Caltrans Enacts Emergency Plan to Install Culvert and Reopen State Route 89
ALPINE COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has enacted an emergency order to install temporary drainage facilities on State Route 89 near Markleeville (Alpine County) in an effort to reopen the highway as safely and expeditiously as possible.
Route 89 currently remains closed from Turtle Rock Park to Route 4 due to a devastating mud slide and debris flow in the Tamarack Fire burn
scar area that washed out a culvert at Mulberry Creek, north of the town, on Wednesday, August 3, 2022.
Construction crews have started and will work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week to install the new drainage facilities and repair the road. The
estimated time of reopening both lanes is significantly reduced from 5-6 weeks to 2-3 weeks, perhaps sooner. This schedule is subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials and construction related issues.
Update #3: Caltrans to Install Culvert and Reopen State Route 89
AMADOR COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) loaded a 100-foot long, 8-foot diameter drainage facility (culvert) from the Caltrans District 10 Maintenance Yard in Ione and will deliver it today (August 11, 2022) to Alpine County where it will be installed beneath State Route 89 north of Markleeville. Shoring will be installed today for excavation of the pipe. The 2-weekcompletion timeline still stands.
This is great news for the community, which has been without full access on Route 89 since August 3, 2022, when a storm created mud slides and debris flows in the Tamarack Fire burn scar area. Route 89 remains closed between Turtle Rock Park Road and Webster Street. Caltrans Construction and Maintenance crews are working hard to complete this project as safely and expeditiously as possible.
Markleeville is open for business! Visitors can access the community via Route 89 Monitor Pass and Route 4 Ebbetts Pass.
The emergency order also calls for construction of a temporary road FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ONLY. The traveling public and pedestrians are not permitted to use the temporary road due to safety concerns. Caltrans and our partners ask for your cooperation and thank you for your patience.
Markleeville is open for business! Visitors can access the community via SR-89 Monitor Pass and SR-4 Ebbetts Pass.
District 10 Maintenance from the Mountain Region responded immediately by deploying equipment and personnel to remove mud and debris.
Crews currently are continuing the cleanup effort. Follow @CaltransDistrict10 on social media for updates. For road information, visit
Quickmap.dot.ca.gov or download the app to your smart phone or device.
For the safety of workers and other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert
