Tuolumne County, CA…Drainage Project to Provide Safer, More Comfortable Ride for Tourists, Residents and Big Rigs. Next week, Caltrans will begin work to replace four culverts on rural State Route 108 in the Sierra Nevada. The $731,000 project is funded through Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. The six-month project will replace a culvert near Donnell Lake and three others by the Tuolumne/Mono County line. The work will improve Caltrans’ ability to safely and efficiently transport water and debris away from the highway to minimize flooding and provide more comfortable trips for travelers. “Highway 108 is a popular route for spring and summer travelers who want to explore the mountains,” said Caltrans Director Laurie Berman. “By supporting tourism, we strengthen California’s economy as well as the quality of life in many small towns and communities.”

Approximately 3,100 motorists travel this stretch of SR-108 daily, including nearly 100 commercial trucks carrying lumber, produce, cattle and other supplies between communities such as Sonora Junction, Dardanelle, and Strawberry. “Route 108 is transporting travelers to some of the state’s most beautiful scenery, as well as a
number of activities including camping, hiking, cycling and more,” Caltrans District 10 Director Dan McElhinney said. “Caltrans encourages an active and healthy lifestyle, and these mountain highways provide access. You’ll see plenty of cyclists using these highways, and those cyclists and other tourists contribute to the local economy, so please share the road for safety.”

Work is scheduled to begin the week of June 3, 2019, and the project is expected to finish in December 2019. Work will primarily be done Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Friday’s shift ending at 3:00 p.m. so the road is clear for weekend visitors.

Motorists should expect delays of 10 to 15 minutes during construction and are encouraged to plan their trips accordingly. Be Work Zone Alert while driving through construction zones. The work schedule is subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment and materials, or construction-related issues. More information and updates on projects can be found at http://www.dot.ca.gov/d10/projects.html or on Twitter via @CaltransDist10.

SB 1 provides an ongoing funding increase of approximately $1.8 billion annually for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the state highway system. SB 1 funds will enable Caltrans to fix more than 17,000 lane miles of pavement, 500 bridges and 55,000 culverts by 2027.

Caltrans is committed to conducting its business in a fully transparent manner and detailing its progress to the public. For complete details on SB 1, visit http://www.rebuildingca.ca.gov/.

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