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Updated Schedule for Eastbound State Route 20 Closure

Published:

California State Route 20

District: District 3 - Marysville
Sergio Aceves, District 3 Director
Contact: Jeremy Linder (530) 701-5209

Placer/Nevada Counties – Caltrans is reminding motorists of a scheduled closure of eastbound State Route 20 (SR 20) this month between the Omega Scenic Overlook and the Interstate 80 (I-80) junction as part of the $112 million Yuba Pass Separation Overhead Bridge Project.
 
Eastbound SR 20 is now scheduled to be closed starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday, August 25 through 6 a.m. Sunday, August 30. Work leading up to the falsework installation for the section of bridge that crosses over SR 20 has been delayed. As a result, eastbound SR 20 will be open Sunday, August 23 and Monday, August 24.
 
This closure is tentatively scheduled to continue for the following week, reopening the highway in early September. The department will issue a further update once additional information is available.
 
The eastbound I-80 off-ramp to SR 20 will also be closed during this time. Westbound SR 20 will remain open for travel between the I-80 junction and Nevada City. 
 
The following detours are available for motorists:
  • Motorists in the Nevada City/Grass Valley area looking to connect to I-80 will detour southbound on State Route 49 (SR 49) to connect with I-80 in Auburn or southbound on State Route 174 to connect with I-80 in Colfax. Large trucks are directed to only use SR 49.
  • Eastbound I-80 motorists looking to connect to SR 20 will detour to Eagle Lakes Road and head back on westbound I-80 to reach the westbound SR 20 off-ramp.
   A Caltrans map showing the Yuba Pass Separation Overhead Bridge Construction and an eastbound State Route 20 closure. The map highlights a red segment of eastbound SR‑20 near Emigrant Gap marked with a “1” indicating the closure. Two detour routes are shown: a purple route labeled “2” for passenger vehicles only using SR‑174 to I‑80, and a green route labeled “3” for all vehicles using SR‑49 south to Bell Road and then to I‑80. Surrounding towns such as Grass Valley, Nevada City, Colfax, Auburn, Kingvale, and Truckee are displayed. A legend explains the route label.An aerial view of a bridge construction site in a forested mountain area. A completed highway bridge with cars traveling on it runs across the top of the image. Below it, a new bridge structure is being built, with large concrete columns, steel girders, and construction equipment including cranes and excavators. One section shows wooden framing and decking under construction. Several small buildings, parked vehicles, and materials are visible in the lower portion of the image. Tall pine trees surround the entire area. 

    

The extended lane closures will help minimize the duration of the work and improve worker safety. Additional closures are scheduled through October. The schedule is subject to change or be delayed due to weather, availability of materials or other unexpected events.

Flatiron Dragados of Concord is the prime contractor. The project will replace the existing bridge and improve freight efficiency along I-80 by increasing the load-carrying capacity for extra-legal load trucks. The project will also include construction of median barriers, upgrade drainage and installation of roadway weather information systems. Work is expected to be completed by winter 2027.

Caltrans District 3 is responsible for maintaining and operating 4,385 lane miles in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. Caltrans reminds motorists to “Be Work Zone Alert” and slow in construction zones for the safety of travelers and crews performing these improvements.

The department issues construction updates on X @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.