FISH CAMP — Caltrans says Highway 41 will remained closed south of Yosemite National Park through late next week, at least.
The road was closed to traffic in both directions north of Fish Camp and all the way to the park on Tuesday, Feb. 21, due to erosion causing failure following heavy rains.
Roadway repairs on State Route 41 south of Yosemite National Park are going well today, says Caltrans spokesman Cory Burkarth.
“Crews are removing over 100 feet of roadway and will dig down over 50 feet to repair the area and install a brand new culvert.”
The road will remain closed to all traffic until late next week at the earliest, Burkarth confirmed today.
Agee Construction crews are on site digging out native dirt and shifting it around to rebuild the road.
Burkarth says Caltrans has heavy equipment fully blocking both lanes of traffic on both sides of the roadway as a safety precaution to prevent a vehicle running through the flagging operation.
Flagging personnel are turning people around at both ends of the closure.
With the closure coming before the turnoff to the Snow Play area, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office is concerned that the public may decide to recreate on private property in the area.
“This is concerning to us all,” says Sheriff Doug Binnewies. “Both our office and the CHP are aware of the inability to access Mt. Raymond Road and the Snow Play area from the south. I have requested that we staff appropriate to be able to respond and/or prevent as much snow play trespassing in the Fish Camp town area on private property as we can. Please all remain patient and we’ll do the best we can to get through this challenge.”
Meanwhile, also on Feb. 21, it was announced that Highway 120 (Big Oak Flat Road) is now closed between Foresta and Crane Flat, 24 hours a day, with no access to Yosemite Valley from west of Crane Flat.
Highway 140 through El Portal is now the only road into Yosemite National Park.
Photos courtesy of Caltrans
