Interstate 80 Projects Improve Safety and Mobility in the Foothills and Sierra Nevada Mountains

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

Placer County - Caltrans announced today that work is underway on two new projects along Interstate 80 in the Sierra Nevada that will improve safety and mobility along the corridor.

Combined, the $154.6 million Blue Canyon Pavement Rehabilitation and Alta Pavement Improvement projects will improve the infrastructure along a vital highway for both passenger vehicles and commercial truck traffic.

"Interstate 80 provides thousands of travelers and truckers a critical corridor of state infrastructure to travel every day," said Caltrans District 3 Director Sergio Aceves. "These improvements will not only extend the highway's lifespan but also enhance travel reliability, reduce collisions and support efficient freight movement."

The $116.7 million Blue Canyon Pavement Rehabilitation Project will be staged in three locations within Placer County between Crother Road and Nyack needed to improve safety, reliability and freight mobility. Improvements include a truck-climbing lane and pavement rehabilitation on the eastbound side. The project was funded in part by $14.9 million from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

Meanwhile, the $37.9 million Alta Pavement Improvement Project between Colfax and Alta will extend the service life of existing pavement, rehabilitate drainage systems and upgrade guardrails, signs and Transportation Management System elements. This project was funded in part by $5.5 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and $3.75 million SB 1.

Work started earlier this month on both projects. Motorists will notice traffic shifts and temporary barrier placements between Applegate and Weimar and between Blue Canyon and Nyack, as well as erosion control and drainage work on the lower Alta section.

The Blue Canyon project, expected to conclude in 2029, is a joint venture between Flatiron and Teichert construction companies. Teichert is the primary contractor on the Alta project, which should be completed by the end of this year.

California has received an annual investment of approximately $16.7 billion in infrastructure funding since IIJA's passage. That includes investments to upgrade the state's roads, bridges, rail, public transit, airports, electric vehicle charging network, ports and waterways.

SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually that is shared equally between state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1. Visit build.ca.gov/ to learn more about transformative infrastructure projects happening in communities throughout the state.

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.

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