MARIPOSA COUNTY — Caltrans is repairing two culverts on State Route 140 in Mariposa County with funds from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Caltrans says this project will fix two locations in the area of the Ferguson Fire scar, west of the Yosemite National Park entrance, where Incline Road meets SR-140.
The work focuses on installing a new fiberglass liner into each culvert. This liner provides a sleeve for sections of the pipe that deteriorate over time, thus extending the service life of the drainage system. The liner takes the shape of the pipe itself once inserted.
SR-140 is an all-weather route into Yosemite National Park and is a critical asset for both tourists and the local economy.
Caltrans notes that millions of people visit Yosemite annually and nearly 8,500 vehicles per day use this section of SR-140.
“We must take every opportunity we can to mitigate mudslides and flooding on this stretch of roadway,” says Caltrans District 10 Director Dan McElhinney.
“Our heartfelt thanks go out to the people of Mariposa County and tourists using SR-140 for their patience during this project, as well as the ongoing emergency project we have that is replacing culverts and removing hazardous trees in the same vicinity.”
Tourism is the county’s main industry and area’s largest employer, Caltrans asserts. In 2016, the agency says visitors spent $520.6 million in communities near the park, supporting 7,883 jobs in the local area, which had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $686.3 million.
“Keeping State Route 140 safe and dry is paramount for the well-being of motorists and for tourism and commercial business in this region,” says Caltrans Director Laurie Berman.
“Projects like this one that are restoring and ensuring the integrity of SR-140 in the Ferguson Fire scar are the epitome of being proactive to protect our transportation system.”
More information and updates on projects can be found at Caltrans District 10 Projects.
Map and photos courtesy of Caltrans District 10.
