District: District 3 - Marysville
Contact: Gilbert Mohtes-Chan
Phone: (530) 682-6145
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YUBA COUNTY — The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) today announced the completion of the State Route 70 Simmerly Slough Bridge Replacement Project north of Marysville. The $60.4 million project included $6.3 million in funding from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
The new bridge meets current seismic and erosion standards and features wide shoulders, a protected pedestrian walkway and a new sidewalk between Laurellen Road and Cemetery Road. The new structure replaces a narrow, 64-year-old bridge.
“This is another significant SB 1 project that replaces an aging bridge, improves safety and increases access for those who walk or bike,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “SB 1 is allowing Caltrans to make critical infrastructure improvements like this throughout California.”
More than 17,000 vehicles and approximately 1,000 trucks per day use this segment of State Route 70, which is the primary interregional freight and commuter corridor between Chico and the Sacramento region.
The Simmerly Slough Bridge project is the second major construction project completed in the past two years on the heavily traveled corridor between Marysville and Oroville. In fall, 2019, Caltrans completed a safety and passing lanes project on SR-70 from Ophir Road to Palermo Road in Butte County.
Meanwhile, a safety project from Palermo to Cox Lane in Butte County is expected to be completed by year-end and another project from East Gridley Road to the Butte-Yuba County line started construction last month.
“State Route 70 is an important artery and economic link in the region. Improving this highway for local residents, tourists and commercial and agricultural operators is vital,” said Caltrans District 3 Director Amarjeet S. Benipal.
SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually split between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1. For more information about other transportation projects funded by SB 1, visit RebuildingCA.
Caltrans District 3 maintains more than 4,385 lanes miles of state highway in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. The department issues updates about road conditions on Twitter and on Facebook. For real-time traffic information, go to QuickMap or download the free Caltrans QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
###