Marysville planning four-lane expansion on Highway 65 amidst funding challenges

Funding challenges and future road expansions dominated discussions at the Sacramento County Environmental Commission meeting on April 21, 2025. The focus was on the ongoing project to upgrade Highway 65, which currently operates as a two-lane road but is planned to expand to four lanes in the future.

Officials highlighted the importance of phasing the project wisely to manage maintenance costs effectively. "We’re planning for a four-lane facility, but right now we’re just looking to reconstruct the existing two lanes," one official noted, emphasizing the need for judicious use of funding and the attraction of grants to support the project.

Funding emerged as the primary limitation for progress, with officials estimating that it could take a minimum of five years to begin work on the remaining 14 miles of the highway. Currently, 20 miles are either completed or in progress, but the timeline remains uncertain due to potential changes in federal funding priorities.

The projected cost for the entire project is significant, with estimates suggesting that the total could exceed $500 million. Officials have already spent $200 million on 11 miles and anticipate an additional $265 million for the next nine miles planned by 2030. However, they have not yet calculated the costs for the final 14 miles.

As the commission continues to navigate these challenges, the focus remains on securing necessary funding to ensure the timely completion of this critical infrastructure project.