Caltrans making emergency repairs to Interstate 80 pavement in Sierra. Here’s what to expect
Caltrans will be conducting emergency pavement repairs before and after Labor Day weekend along Interstate 80 in the Sierra Nevada that are expected to create delays of up to two hours for motorists between Colfax and the Nevada state line, state officials said.
Since Monday morning, crews are working on pavement repairs in the Boca area through the Donner Pass Inspection Facility, according to Caltrans spokesman Jeremy Linder Motorists will likely experience lane closures and 10- to 15-minute delays during the daytime hours through Friday.
The California Department of Transportation said it performed a review of the I-80 corridor earlier this year and found an unprecedented amount of damage that would not hold up through the winter season, Linder said. Several areas were determined to need immediate repair, and five emergency contracts were executed, totaling $84.4 million, authorities said.
Additional closures are expected from Colfax to Kingvale and west of Truckee after Labor Day weekend, according to highway officials.
Repairs from Colfax to the Nevada state line after Sept. 5 will occur all at once for an expected maximum delay of two hours, authorities said. Signs will be placed at key locations to display lane closure notifications and redirect traffic around the work zones.
State transportation officials said the extended lane closures would allow them to complete the project quickly. The weather in the area is a factor in the lane closures because there is a limited temperature window to perform the needed repairs, officials said.
Several areas along the freeway exhibit moderate to high levels of rutting due to chain wear over the winter and spring seasons, Linder said.
The department will issue construction updates on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter. For real-time traffic, people can use Caltrans’ QuickMap or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
