OAKHURST — The Madera County Public Works department has started a major construction project that will impact traffic along Oakhurst’s main artery — Highway 41 — for the next nine months.
“Expect delays and changing traffic patterns as the signage and routes are expected to change,” warned an advisory issued this week by the California Highway Patrol.
The construction work involves replacement of 5,240 feet of the town’s main 12-inch sewer line, which runs below Highway 41.
According to a notice issued this week by the County, the project is expected to last through October 2020.
The project timeline “may be subject to change due to weather and/or unforeseen circumstances,” the County advisory stated. “Efforts will be made to accelerate work where possible.”
Although County personnel and crews from Caltrans also will be involved in the work, Selma-based Dawson-Mauldin LLC is serving as the private contractor on the project.
The Highway 41 construction zone begins about 2,000 feet west of the intersection of Highway 49 and runs to Winding Way.
Work crews are expected to be active long Highway 41 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with daily traffic patterns through the construction zone changing as the project continues.
The project is expected to cause daytime delays for those traveling on Highway 41 and Highway 49 as well as Road 426.
Businesses along Highway 41 construction zone will remain open during the project, with access from the highway provided by a series of temporary traffic barriers to be installed and moved as the project progresses.
A CHP advisory, issued late Tuesday (Jan. 21), stated: “As a reminder, flashing red lights must be treated as stop signs. In addition to construction workers, we have high pedestrian traffic in the areas surrounding this construction zone. Please drive with caution. Also, please be courteous to other drivers entering and exiting businesses along this route.”
