Caltrans will reopen Sonora Pass (State Route 108) for the season today, Thursday, April 30, at 2:00 p.m., marking one of the earliest openings in the mountain highway's modern history.
A California Department of Transportation worker was injured late Wednesday morning when he was hit by a driver on Highway 17, authorities said. The incident happened around 11:45 a.m. north of Redwood Estates, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Ross Lee. Lee said a two-person inspection team from Caltrans headquarters in Sacramento was working on the right shoulder of northbound Highway 17 when a 2016 Jeep veered off the roadway and hit one of them.
Several California lawmakers are questioning the efficacy of the state's transportation agencies after a major interstate in Southern California was unexpectedly shut down three times in the last three months. California state Sen. Catherine Blakespear led an inquiry and wrote a letter Monday to the California Department of Transportation, the California Highway Patrol and the San Diego Police Department, questioning the three abrupt freeway closures on Interstate 5.
"I think this community deserves to be invested in the highest amount, considering the historical disinvestment and the ripping apart particularly of Black communities. Historically in Oakland, we deserve even more funding beyond baseline amount."
Ney emphasized that the current cracking situation, while concerning in appearance, is actually normal for an older bridge like the Richmond-San Rafael, highlighting that quick repairs can mitigate further issues.
