After years of talk about better connections for the growing Northlake neighborhood, the Sacramento City Council has finally put real money on the table. On Tuesday, councilmembers voted to create a dedicated capital project and fund a traffic signal that is expected to serve a future pedestrian and bike bridge over Highway 99, linking Northlake to areas closer to the airport.
The move formally launches the Shore Vista Way Overcrossing Traffic Signal effort and shifts money into design and installation of a signal at the planned bridge intersection. City staff say the signal is meant to support both the overcrossing and the fast-growing neighborhood, while cautioning that the bridge itself still needs state approvals and final design sign-off before construction can start.
Council Signs Off On $640,000 Signal Project
The council approved a resolution establishing the Shore Vista Way Overcrossing Traffic Signal Project (T15265300) and authorized a $640,000 transfer from a Greenbriar IA1 PAG fund into the project budget, as outlined in the City Council agenda. That transfer moves the new signal into Sacramento's capital improvement lineup and marks the latest local funding commitment tied to infrastructure serving the Northlake development.
Design Approvals Aimed At 2026, Construction Targeted For 2027
According to The Sacramento Bee, Caltrans and city staff are aiming to wrap up final bridge design approvals by the end of 2026, with construction tentatively slated to kick off in spring 2027. The Bee reports that the developer began working through the Caltrans approval process in 2024 and finished pre-design steps near the end of 2025. The outlet also notes the council previously committed more than $6.1 million toward the broader Northlake project in October 2024.
Two Lanes, Sidewalks And Bike Lanes Over Highway 99
Project plans call for a two-lane overcrossing with 6-foot sidewalks and 6-foot bike lanes on both sides. The structure would run southeast from the Northlake neighborhood over Highway 99 toward Natomas Creek near Sacramento International Airport.
Project staffer Gabby Miller has emphasized that "it takes a significant effort to build a new overcrossing of a state highway," and Councilmember Lisa Kaplan has called the planned connection "fundamental for the residents and the community," as reported by The Sacramento Bee.
What Happens Next
The city and Caltrans still need to lock in final designs and finish any agreements with the developer before a contractor can be brought on board. If those approvals land on schedule, construction crews could begin mobilizing in spring 2027.
For now, residents and commuters watching the project should keep an eye on upcoming City Council agendas and Caltrans filings for formal construction notices and traffic plans as the bridge and its companion signal make their way through Sacramento's capital improvement program.
