TUOLUMNE COUNTY — Caltrans has completed a $287,000 project that constructed vehicle turnouts on New Priest Grade/State Route 120 (SR-120), helping residents, tourists and businesses enjoy their journey while traveling on this gateway toward Yosemite National Park.

The turnouts are on New Priest Grade’s 5-mile climb east of the SR-49/SR-120 junction. SR-120 is a gateway to Yosemite National Park and is heavily used by large recreational vehicles, automobiles hauling trailers and other vacation-related gear, and large commercial trucks. Traffic can become particularly congested in this area during the hot summer months.

Due to steep climbs on eastbound New Priest Grade Road/SR-120, slow-moving vehicles caused long lines as they proceeded on this two-lane highway. Sharp curves prevented motorists from legally passing these vehicles and the road is marked with no-passing stripes.

Caltrans constructed three turnouts on eastbound SR-120, each 500 feet long and 15 feet wide. This is allowing slow-moving vehicles to temporarily move into the turnout, allowing other vehicles to pass before the slow-moving vehicle returns to the roadway.

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For the safety of motorists, please Slow for the Cone Zone.

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www.dot.ca.gov