District: District 3 - Marysville
Sergio Aceves, District 3 Director
Contact: Jeremy Linder (530) 701-5209
Grass Valley – Caltrans, in collaboration with the Nevada County Transportation Commission (NCTC), announced the start of the $124.9 million State Route 49 (SR 49) Corridor Improvement Project, which will improve safety and mobility within Nevada County. The project was funded in part by $7.9 million from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Upcoming work includes constructing a two-way left-turn lane, right-turn lanes, 10-foot shoulders, and a northbound slow-moving truck lane along SR 49 between Allison Ranch Road/La Barr Meadows Road and the McKnight Way interchange in Grass Valley. An additional southbound truck-climbing lane will be constructed within the project limits, along with a new entrance to the Nevada County Transit Operations Center.
“These improvements will enhance accessibility for rural communities along the State Route 49 and State Route 20 corridors,” said Caltrans District 3 Director Sergio Aceves. “This will enhance safety and mobility for daily commuting, freight transit, and essential services, along with providing long-term benefits for emergency readiness.”
The project was originally planned in multiple phases starting with northbound improvements. In 2023, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) awarded NCTC $14.6 million from the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) for southbound improvements. Combined with $4.4 million in matching funds from NCTC, this allowed both directions to be constructed together.
“Constructing these two phases together will reduce construction impacts on the community, provide cost savings, and accelerate the delivery of the project’s safety, operational, and evacuation benefits,” said NCTC Executive Director Mike Woodman.
Construction is scheduled to begin in early February with tree clearing and utility relocation. Main construction activities are scheduled to start in June. Granite Construction, Inc. of Sacramento is the prime contractor. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually, shared equally between state and local agencies. Projects progress more quickly when SB 1 funds are available. Visit build.ca.gov to learn more about transformative infrastructure projects statewide.
Caltrans District 3 maintains 4,385 lane miles in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. Motorists are reminded to “Be Work Zone Alert” and slow in construction zones for the safety of travelers and crews.
Updates are available on X @CaltransDist3 and Facebook CaltransDistrict3. For real-time traffic, visit Caltrans QuickMap or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
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