Tuesday, 23 November 2010 05:09

Sierra passes close, Caltrans warns of road dangers

slide6-sierra_passes_close_caltrans_warns_of_road_dangers.pngAmador County – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced yesterday the permanent closure of Highway 4 over Ebbetts Pass and Highway 108 over Sonora Pass due to current and upcoming weather systems.

“The weather conditions on the passes and road conditions are the determining factors for the closure,” said Caltrans Maintenance Superintendent Jon Bevan. “Caltrans closed Ebbetts Pass and Sonora Pass for the safety of motorists and Caltrans crews.”

Chantel Miller, Assistant Public Information Officer for the Caltrans District 10, said in a release Monday that general weather road conditions in our region can change rapidly, and motorists should expect the worst and stay prepared. “All vehicles including those with four-wheel drive or snow tires should carry chains when traveling during snowy weather,” said Miller. Vehicles without chains will not be allowed to proceed. “When highway signs indicate that chains are required, you must stop and install chains or risk being cited or fined,” she said.

For more on road conditions, call the Caltrans Road Conditions Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD, or tune your radio to 530 AM or 1610 AM.

Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.