CAPE HORN October 19, 2016 – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is alerting motorists to anticipate overnight traffic delays from 11 p.m. Wednesday, October 19 to 4 a.m. Thursday, October 20 on eastbound Interstate 80 (I-80) east of Colfax. Construction crews will be setting the girders for the expansion of the Cape Horn Bridge structure as part of the ongoing work to construct an additional 3-mile long truck climbing lane from the Long Ravine undercrossing to the Alpine overcrossing exit ramp.
Motorists should anticipate delays as the right lane of eastbound I-80 will close at 6 p.m. Wednesday October 19 to allow trucks carrying the precast concrete bridge girders to arrive with their cargo and be in place for the setting of the girders. Additional delays will occur when the California Highway Patrol begins escorting blocks of traffic through the construction zone from 11 p.m. Wednesday night until 4 a.m. Thursday morning as construction crews set the girders into place.
The Cape Horn Bridge expansion is part of the $43.6 million Truck Climbing Lane project to construct an additional right lane for trucks climbing the steep grade east of Colfax from the Long Ravine underpass to the Alpine overcrossing exit ramp includes widening the Cape Horn undercrossing and project roadway shoulders, new drainage and guardrail, and a retaining wall separating Magra Road from Interstate 80. Completion is expected in 2018.
Motorists are advised to plan for additional travel time and prepare for delays. Caltrans advises motorists to “Be Work Zone Alert.” The department will issue construction updates on Twitter @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans QuickMap at: http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/