency. Over the next year, the city will move forward with design refinements, environmental review, and community outreach before final construction plans are approved.
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