Placer County Transportation Planning Agency (PCTPA), along with Caltrans District 3, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the cities of Lincoln, Rocklin, Roseville, and the County of Placer, are project partners for the I-80/SR 65 Interchange Improvements Project. The interchange sits at a major crossroads for Placer County, and the increasing congestion and backups at this facility have negative impacts for our mobility, goods movement, economic development, and quality of life. For these reasons, the improvement to this interchange is a top priority project for PCTPA.

Both federal and state environmental approvals were secured in September 2016, which included Phases 1, 2, and 3. The Phase 1 improvements included adding a third lane on northbound Highway 65 from Interstate 80 to Pleasant Grove Boulevard and adding improvements to the Galleria Boulevard/Stanford Ranch Road interchange. Phase 1 was completed in 2019. 

Future improvements will eliminate the eastbound to northbound loop ramp in favor of a direct connections between Highway 65 and Interstate 80. They also include maintaining the existing Interstate 80 access at Taylor Road and eliminating the weaving movements on Interstate 80 eastbound between Eureka Road and Highway 65. 

Click here to download a photo simulation of the proposed improvements to eastbound I-80. With the proposed improvements, the existing Taylor Road interchange access will be maintained.

Project Benefits

Existing Traffic Congestion

Today, congestion on eastbound Interstate 80 during the evening commute backs up from Highway 65 more than 3 miles to past Douglas Boulevard. It is estimated that Interstate 80 carries $4.7 million dollars an hour in goods movement, while the Highway 65 corridor is the region’s home to a burgeoning commercial and professional business district. Designed more than 40 years ago, the Interstate 80/State Route 65 interchange is now a bottleneck impeding the flow of traffic on both corridors. 

Interchange Project Benefits

All modern economies are dependent upon transportation to move people and goods to and from other economies. In Placer County, Interstate 80 and Highway 65 are two major transportation conduits providing goods and people movement as well as local business access. While traffic within the area is congested especially during peak hours, it is getting a lot worse. The Placer County Transportation Planning Agency (PCTPA) is working on modernizing the interchange to improve both travelers’ safety and traffic flow for the region and protecting the region’s economic future.

Experiencing traffic congestion on a daily basis can dramatically impact the quality of life in Placer County. Sitting in traffic is stressful and means less personal time to enjoy life. Daily traffic congestion creates unpredictable commutes since you are never sure how long your drive to and from work will take you. The resulting reduction in traffic congestion with the Interstate 80/Highway 65 interchange project will improve the reliability of driver commutes.

Without improvements to the Interstate 80/Highway 65 interchange, the average evening commute from Interstate-80 at Riverside Avenue/Auburn Boulevard to Highway 65 at Blue Oaks Boulevard is expected to more than triple within eight years, from 9 minutes to 35 minutes. Upon project completion, the same evening commute will take about 7 minutes.

In addition, with the improved traffic flow in the project area, the number of congestion related accidents will decrease, which is expected to result in overall improved safety. Even with existing and additional growth in traffic, by 2040 the Interstate 80/ State Route 65 Interchange project will reduce delay for travelers in south Placer County during the morning and evening peak periods. The benefit of these improvements for the local economy is estimated at $77 million annually in time savings.

Project Schedule

PCTPA, Placer County, and the adjacent cities do not have the $680 million necessary to improve this state facility. PCTPA continues to pursue state and federal funding, but due to these funding uncertainties, there isn't a firm timeline for constructing the improvements. The overall project will be designed and constructed in phases, as money becomes available. The time to complete the overall project may take 20 years or more depending on available funding.

Project Vicinity Map

 Project Partners

 Value Engineering (VE) Workshop

The I-80/SR 65 Interchange and SR 65 Widening projects have been in development for more than a decade, including planning, environmental clearance, and phased design.

Between 2010 and 2014, multiple concepts were evaluated based on feasibility, environmental impacts, cost, and operational performance. Concepts that did not meet project goals were eliminated, and the remaining alternatives were refined into the preferred I-80/SR 65 Interchange and SR 65 Widening alternatives. The preferred interchange alternative received NEPA/CEQA clearance and Caltrans approval in 2016, followed by the SR 65 Widening alternative in 2018.

A 2016 Sequencing Study established the order of approximately 20 corridor improvements. A 2024 Phasing Study subsequently identified construction phases and cost estimates to support the November 2024 sales tax measure.

In March 2026, PCTPA convened a Value Engineering (VE) Workshop to reassess corridor priorities and identify cost-effective, fundable improvements and operational strategies to address safety and traffic operations over the next 10–20 years.

Travel patterns have changed since 2016, particularly following COVID-19. While AM peak demand has decreased, PM conditions remain consistent with earlier projections, and the corridor continues to experience significant congestion, operational challenges, and related safety concerns. The primary constraints are the I-80 eastbound-to-SR 65 northbound movement during the PM peak and the SR 65 southbound-to-I-80 westbound movement during the AM and PM peaks. The interchange is further constrained by limited right-of-way, surrounding commercial development, utility easements, environmental resources, and adjacent rail infrastructure.

The VE Workshop restructured the approved interchange and SR 65 Widening alternatives into smaller, independent projects that can address near-term safety and capacity needs and improve competitiveness for state and federal funding. Additional operational strategies were also identified.

Projects were prioritized based on feasibility and anticipated delivery timeframe:

• Near-term projects: Deliverable within 0–10 years at an estimated cost of $50 million or less.
• Longer-term projects: Expected to require more than 10 years and cost between $50 million and more than $100 million.

Several projects will require additional traffic modeling, engineering, structural review, and environmental analysis to confirm their performance and feasibility. Staff and the consultant incorporated the VE Workshop findings into a proposed prioritization and sequencing plan for projects within the 0–10-year timeframe. The VE Workshop findings are presented in the accompanying PowerPoint presentation:  Value Engineering Workshop Final Presentation.