FRESNO (KMJ) — State officials repairing the stretch of Highway 41 north of Fishcamp, which had been hindering access into Yosemite National Park, anticipate it being fully open by the end of this week.
The south route into the Central Valley attraction was previously closed after rain damage. Drivers were advised to go a different way, but that incurred a delay of over at least hour.
“Our visitors from the Central Valley and southern California come in through the south entrance, so it’s had a huge impact on visitors wanting to come up to the park that way,” explains Park Ranger Scott Gediman.
But with repairs on-going, vehicles are now allowed to use that section of Highway 41 on one side of the road.
“Caltrans has done a great job,” continues Gediman. “We know there was a lot of work that needed to be done, but Caltrans really stepped up and is getting it open.
“We understand that it’ll be open soon for unrestricted traffic, but even with one lane restricted traffic that’s great news for park visitors, park employees, and everybody.”
Mariposa County: State Route 41 south of @YosemiteNPS is now OPEN to one-way traffic control. Drive with caution through the area! pic.twitter.com/Lyrz9XkuTt
— Caltrans District 6 (@caltransdist6) March 13, 2017
Caltrans describes it as a very extensive fix, with some parts of the foundation dating back more than 90 years.
“The contractor dug down, about 50 feet below the surface of the roadway,” explains the agency’s Cory Burkarth. “They removed over a hundred feet of the length of the road, and about 50 feet down.
“There was an old culvert installed in the 1920s, when that road was built, and that 36 inch culvert got blocked as a result of the recent storms.”
Burkarth reveals that the culvert, essentially a tunnel underneath the road to let water pass through, was plugged and a new 72 inch culvert placed there instead.
There are a few finishing touches still needed to complete the job, but Highway 41 north of Fishcamp is expected to be open as normal by the end of this week.
“Once we get that guardrail in, once the road is properly striped, once the seeding of the slopes gets completed, we’ll be able to reopen it to both lanes and we’re hoping to do that this week,” concludes Burkarth.
Highway 120 remains closed, and the National Park Service advises drivers planning on taking that route to use Highway 49 to Mariposa, then Highway 140 into Yosemite Valley.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
