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Truckee bypass breaks ground

PETER KOSTES, Sierra Sun

Truckee’s long-awaited $33.6-million Highway 267 Bypass project finally kicked off with ground-breaking ceremonies Tuesday morning off Joerger Drive, where initial site preparation is under way.

In the shadow of several large pieces of heavy construction equipment the Caltrans contractor has moved on site along the bypass route, Truckee Mayor Josh Susman emceed a short program that featured comments from Caltrans and other state government representatives.

“Patience and perseverance has paid off,” Susman said in his remarks. Work started in August is expected to continue for three more years.



About 50 people, including town government and other area agency officials, attended the ground-breaking ceremonies.

Many of the Nevada County, Town of Truckee, Caltrans and state government officials involved with the project were recognized during the program.



Dave Butler, district director for Sen. Tim Leslie, said “this is a big day in Truckee and Tahoe,” adding that the bypass represents an “integral part of the transportation network in the Truckee-Tahoe region.”

The three-year Truckee bypass project, which aims to relocate state Highway 267 along a new alignment east of downtown Truckee, includes:

– Construction of a two-lane expressway along a new alignment from the existing Highway 267 near the airport northwest across the Truckee River and Glenshire Drive to the Interstate 80/Highway 89 junction.

– Construction of a new interchange at that junction.

– A 1,500-foot bridge crossing the Truckee River.

– Sediment basins designed to capture and filter all roadway drainage. These basins allow only clean water to flow out of the project limits.

– A $900,000 landscape project, to begin after the bypass is completed, to plant native trees, shrubs and grasses.

According to Caltrans, six alternatives for the bypass were originally considered and presented at a Truckee public hearing in 1985. Alternative “E1” was selected as the preferred alternative. Funding constraints delayed bypass progress until two years ago.

The contract went to bid in July; with MCM/Ladd chosen as general contractor.


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