Saturated hillside gives way near town of Baxter
MARYSVILLE – Caltrans advises motorists that Interstate 80 is closed from Colfax to the Highway 20/I-80 junction at Yuba Pass due to a mudslide across all lanes of the freeway at Baxter approximately 12 miles east of Colfax. The mudslide occurred just after 9:30 a.m. Friday morning, February 10, 2017. Fortunately, no vehicles were impacted by the slide.
Westbound passenger vehicles are currently being allowed to detour onto Highway 20 at Yuba Pass. Eastbound vehicles are being allowed to access Highway 20 via Highway 174 and Highway 49 as well as from Highway 70 in Marysville. Extreme traffic congestion is currently occuring in the towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City as motorists attempt to bypass the closure. Trucks are being turned at the Nevada state line with eastbound trucks turned at Applegate. Only emergency vehicles, fuel, mail and livestock trucks are being allowed to use the detour routes.
Caltrans and emergency contractor crews are working to clear the roadway of the mudslide which is eight feet deep in areas, full of downed trees, and approximately 250 feet long. It is anticipated that the eastbound lanes will be opened first with limited lanes available. However, there is no estimated time of opening and it is likely that the roadway will be impacted through the weekend of February 11-12. While clear weather is forecast for Saturday and Sunday, rain continues to fall this afternoon in the slide area which is impacting clean-up efforts.
Motorists are advised to anticipate and prepare for significant delays and traffic congestion, both on detour routes, as well as after I-80 is re-opened to traffic.
Up-to-date road conditions, including closure status, can be found on Caltrans QuickMap at: http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov. A mobile version is also available. Motorists also can use the California Highway Information Network automated phone service by calling 1-800-427-ROAD (7623). Caltrans will issue updates on Twitter @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict 3.
Caltrans crews will be on all the State’s highways continuing to clean up the numerous impacts from the recent storms. Motorists are strongly urged to be “Be Work Zone Alert” and to “Slow for the Cone Zone.”
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