MONO COUNTY – Construction is set to begin Tuesday, May 14, on the Sonora Junction Shoulders Project on U.S. 395 between Burcham Flat Road and State Route 108 north of Bridgeport. The project will widen the shoulders of the highway to 8 feet, install rail-element retaining walls, stabilize cut slopes with anchored wire mesh, and place two wildlife crossings under the highway.
Each “plate pipe” archway undercrossing will measure more than 70 feet in length and stand between 9.5 feet and 11 feet high. With 69 reported collisions since 2002 (many more incidents go unreported), Caltrans biologists identified this stretch of U.S. 395 as a crossing hotspot for the West Walker herd of mule deer. The addition of two oversized culverts and fencing to direct animals away from traffic aims to reduce wildlife mortality rates on this stretch of U.S. 395. Other species native to the area that could use the underpass include sage grouse, badgers, wolverines, and red foxes.
Above the crossings, construction crews will widen the embankments and shoulders, and apply a new six-inch layer of hot mix asphalt. Other project details include:
- Installation of ground-in shoulder skip rumble strips.
- Replacing and extending existing drainage infrastructure.
- Upgrading existing metal beam guardrail.
- Adjusting existing cut-and-fill slopes.
Left Image: The Sonora Junction Shoulders Project will widen the shoulders of U.S. 395 to eight feet.
Right Image: This corrugated steel pipe will become one of two wildlife crossings underneath U.S. 395 as part of the Sonora Junction Shoulders Project.
“By widening the paved shoulders and constructing wildlife crossings on this stretch of U.S. 395 in Mono County, Caltrans is continuing its commitment to safety and improving habitat connectivity,” Caltrans District 9 Director Ryan Dermody said about the project.
FUNDING INFORMATION: The $16.8 million Sonora Junction Shoulders Project was funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) – also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Under IIJA, California will receive an estimated $41.9 billion over five years. IIJA provides significant funding to rebuild California’s transportation system, including support to improve roadways, bridges, freight projects, public transportation, infrastructure safety enhancements, and to increase infrastructure resiliency to the impacts of severe weather and climate change. For more information about IIJA, visit http://rebuildingca.ca.gov/iija-by-the-numbers.
TRAFFIC IMPACT: Expected to require approximately 160 working days to complete, the project is scheduled to occur Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be one-way traffic control and drivers may experience 20-minute delays. Work is anticipated to conclude in fall 2025 after a winter suspension.
Travelers are advised that there will be two full closures of U.S 395 through the project area scheduled for late summer. Additional information about these closures and associated detours will be released once details have been finalized.
Work schedules are subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment or materials, or any construction-related issues.
Travelers are asked to be attentive to workers on the highway, slow for the cone zone, and move over whenever possible to remain clear of construction personnel and equipment. Be Safe and Be Work Zone Alert! To get the latest information on conditions on the State Highway System, visit the Caltrans QuickMap site at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or download the app to your smartphone. You can also call the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).
Find out how California is building for a better tomorrow by visiting build.ca.gov and rebuildingca.ca.gov.