Sonora Junction Shoulder Widening Project
Beginning Wednesday, September 4, U.S. 395 will fully close just south of Burcham Flat Road to just south of Sonora Junction for 15 days while crews install two wildlife crossings underneath the roadway as part of the Sonora Junction Shoulders Project. During the closure, there will be no vehicle access between the closure points.
Drivers are advised that the only detours available around the closure are as follows: Northbound motorists can take State Route 182 from Bridgeport and connect with Nevada Route 338. Southbound traffic coming from Nevada can connect with Nevada Route 208 at Holbrook Junction and take the 338 south.
Those traveling over Sonora Pass and Monitor Pass can head north on U.S. 395 through the communities of Walker, Coleville, and Topaz to reach Holbrook Junction. For more information on the detour, click here: Caltrans Announces Detour for Upcoming Closure of U.S. 395 Near Sonora Junction.
See the detour map below for a route around the closure.
Click detour map for a larger view.
Project Information
The Sonora Junction Shoulder Widening Project is widening the existing paved shoulders on U.S. 395 in Mono County from Burcham Flat Road to the south side of the junction with State Route 108. Crews are installing shoulder rumble strips, upgrading existing guardrails to Midwest Guardrail System, and correcting the super-elevations of three substandard curves. This project is meant to enhance roadway safety and make the highway accessible to all modes of transportation. There were three “build” alternatives considered for this project. All three alternatives will require realigning Hot Creek about eight-tenths of a mile south of Little Walker Road to prevent the creek from undermining the highway.
The preferred project alternative will widen the highway shoulders to the standard 8-foot width. This alternative will also include approximately 1,050 linear feet of retaining walls, stabilizing cut slopes with anchored wire mesh, and extending or replacing existing culverts. Additionally, the preferred alternative calls for the installation of wildlife undercrossing structures in two locations and wildlife exclusionary fencing to connect the two structures.
Photos from June 24, 2024. Click images for a larger view.
Project Map
Environmental Document
The Final Environment Document for the Sonora Junction Shoulder Widening Project is available for public review upon request. To obtain a copy:
- Email us at D9PublicInfo@dot.ca.gov.
- Call us at (760) 872-0601.
- Write us at Caltrans Public Information Office, 500 S. Main Street, Bishop, CA 93514.
Project Cost
The estimated cost of this project is $20.1 million.
Project Timeline
Project Schedule (Subject to change):
- February 2021: Draft Environmental Document for Public Comment
- May 2021: Final Environmental Document and Alternative Chosen
- November 2023: Advertise
- March 2024: Contract Approval
- May 2024: Begin Construction
Construction PIO Contact
Michael Lingberg
Public Information Officer
Construction
Caltrans District 9
(760) 920-0280
Title VI Information
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).
Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, or national origin. In addition, Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner.