Work begins Aug. 2 on State Route 18 near Peasley Canyon in Auburn to permanently repair damage from a large landslide in January that has closed the westbound truck-climbing lane between Highway 167 and Interstate 5.
Crews will build a new, 10-foot-high, 600-foot-long containment wall along the westbound lanes of the highway to block future slide debris from reaching the roadway. The wall will extend east from the end of the existing containment wall near the truck-climbing lane.
“SR 18 is an important transportation link for commuters and freight haulers,” Project Engineer Mark Sawyer said. “This new wall will help keep the road open by catching any debris that slides in the future.”
Crews will work at night the week of Aug. 2-7 to restripe the roadway and create a work area. Drivers should expect narrowed lanes and intermittent lane closures as crews move concrete barriers into place.
The majority of construction will take place during the day and out of the way of drivers, as crews set steel piles and construct the wooden containment wall.
The $495,800 federally funded emergency repair project is expected to wrap up by mid-September.
A landslide Jan. 14 buried the westbound lanes of SR 18 under several inches of mud and debris. Crews were able to clear the slide and reopen the highway to traffic within five days.
The westbound truck-climbing lane has remained closed since the slide. Once crews complete the containment wall, they will reopen the truck-climbing lane.
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