Cal-Trans Proposes 6 Options for HWY 140 Restoration

Cal-Trans has proposed six options for restoring Highway 140 here at the Ferguson Rock slide. The plans range from building new bridges to tunneling through the mountain.

Of the six solutions Cal-Trans has developed for restoring this section of Highway 140, the cheapest choice, called "Alternative S" seems to be the early favorite.

Rep. George Radanovich says, "I think it is something that can be done sooner than most, so if that's the case, then we want to get that one going as quickly as possible."

The 35 million dollar proposal, calls for two two-lane bridges and a viaduct to take traffic across the river around the rock slide. During Tuesday's meeting, the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to write a letter in support of the plan.

Dianne Fritz, Mariposa County Supervisor, says, "Small business is taking a big hit, missing tour buses, so the faster we can get a permanent solution that's going to allow those 45 foot buses to cross, the better."

But despite the consensus, Cal-Trans is required by law to develop environmental impact reports for all five of the other options. That includes a 378 million dollar plan to tunnel through the mountain.

Kome Ajise, Cal-Trans District 10 Director, says, "You want to make sure you review all viable alternatives as much as possible and assess the environmental impacts so you're comparing apples to apples."

As the process moves forward, some residents were hoping the temporary bridges could be adjusted to allow longer vehicles across. But Cal-Trans officials say that could take just as long as a long-term solution.

So, for now the focus remains on finding a permanent fix and then seeking the federal funding to pay for it. Rep. Radanovich says, "This is a slide like we've never seen before. This is a mountain moving onto the road, and I think no matter how you slice it, it's still going to be a rough 2-3 years minimum."

Cal-Trans says once a final solution is selected, construction will begin in the spring of 2009 or sooner and will be completed no later than the spring of 2012.

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