As we’re talking more about what the Connector means to the region and the benefits it offers, it occurs to me I haven’t really touched upon the project’s history. As with any major infrastructure or construction project, the Connector has undergone a multi-year process to arrive at its current status. I think it makes sense to share some highlights of that process and history.

The Capital SouthEast Connector was originally known as (and is still legally known as) the Elk Grove-Rancho Cordova-El Dorado Hills Connector. A roadway to bypass downtown Sacramento and provide greater mobility in the region has been discussed for more than 30 years, but the idea gained greater momentum over the past few years.

Most people hear “sustainable” and “roadway” and think there’s no way the two go together – how is it possible to build a sustainable roadway? Sustainable roadways are a newer concept and a developing field of engineering and construction that has resulted from a general agreement that roadways by themselves, as traffic facilitators, are greenhouse gas generators.

Now, that’s not to say that the Connector will be a roadway that does not produce greenhouse gas: that would be nearly impossible with current technologies. But there are many things we can do when designing and building the Connector to be sustainable.