February 27, 2019 - MARIPOSA COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is continuing work on an emergency project rehabilitating and repairing eastbound and westbound State Route 140 (SR140) from Briceburg to Yosemite National Park.
The work is needed after the Ferguson Fire burned through the region in summer 2018.
The project includes the replacement and repair of culverts (underground drainage systems), removal of potentially hazardous trees and branches, and implementing slope stabilization measures.
The Ferguson Fire started July 13, 2018, in Mariposa County and burned more than 96,900 acres, causing power outages, road damage and road closures.
Burnt vegetation and trees exposed slopes to erosion, mud flows and rock falls.
As of Wednesday, February 27, 2019, crews had replaced or repaired approximately eight culverts, installed erosion control devices, and completed between five and six miles of tree work and slope scaling.
Slope scaling refers to measures taken on roadslide slopes which help mitigate future mudslides and debris flow.
To this point, this project has incurred a total construction cost of approximately $2.3 million
Caltrans and its construction partners are pushing forward with a project that's rehabilitating State Route 140 and surrounding hillsides in the area of the Ferguson Fire scar in Mariposa County.
This includes a 15-mile stretch from Feliciana Creek to the Yosemite National Park entrance.
Here are details about the work done and progress made on this project:
* Eight culverts replaced and/or repaired (culverts are underground drainage systems)
* Five-to-six miles of removing hazardous trees and branches and slope scaling and clearing (mitigating future mudslides and debris flow by working on roadside slopes)
* Our estimated date of completion is still by the end of April 2019 -- weather dependent.
* This project has cost $2.3 million thus far in construction contract costs. We will have a total estimated cost of everything involved further in the process.
We would like to thank motorists, including local residents and tourists, for their patience and cooperation.
Source: Caltrans Photos:Caltrans
