District: District 3 - Marysville
Contact: Steve Nelson
Phone: (530) 701-9459
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Camino – A key component of the U.S. Highway 50 (US 50) Camino Safety Project has been completed, allowing work to proceed on the remaining elements of the $55.4 million project, which includes $3.4 million in funding from Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Replacement of two El Dorado Irrigation District water lines clears the way for the contractor, Security Paving Inc., to move ahead with local road improvements, which includes a roundabout connecting to the new Padroado Undercrossing being built.
This safety project consists of installing a continuous 56-inch-high concrete median barrier on a three-mile stretch of US 50 from Still Meadows Road to “upper” Carson Road that will restrict left turns at all at-grade intersections. This segment of US 50 has seen numerous collisions, including multiple fatalities, over the past decade.
The undercrossing being constructed near the intersection of US 50 and “lower” Carson Road will provide access north and south of the highway, eliminating the need for motorists leaving the Camino Heights and Camino Hills communities from having to cross multiple lanes of US 50 to travel east or west.
The Camino area is the gateway to the agritourism region of Apple Hill and serves 26,500 motorists on average daily and up to 34,000 during peak travel months. US 50 also is the direct route for visitors from Sacramento and the Bay Area to the South Lake Tahoe area.
“We look forward to the completion of this project, which will significantly enhance safety for motorists through this critical corridor of Highway 50 in El Dorado County,” said Caltrans District 3 Director Amarjeet S. Benipal.
A wildlife undercrossing was constructed last September as another safety improvement to reduce animal collisions through the corridor. Caltrans is partnering with the El Dorado County Department of Transportation, El Dorado Irrigation District and El Dorado County Transportation Commission on the project, with the county providing $7.3 million in funding for local road improvements.
Construction started in July 2020. The undercrossing is expected to be open to traffic in late summer, and full project completion is anticipated by the end of this year. The schedule is subject to change due to weather, availability of equipment and/or materials or other construction-related issues.
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 projects funded by SB 1, visit www.RebuildingCA.ca.gov.
Caltrans District 3 is responsible for maintaining and operating 4,385 lane miles in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. For project updates, follow Caltrans District 3 on Twitter @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
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