Bear Valley, CA…Caltrans’ District 10 maintenance crews continue to dig out following one of California’s wildest winters in decades, and that includes moving snow, debris and other material from Ebbetts Pass/State Route 4 (SR-4) in Alpine County. Here is a video from Monday’s work – snow is packed tight against the road.

District 10’s maintenance crew also is clearing Sonora Pass/SR-108, and our goal is always to have the mountain passes open by Memorial Day. Monitor Pass/SR-89 is already open, while Tioga Pass/SR-120 is cleared by Yosemite National Park.

Opening these mountain passes each spring involves more than simply shoving aside the snow. After the snow is cleared, plugged drains need to be cleaned and down signs need to be replaced. Fallen trees need to be removed,roadside ditches cleared of vegetation and debris … and many other tasks are done before the road is deemed safe for the traveling public.