Coulterville, CA…State Route 49 in southern Tuolumne County and northern Mariposa took a beating when a violent storm ripped through the region on March 22. The heavy rain undermined mountain switchbacks, sent rocks, mud and debris onto the roadway, and plugged and destroyed culverts in this mountain region. George Reed Inc. of Modesto and Caltrans are busy putting the highway back together, bringing in rocks and dirt to shore up the roadbed, laying down new culverts and then eventually repaving the roadway. SR-49 in Tuolumne is scheduled to open in late May, while SR-49 in Mariposa is scheduled to open in July.

Join District 10 Public Information Officer Rick Estrada as he visits a switchback where major repair work is being done — www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q6zL3WRzTY&feature=youtu.be . We’ve included new photos, and some earlier pictures, as well.

Work on SR-49 includes repairing and rebuilding shoulders and slopes, replacing drains and culverts, and eventually putting down new pavement before the roadway can open. A steady stream of big rigs are chugging up SR-49 each day, bringing in new rock and dirt while hauling away debris left by the storm.

Both stretches of the highway are critical to their communities, transporting people and products across the Gold County and beyond. It’s also popular with Yosemite National Park visitors.

SR-49 is closed in Tuolumne from the SR-49/SR-120 junction at Moccasin to the Tuolumne/Mariposa County line. In Mariposa, the highway is closed from Coulterville to Bear Valley.

While vehicles can use SR-132 to reach Coulterville, SR-49 is closed north and south of town. Those anxious for the outdoors, however, can continue east of town to visit more remote regions.