November 30, 2018 - MARIPOSA COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the California Highway Patrol re-opened State Route 140 in and near the Ferguson Fire burn scar at approximately 12 p.m. (noon) on Friday, November 30, 2018. This closure was due to an ongoing storm that led to multiple mudslides and debris such as rocks coming onto the roadway.

 

This closure was in place for approximately 17 miles from Bear Creek near Midpines to Foresta Road in El Portal – approximately 4 miles west of the Yosemite National Park entrance. The closure began overnight at 2 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29 and lasted roughly 34 hours.

There will be one-way traffic control on SR-140 for the time being in the area of the Ferguson Fire scar due to culvert (drainage system) repairing and clearing. Motorists should expect 15-minute delays.

There is no estimated time for the completion of the culvert work.

 

Risks for this stretch of roadway in storm conditions include mudslides and the movement of debris on highway lanes. Caltrans is co-piloting a weather monitoring system for the Ferguson Fire scar area with the National Weather Service office in Hanford, which led to this pre-emptive closure. The U.S. Forest Service and several other partnering agencies are helping with this system.

Caltrans would like to thank motorists and local residents for their patience and cooperation during this process.