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SOURCE:  Caltrans News Release, February 17, 2009


CALTRANS SCHEDULES HEARING ON SR-39 REOPENING PROJECT

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will hold a public

hearing Tuesday, February 24, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. regarding the State Route 39

(SR-39) rehabilitation and reopening project. The hearing will be held at the city of

Azusa Senior Center, 740 North Dalton Avenue, Azusa, CA 91702.

Caltrans is in the preliminary stages of a construction effort that would reopen four

miles of SR-39 connecting to Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2). A portion of SR-39 has

been closed to public highway traffic since 1978 when the road sustained extensive

damage as a result of a rock slide and related erosion. Currently, the road has a limited

passable path for emergency service vehicles and is very narrow at the northern end of

the closed portion.

The proposed project would rehabilitate and reopen the highway from approximately

five miles north of the Crystal Lake Campground to SR-2. The project will repair the

road, but also include measures to prevent future rock slides, mudslides and other

problems.

Four project alternatives are under consideration including the “no-build” option, which

means the project would not go forward. All build alternatives would: overlay asphalt

on the existing roadway pavement; install rock fall fencing at six locations; replace the

existing damaged retaining wall at one area; construct retaining walls utilizing steel to

stabilize the embankment; remove and replace the water-draining area and facilities at

Snow Springs; and replace damaged steel walls with state-of-the-art retaining walls

utilizing steel at three locations.

Reopening the four mile segment of SR-39 is an important part of improving the

access, services, and response times for the United States Forest Service (USFS), the

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), and other emergency service

agencies. Reopening SR-39 also will restore a vital traffic connection between SR-2

and the San Gabriel Valley.

Before Caltrans can reopen SR-39, the project must be environmentally reviewed. This

hearing is a part of that process and public comment will be recorded in the

environmental documents. The public is encouraged to attend the hearing and share

comments and/or concerns on project alternatives before a final design and alternative

is selected.

This project has a dedicated funding source of State Highway Operation and Protection

Program (SHOPP) funds. Depending on selection of a design alternative, construction

would begin in winter 2011 and complete by fall 2012. For more information regarding

this project, please contact Eduardo Aguilar at (213) 897-8492.

[webmaster's note:  The Draft Environmental Assessment/Environmental Impact Report is available on the Caltrans Region 7 website (click here).  You may submit written comment until March 11, 2009.]


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