Stage two at the I-80 Yuba Pass Separation Overhead Bridge project in the majestic Sierra in Northern California has begun.
A two-week extended closure and traffic switch moved two eastbound lanes to the westbound side using crossovers built last year in stage one. Crews closed about two miles of eastbound I-80, demolished the existing bridge and started building a new one, including a new approach roadway.
Work takes place over Union Pacific Railroad tracks, adding a layer of complexity. Crews must pause all activity near the tracks for each passing train — as often as 20 times a day.
This summer work will include foundation shoring, falsework erection and precast girder placement over the tracks. The bridge must open to traffic by mid-October to avoid delays from early snowstorms.
The I-80 Yuba Pass Separation Overhead Bridge project will enhance safety for motorists by replacing the two aging bridges to provide freight load carrying capacity for extra-legal load trucks. Crews will also upgrade drainage features that have reached the end of their service life and add elements to the transportation management system.
