State Route 70 Safety Improvement and Passing Lanes Project – Yuba County

Latest Construction News

YUBA COUNTY (October 28, 2022) DeSilva Gates Construction is scheduled to work during the night-time hours on Monday, October 31, to shift traffic to the newly paved section of roadway between Laurellen Road and Woodruff Lane.

Motorists also should be watch out for flaggers handling intermittent traffic control as crews work on the transition to the new roadway section. The traffic shift will allow the contractor to work on the other side of the newly paved segment.

Caltrans reminds motorists to be alert for construction equipment and crews working at various locations along the 9-mile stretch of State Highway 70 between Laurellen Road and the Yuba-Butte County line. The construction zone speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph.

Residents in the area may hear loud construction noise, including OSHA-required vehicle backup warning alarms. The contractor will maintain access to all driveways and cross streets during construction. 

Visit www.FixHighway70.com for the latest construction news and updates.

The department also will issue construction updates on Twitter @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.

Description

The location of the project is in Yuba County between Laurellen Road and the South Honcut Creek Bridge. Work includes:

  • Widening and paving shoulders a minimum of 8’ in each direction
  • Providing a continuous 14’ two-way left-turn lane (TWLTL)
  • Providing a 20’ Clear Recovery Zone (CRZ)*
  • Provide continuous passing lanes
  • Providing a 6’ unpaved shoulder in addition to the paved shoulder for slow moving agriculture equipment
  • Increasing paved shoulder width to 14’ at school bus stops to provide a safe area for loading and unloading school children
  • Installing rumble strips on the shoulders and both sides of TWLTL or centerline
  • Straightening horizontal curves (to improve sight distance)
  • Flattening vertical curves (to improve sight distance)
  • Widening and paving local road intersections to accommodate truck turning movements
  • Reconstructing driveways
  • Replacing or extending culverts as needed
  • Placing asphalt concrete overlay
  • Relocating utility poles

* The CRZ begins at the edge of the travel lane. The CRZ includes the paved and unpaved shoulder for 20’ and will be cleared of fixed objects such as utility poles, trees and ditches.

Project Need

This segment of State Route 70 has had 85 reported collisions from August 2010 and August 2013. These collisions  include 7 fatalities and 32 reported injury accidents with the remainder being property damage only accidents. The number of fatal collisions along this section of highway was 3.8 times higher compared to the statewide average, qualifying this location for safety improvements. The proposed improvements are expected to reduce the collision rates at this location. Within the project limits there are: 136 driveways, 11 county roads, 7 private roads, and 22 farms/businesses. The school buses stop 26 times along SR 70 throughout the area to pick-up and drop-off school children.

Project Cost

The total project cost is estimated at $131 million in federal and state funds.

Schedule

Begin Construction: April 2022

Complete Construction: December 2023

News / Events 

Press Releases:

04.12.2022 Major Roadwork Starting on Highway 70 North of Marysville

For Additional Information Contact

Cameron Knudson, Project Manager, (530) 218-1820; cameron.knudson@dot.ca.gov

Gilbert Mohtes-Chan, Public Information Officer, (530) 682-6145; gilbert.mohtes-chan@dot.ca.gov

Project Map

Map of State Route 70 Safety Improvement and Passing Lanes Project in Yuba County