Caltrans Responds to Highway Damage After CZU Lightning Complex Fire

altrans District 5 has awarded Granite Construction of Santa Cruz a $6 million emergency contract to clear, repair and restore segments of Highway 1, 9 and 236 in Santa Cruz County that were impacted as a result of the CZU Lightning Complex Fire.

Caltrans has mobilized contractors and sub-contractors to respond to this damage which includes hundreds of fallen and hazardous trees, a dozen locations of burned guardrail, numerous destroyed traffic signs and markers and damage to the lagging/facing of a retaining wall.

Caltrans engineers and maintenance forces are continuing to assess the damage and prioritize the areas in most need of response while at the same time supporting the needs of emergency responders who continue to respond to this active fire.  It is not known when this reconstruction effort will be completed or roads re-opened in this region.

• Highway 9 remains closed between the Junction with Highway 35 with and San Lorenzo Valley High School.
• State Route 236 is in accessible as it is within the closed area.
• Highway 1 remains closed at Shafer Road near the Santa Cruz/San Mateo County line.
• Highway 1 remains closed in Monterey County from the Willow Creek Vista Point to north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park due to the Dolan Fire.

Caltrans will provide regular updates on the effort to restore infrastructure in this region.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway work zones.

For more information on this project and for traffic updates on other Caltrans projects in Santa Cruz County, residents may call the District 5 Public Affairs Office at (805) 549-3318 or visit Caltrans’ website.