Anyone who has traveled Interstate 80 through the Sierra Nevada Range in a winter storm knows the rigors of chaining up and then driving through the snow and ice over the summit. Truckers have even a harder time, lashing on multiple sets of tire chains to ensure adequate traction for their rigs that could weigh up to 80,000 pounds.
After winter passes and the snow has melted, what remains are the worn wheelpaths from the tire chains, especially in the truck lane. On the stretch of Interstate 80 that ascends out of the Sacramento Valley and climbs to the Donner Summit, decades of severe wear from heavy vehicle traffic, snow chains, and studded-tires have caused excessive surface wear and cracking, a tell-tale indication that the pavement is near the end of its service life.
To repair this section of roadway on a National Essential Freight Corridor, Caltrans has currently initiated two projects: The I-80 Soda Springs Pavement Rehabilitation Project; and The I-80 Monte Vista Pavement Rehabilitation Project. A third, The I-80 Blue Canyon Pavement Rehabilitation Project, is scheduled to advertise next year.
The I-80 Soda Springs Pavement Rehabilitation Project
This project encompasses two sections of Interstate 80. This first one is near Kingvale, from the Placer County Line to east of Donner Pass Road. The other section runs from west of the Troy Road Undercrossing to the Nevada County Line.
For an absolutely amazing five-minute video that flies you through this project visit YouTube here:
The total cost for The I-80 Soda Springs Project is $90,712,000 with $16,084,000 in Support Costs and $74,628,00 in Capital Costs. Teichert was awarded the contract for the project, and they began construction in December of last year. The targeted completion date is July 2027.
The scope of work includes rehabbing the roadway, constructing a truck-climbing lane on the eastbound side, replacing the Kingvale Undercrossing and the Troy Road Undercrossing, replacing sign panels, upgrading the lighting and the Transportation Management System (TMS) elements, and rehabilitating the drainage systems.
Initiating the project work, Teichert removed the existing inside shoulder from the eastbound Kingvale on-ramp to the eastbound Sonda Springs on-ramp and replaced it with a new lane and shoulder. This structural section includes 13.8 inches of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP), three inches of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), and 8.4 inches of Class II Aggregate Base.
The same structural section is being applied for a widening and full replacement of the highway from the west limits of the project at the Troy Road Undercrossing to the eastbound Kingvale on-ramp. In total, 12.5 lane miles are being rehabilitated. Both of the undercrossings in the project are being widened to accommodate the new lane and shoulder.
Westbound, the No.2 lane is receiving a unique treatment. The wheel tracks/ruts in the lane are being ground and rehabilitated with a polyester concrete inlay. Other improvement work includes grinding and grooving the existing eastbound lanes, drainage and lighting system upgrades, and bridge replacements.
Teichert set up a batch plant on Caltrans right-of-way acreage near the Soda Springs interchange, pictured above. Within their concrete mix, 15% of the cementitious material is fly ash. The existing roadway is being removed and the concrete, asphalt, and bridge demolition debris is being hauled just a short distance to another Caltrans right-of-way location adjacent to the project where it is being processed into Class II Aggregate Base and reused in the new structural section. Paving equipment being used on the project includes a Gomaco Commander III and a Gomaco GHP-2800.
Creating a safer transportation environment is a top goal with this project. The addition of the truck-climbing lane, rehabilitation of the roadway, improved signage, and enhanced guardrails and concrete barriers all work to meet that goal.
Big thanks and a tip of the hard hat go out to Teichert Project Manager Ryan Payne, and Project Engineers Nadien Brickler and Parker Jenks for their generous contributions to this story.
Upcoming Projects
The I-80 Monte Vista Pavement Rehabilitation Project
Starting 0.45 miles west of the Monte Vista Overcrossing on Interstate 80 and going to 0.3 miles east of the Drum Forebay Overcrossing in Placer County, this project is tackling the existing pavement that’s in fair to poor condition. Additional work will include the addition of an eastbound truck-climbing lane, the expansion of the overcrossings to accommodate the new truck-climbing lane, new drainage systems, TMS elements, upgraded signage, and new concrete barriers. As work progresses, the need for better wildlife connectivity – and how it can be achieved – will be further evaluated.
DeSilva Gates received the contract for the project, and began construction in February. Work is scheduled to complete in June 2028. The total cost for the project is estimated to be $146,779,000. Support Costs account for $19,814,000 of the budget, and Capital Costs of $126,965,000 taking up the balance of the budget.
I-80 Blue Canyon Pavement Rehabilitation Project
This project is currently under development and focuses on three locations of Interstate 80 between Crother Road near Meadow Vista up to Nyack Road. Proposed roadway improvements include a truck-climbing lane and pavement rehabilitation work on eastbound I-80. To accommodate a new truck-climbing lane, the roadway would need to be widened, and two structures – the Blue Canyon Undercrossing and the West Paoli Lane/Weimar Overcrossing – replaced with wider structures.
The scope of work would also include drainage system improvements, increased roadside lighting, median barrier upgrades, improved TMS elements eastbound, and the construction of a wildlife crossing box culvert.
The benefits to be derived from this project are great. The addition of a new truck-climbing lane would enhance the traffic flow and improve the safety of this portion of I-80. New rehabilitated pavement would be smoother, providing better maneuverability and improved vehicle gas mileage, along with overall safer driving conditions. The construction of a new wildlife crossing would also improve safety by reducing conflicts. Enhanced lighting and new signage are also being considered to provide for a safer environment.
The Blue Canyon Project is currently scheduled to go out to bid in 2025.
Big thanks and a tip of the hard hat go out to Caltrans District 3 Public Information Officer Jeremy Linder and Caltrans Project Manager Sean Shaw for their generous assistance with this story.