Caltrans announces closures on Highway 99, I-5

The California Department of Transportation will be doing construction work on Highway 99, from Highway 140 to Main Street near Merced, during the next few weeks, according to a press release.

Work will occur as follows:

▪ The northbound on-ramp from Highway 140 near 16th Street to Highway 99 is closed and scheduled to reopen in January.

▪ The southbound on-ramp from G Street to Highway 99 is closed and scheduled to reopen in December next year.

▪ The northbound off-ramp from Highway 99 to G Street is closed and scheduled to reopen in January.

▪ The eastbound connector ramp from Highway 140 to Highway 99 near Main Street is closed and scheduled to reopen in January.

Motorists should expect five-minute delays, and alternate routes should be taken whenever possible. The work is part of the $32.4 million Highway 99 East Merced Overhead Project, which began June 11, 2012. As part of the project, bridge decks on the 15th Street undercrossing and the east Merced overhead structures will be replaced. Also, bridge widths and rails will be brought to current standards, a concrete median barrier will be installed, shoulder widths will brought to current standards and the existing guard rails and bridge approach rails will be upgraded.

In addition to the work on Highway 99, Caltrans will perform various road construction and bridge work on Interstate 5 on Merced County’s West Side, from Highway 152 south of Canal Road to Highway 33 south of McCabe Road.

Work will happen as follows:

▪ Crews will close northbound I-5 at Highway 152 south of Canal Road from Sunday through Wednesday, from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.

▪ The connector ramp on northbound and southbound I-5 at Highway 152 will close from Sunday through Wednesday, from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m.

Motorists should expect 15-minute delays. A signed detour is in place; Highway 99 alternate routes should be used whenever possible.

This story was originally published December 26, 2014 at 5:44 PM with the headline "Caltrans announces closures on Highway 99, I-5."