News
Some jangled Nevada County nerves could start returning to normal: Caltrans announced Tuesday the long-running Highway 20-49 detour through Nevada County should end by Nov. 7.
The Interstate 80 work around Colfax that has made the detours necessary since April was recently completed by Granite Construction, Caltrans Project Manager Doug Lang told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. The quick completion has allowed for an added project to shore up a barrier at the Colfax Narrows that should be done sometime this week, Lang said.
“That should eliminate the future detours on Highway 49 and Highway 20," Lang said.
The westbound detour could end as early as Sunday, Nov. 1, Lang said. That would miss the previously announced October project deadline by one day.
However, the contractor left open the possibility the detour could continue through Saturday, Nov. 7, should stormy weather interrupt the work, Lang said.
No significant rain is expected in the Sierra Nevada through Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, although Monday night may see some showers.
The detour along Highways 20 and 49 and construction efficiencies allowed the work on I-80 to be done more quickly than the two years originally allotted, the project manager said. The savings to the state of California has been estimated at $58.4 million.
“About 80,000 trucks and buses were detoured” so far, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Rich Nickel. About 400 of them failed brake tests and were taken out of commission, avoiding potential problems on the road.
The first few weeks of the detour were a bit rocky, with trucks hung up twice in Grass Valley and an accident in Bear Valley, but the detour has gone relatively smoothly ever since, Nickel said.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
The Interstate 80 work around Colfax that has made the detours necessary since April was recently completed by Granite Construction, Caltrans Project Manager Doug Lang told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. The quick completion has allowed for an added project to shore up a barrier at the Colfax Narrows that should be done sometime this week, Lang said.
“That should eliminate the future detours on Highway 49 and Highway 20," Lang said.
The westbound detour could end as early as Sunday, Nov. 1, Lang said. That would miss the previously announced October project deadline by one day.
However, the contractor left open the possibility the detour could continue through Saturday, Nov. 7, should stormy weather interrupt the work, Lang said.
No significant rain is expected in the Sierra Nevada through Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, although Monday night may see some showers.
The detour along Highways 20 and 49 and construction efficiencies allowed the work on I-80 to be done more quickly than the two years originally allotted, the project manager said. The savings to the state of California has been estimated at $58.4 million.
“About 80,000 trucks and buses were detoured” so far, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Rich Nickel. About 400 of them failed brake tests and were taken out of commission, avoiding potential problems on the road.
The first few weeks of the detour were a bit rocky, with trucks hung up twice in Grass Valley and an accident in Bear Valley, but the detour has gone relatively smoothly ever since, Nickel said.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
