News
It does not take much imagination to see a likely scenario arising from all the truck traffic detoured from I-80 onto Highway 20.
Last weekend’s accident at White Cloud campground gave us a preview — traffic backed up for miles while crews rushed to clean up the “small” diesel fuel spill. The load that truck was carrying was wood chips, but many trucks carry loads that are far more hazardous.
It would be nice to believe there would be no more accidents, but accidents happen even in the best conditions with typical traffic flow. Truck traffic brings unique hazards, such as blown tires, overheated and burning brakes, sparks, tired drivers, jack-knifes, and spilled loads.
Couple these potential hazards with the conditions on Highway 20 — narrow roadway, steep grades, tight turns, blind turns, narrow shoulders, gravel-covered shoulders, no runaway truck ramps, residential driveways, darting wildlife, and dense, abundant trees and vegetation lining almost the entire length of the road.
The risk of fire is alarmingly high. All of the risks inherent with large trucks coupled with the hilly, forested landscape will be combined in the intense, dry heat of summer to provide the conditions for a perfect storm.
Highway 20 has no open space for fire containment. It has just two lanes, and the road surface is built for smaller vehicles — for commuters, school buses, tour buses and day trips to Tahoe. In fact, there are school bus stops all along the highway with children crossing and getting on the bus during the morning while the detoured trucks roll by. In the event of a fire, accident or hazardous spill where both lanes are blocked, emergency and fire equipment would be prevented from readily reaching the scene.
The risk of fire in Nevada County is high, especially in the summer months. We worked very hard last summer to contain the risk and maintain vigilance amidst the weeks and months of smoke-filled skies. To allow these truck convoys to pound through our county every day, especially on Highway 20, is flaunting logic and almost like courting disaster.
It is also unconscionable that Nevada County and its residents had no input in this detour plan and minimal warning of what was in store for us. The only public process was in Placer County. This gross omission in open public process is extremely disturbing. The detour began March 31 and is planned to continue until Nov. 31, and now for eight months, every single night from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. (10 a.m. on weekends), huge trucks convoy down Highway 20 to 49 then to Bell Road in Auburn. So far, 18 big trucks have been pulled from the detour for safety violations.
There have been accidents and there has been confusion surrounding this detour project, as noted in The Union’s April 21 article, “Truckers, Highway 49 residents unglued by I-80 detour.”
Every person in Nevada County could likely be adversely affected by this decision to detour trucks — a decision in which we had no say or input. It would be a grave mistake to ignore the risk of a fire being ignited by sparks from hot truck brakes, and that fire spreading quickly due to dry summer conditions, or the lack of access for firefighters.
Even if you live far enough away from Highway 20 and do not hear the deafening roar of the trucks, or smell the overpowering diesel fumes, or have to cover your nose at the acrid smell of burning asbestos — sadly, you are not safe from the potential of a much larger hazard.
There will be an open house with Caltrans from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29 at City Hall in Nevada City. We urge every resident of Nevada City, Grass Valley and the county to attend and let our voices be heard.
We have serious life and safety concerns that Caltrans needs to address. We especially need to know why Caltrans felt that this detour and the total lane closure on I-80 each night was necessary and appropriate considering the risks we all face.
Last weekend’s accident at White Cloud campground gave us a preview — traffic backed up for miles while crews rushed to clean up the “small” diesel fuel spill. The load that truck was carrying was wood chips, but many trucks carry loads that are far more hazardous.
It would be nice to believe there would be no more accidents, but accidents happen even in the best conditions with typical traffic flow. Truck traffic brings unique hazards, such as blown tires, overheated and burning brakes, sparks, tired drivers, jack-knifes, and spilled loads.
Couple these potential hazards with the conditions on Highway 20 — narrow roadway, steep grades, tight turns, blind turns, narrow shoulders, gravel-covered shoulders, no runaway truck ramps, residential driveways, darting wildlife, and dense, abundant trees and vegetation lining almost the entire length of the road.
The risk of fire is alarmingly high. All of the risks inherent with large trucks coupled with the hilly, forested landscape will be combined in the intense, dry heat of summer to provide the conditions for a perfect storm.
Highway 20 has no open space for fire containment. It has just two lanes, and the road surface is built for smaller vehicles — for commuters, school buses, tour buses and day trips to Tahoe. In fact, there are school bus stops all along the highway with children crossing and getting on the bus during the morning while the detoured trucks roll by. In the event of a fire, accident or hazardous spill where both lanes are blocked, emergency and fire equipment would be prevented from readily reaching the scene.
The risk of fire in Nevada County is high, especially in the summer months. We worked very hard last summer to contain the risk and maintain vigilance amidst the weeks and months of smoke-filled skies. To allow these truck convoys to pound through our county every day, especially on Highway 20, is flaunting logic and almost like courting disaster.
It is also unconscionable that Nevada County and its residents had no input in this detour plan and minimal warning of what was in store for us. The only public process was in Placer County. This gross omission in open public process is extremely disturbing. The detour began March 31 and is planned to continue until Nov. 31, and now for eight months, every single night from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. (10 a.m. on weekends), huge trucks convoy down Highway 20 to 49 then to Bell Road in Auburn. So far, 18 big trucks have been pulled from the detour for safety violations.
There have been accidents and there has been confusion surrounding this detour project, as noted in The Union’s April 21 article, “Truckers, Highway 49 residents unglued by I-80 detour.”
Every person in Nevada County could likely be adversely affected by this decision to detour trucks — a decision in which we had no say or input. It would be a grave mistake to ignore the risk of a fire being ignited by sparks from hot truck brakes, and that fire spreading quickly due to dry summer conditions, or the lack of access for firefighters.
Even if you live far enough away from Highway 20 and do not hear the deafening roar of the trucks, or smell the overpowering diesel fumes, or have to cover your nose at the acrid smell of burning asbestos — sadly, you are not safe from the potential of a much larger hazard.
There will be an open house with Caltrans from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29 at City Hall in Nevada City. We urge every resident of Nevada City, Grass Valley and the county to attend and let our voices be heard.
We have serious life and safety concerns that Caltrans needs to address. We especially need to know why Caltrans felt that this detour and the total lane closure on I-80 each night was necessary and appropriate considering the risks we all face.
Reinette Senum is the vice mayor of Nevada City.
