Caltrans starts $34.6 million State Route 20 pavement project | The Locally Times
Construction on the 26-mile corridor between Nevada City and Interstate 80 will cause 20-minute delays through 2027.
Commuters traveling between Nevada City and Interstate 80 face 15 to 20-minute delays starting Monday, June 22, 2026, as Caltrans begins a $34.6 million pavement rehabilitation project. The work requires 24/7 lane closures in two-mile segments along nearly 26 miles of State Route 20. ## Traffic Impact The construction zone spans from Dow Street to the junction with Interstate 80. Caltrans District 3, the regional division of the California Department of Transportation, scheduled grinding operations for nighttime hours and paving for the day. The project maintains two-mile segments of lane closures around the clock. Work stops on Friday mornings and resumes on Sunday nights. Caltrans directs drivers to the QuickMap app for real-time traffic updates. ## Construction Timeline Primary paving operations conclude by early August 2026, but the project continues through the end of 2027. Knife River Construction of Chico serves as the prime contractor. Beyond repaving, the project includes the restoration of drainage systems and the replacement of guardrails and roadway signage to meet current safety standards. Caltrans District 3 manages 4,385 lane miles across 11 Northern Sierra and Sacramento Valley counties. ## Budget and Planning Gaps The Caltrans project release does not specify the breakdown of the $34.6 million budget between state and federal funding sources. Project records do not detail specific detour routes for commuters or the anticipated impact on local emergency response times. The document does not define the specific work scheduled between the completion of paving in August 2026 and the final project deadline in late 2027. ## Key Questions **How long will the construction delays last?** Motorists should expect 15 to 20-minute daily delays throughout the project, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. **When will the paving work be finished?** Paving operations are set to conclude by early August 2026, while drainage and guardrail upgrades continue through 2027.