Bear Valley, CA…The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is scheduled to begin clearing the winter accumulation of snow from Ebbetts Pass and Monitor Pass in Alpine County, and Sonora Pass in Tuolumne County in an effort to get the seasonal routes open for the summer season.

Equipment has been scheduled and the District 10 Maintenance Team in the Mountain Region is excited to begin its annual ritual.

Work is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 5, 2021, with crews operating from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, weather permitting. Caltrans’ goal is to have all winter passes open no later than the Friday before Memorial Day weekend (Friday, May 21, 2021).

For the safety of workers and the public, please do not enter closure gates until the roads are open and do not follow equipment.

Caltrans manages three trans-Sierra passes in the Central Sierra that are closed during winter and generally open in spring: Ebbetts Pass/ Route 4 in Alpine County, Sonora Pass/ Route108 (Tuolumne County) and Monitor Pass/ Route 89 (Alpine County).

Route120 (Tioga Pass) is closed at this time. Yosemite National Park officials determine the status of Tioga Pass/ Tioga Road the continuation of Route 120 inside the park boundary.

Opening passes in the spring involves more than just removing snow. After the snow is removed, plugged drains need to be cleaned and downed signs need to be replaced. Prior to opening the roadway for public use, the pavement is repaired, cracks are sealed and the roadway is re-striped. The foremost guiding principle in these procedures is to maintain public and worker safety.

The SNO-PARK program is coordinated and administered by the OHMVR Division of California State Parks, in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of Transportation, the California Highway Patrol, and various community organizations. Through this collaborative effort, winter recreation opportunities are provided at 19 SNO-PARK sites.

For the latest highway information check http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or call 1-800-427-ROAD.
For the safety of workers and other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert. www.dot.ca.gov

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