same situation this past Saturday at the East Sac TJ's parking lot.
Parking was full (reminder to go there Friday night and not Saturday). I tried the secondary parking lot, also full, so I had to go onto 51st and then make a right turn to get into another shopping center to park.
51st is a narrow residential street and the turn I had to make was onto a major street - Folsom Blvd.
That's where I sat for 7 entire minutes because some dude was at the corner and would not turn. Not sure if his car broke down. I finally went around him and the car in front of me, and very gingerly went into the other lane on 51st to turn onto Folsom.
Sounds like your situation for a different reason.
I need to also explore just taking S. Land Park into downtown. Fewer annoyances, and it becomes 16th Street, which takes me right to the office, so it's a pretty direct route.
GRRRRR!!