$1 Billion in Improvements Highlighted on Heavily Traveled I-80
Over the next four years, more than $1 billion will be invested in improvements to the Highway 80 corridor between the Bay Area the Nevada state line. Kempton recently took a road trip to highlight the projects that are planned or underway, including the following: Sierra Rehabilitation projects to improve roadways in the Sierra where heavy snowfall and increased traffic are common; an upgrade to existing corridor management elements from the Carquinez Bridge to the San Francisco Bay Bridge Toll Plaza; pavement rehabilitation between Vallejo and Vacaville; and construction of bus and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Sacramento County.
‘Not only will these projects collectively provide a safe and dependable route for the traveling public, but they will help move goods from our state to the rest of the nation,’ California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Director Will Kempton said. In addition to traffic rerouting along the highway, the Emigrant Gap Vista Point on- and off-ramps and the east and westbound Gold Run Safety Roadside Rest Areas will be closed long-term.
Water Quality Improvement Project on State Highway 28
On August 18, Caltrans began the first part of a $46 million drainage, water quality, and highway improvement project covering 9.4 miles on State Highway 28 from Tahoe City to Kings Beach. The project includes reconstruction of underground drainage systems to collect roadway storm water runoff for treatment in order to preserve, restore, and enhance the environment of the Lake Tahoe region. Construction, which started east of Tahoe City, will continue east to Dollar Hill, near Old Country Road until October 15. Most of the traffic-interfering work will be performed at night between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, when delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected. Roadside message boards will be used to alert motorists of traffic controls. Completion is expected in 2011.
Highway 50 Construction
Just west of Placerville, work continues on an $18.4 million project to replace the existing Missouri Flat Road over-crossing, widen Missouri Flat Road and improve the Missouri Flat Road intersection. Completion is expected in the winter of 2008. The $45 million project to add a new interchange at Foothill Oaks Boulevard in El Dorado County is due to be completed this fall.
~ dot.ca.gov/dist3, 530-741-5474
