Caltrans announced today that it has completed a project on Highway 89 that will safeguard water quality in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin. The $17 million project received $11 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

“Caltrans is strongly committed to protecting California’s streams, rivers, lakes, and beaches,” said Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Water quality is an essential concern during all Caltrans construction projects.”

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Caltrans today awarded $66 million to cities, counties, and regional agencies for 139 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects to improve safety for students in grades K-8 who walk and bicycle to and from school. “By improving safety, more children are encouraged to walk and bicycle to school, ultimately resulting in healthier children and less traffic congestion,” said Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.

The funding was provided by the federal SRTS program. Since its inception in 2005, Caltrans has awarded $156 million for 356 SRTS projects. Some of the notable projects in this region that received funding include:

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The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is alerting motorists that the southbound Zinfandel Drive on-ramp to eastbound U.S.Highway 50 will be temporarily closed for roadway excavation.

This on-ramp will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, August 12 through 5 a.m. Monday, August 15. Detour signs will be in place. This work is being done as part of a $108 million project to construct 7.5 miles of new bus/carpool lanes from Sunrise Boulevard to Watt Avenue. Completion of this project is expected by the fall of 2013.

Roadside message boards will be used to post the latest information. Unexpected weather may prolong or cause work to be rescheduled. Caltrans urges motorists to use caution in this area and to “Slow for the Cone Zone”.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is encouraging motorists to consider avoiding peak travel times when traveling on Interstate 80 (I-80) through the Sierra Nevada region, from August 4 to August 15, during Reno’s “Hot August Nights” event.

To further prevent delays on I-80 during the Hot August Nights event, lane restrictions have been lifted starting August 4 and continuing through August 15. Caltrans recommends that drivers also avoid traveling from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 4 and Friday, August 5 and again between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Sunday, August 14 and Monday, August 15. Motorists are also encouraged to arrive early at their destination and extend their stay, if possible, to avoid traffic delays.

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Starting today, 700 Caltrans electronic highway signs throughout California lit up with a new Move Over message to kickoff a statewide campaign to increase safety for motorists, highway workers and law enforcement. The message, “Slow or Move Over for Workers, It’s the Law,” will stay posted through July 22. Caltrans will also begin a new billboard campaign and issue a public service announcement to television stations statewide reinforcing the Move Over message.

In May and June, three Caltrans highway workers died on the job within 48 days – the most in such a short period of time. Since 1924, 178 Caltrans workers have lost their lives in the line of duty.

“Our goal is to do everything we can to keep our highways safe,” said Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Motorists must slow down, watch out for highway workers, and safely move over a lane when they see flashing amber lights on Caltrans or other emergency vehicles.”

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The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is alerting motorists that the on-ramp at southbound Stockton Boulevard to southbound State Highway 99 will be temporarily closed for reconstruction.

The on-ramp will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, July 8 through 5 a.m. Monday, July 11. Teichert Construction is the prime contractor for this $6.6 million project to construct new auxiliary lanes and widen on and off-ramps on State Highway 99 from Calvine Road to Mack Road in Sacramento County. The project is scheduled for completion by fall of 2012.

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The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is alerting motorists that the on-ramp for northbound Zinfandel Drive to eastbound U.S.Highway 50 will be temporarily closed for reconstruction.

This on-ramp will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, July 8 through 5 a.m. Monday, July 11. Detour signs and CMS boards will be used to assist motorists. DeSilva Gates Construction is the prime contractor for this $108 million project to construct 7.5 miles of new bus/carpool lanes from Sunrise Boulevard to Watt Avenue. Completion of this project is expected by 2013.

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The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is alerting motorists that traffic on eastbound I-80 will be subject to late night detours from Thursday night through Friday morning, while a contractor erects falsework for a new bike/pedestrian overcrossing in Natomas. Motorists should expect delays for westbound traffic on I-80 as well due to lane restrictions.

On Thursday, May 19 through Friday, May 20 from 12 midnight to 4 a.m., traffic on eastbound I-80 will be detoured onto eastbound West El Camino Avenue. From West El Camino Avenue they will be directed onto northbound Truxel Road where they will be re-directed to eastbound I-80.

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The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is alerting motorists that traffic on eastbound I-80 will be subject to late night detours Monday and Tuesday, May 17 & 18 while a contractor erects falsework for a new bike/pedestrian overcrossing in Natomas.

Beginning at 11 p.m. each night , drivers on westbound I-80 will be detoured south on Truxel Road then west on West El Camino Avenue where they can re-board I-80. Motorists should expect delays. All lanes are scheduled to re-open at 4 a.m. each morning.

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Caltrans today announced that U.S. Highway 50 at Echo Summit is closed. It will remain closed for approximately two weeks, depending on weather, as Caltrans removes the damaged rock wall barrier and replaces it with a barrier that meets current safety standards while retaining the natural beauty of the original wall. All travelers from California’s Central Valley to South Lake Tahoe will be directed to use the alternate route. Highway 50 remains open for visitors to Placerville, Apple Hill and other locations as far east as Sierra at Tahoe Road near Echo Summit. Highway 50 will be open with no restrictions on Memorial Day weekend.

“Travelers to South Lake Tahoe can enjoy the scenic alternate route through the gold country of El Dorado and Amador Counties,” said Caltrans District 3 Director, Jody Jones. “The drive is a wonderful opportunity to get to see some of California’s historic countryside, rugged river canyons and vineyards on their way to experiencing the legendary beauty of South Lake Tahoe.”

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