New Traffic Schedule for U.S. 199 in Del Norte County
Beginning Thursday, Sept. 14, U.S. 199 in Del Norte County will be fully closed from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. The roadway will open to one-way controlled traffic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The two daily closures will be in effect Monday-Friday.
U.S. 199 will be open to one-way controlled traffic Saturdays, Sundays and before 8 a.m. and after 4 p.m. on weekdays. Motorists should anticipate up to one-hour delays during all open hours.
Caltrans will continue to pilot northbound traffic from Patrick Creek to Oregon Mountain Road and southbound traffic from Oregon Mountain Road to Patrick Creek. By “timing it right” to arrive slightly before and during these open windows, travel impacts can be greatly reduced as crews continue their hard work battling the elements.
The work on U.S. 199 involves the removal of hazardous trees, repairing and replacing damaged guardrails and slope stabilization. Because the repair work involves multiple contractors working at several locations, vehicular traffic is unable to go through the site smoothly without completely stopping the work. In order to expedite the work while providing safe access for the traveling public, it is necessary to close the road fully twice daily.
By closing U.S. 199 to motorists for short periods, the contractors can focus on completing the necessary repairs to get the road fully reopened before the rainy season begins. If we were to refrain from utilizing these intermittent, full closures, it would likely take two to three times as long to complete the necessary repairs.
This plan is subject to change if there is a safety risk to the traveling public and/or personnel.
U.S. 199 Traffic Schedule in Del Norte County
8 to 11 a.m. – Full closure
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Open to one-way controlled traffic
1 to 4 p.m. – Full closure
4 p.m. to 8 a.m. – Open to one-way controlled traffic
Follow Caltrans District 1 social media for more updates, and check https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or the QuickMap app for the latest road conditions.
The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Department, in collaboration with the Del Norte County Office of Emergency Services have lowered the evacuation level for the Gasquet evacuation zone from level 2 to level 1.
An interactive map has been updated to show these changes. The map is available at:
https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/…/sidebar/index.html… (https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/…/sidebar/index.html…)
A Forest Service Area Closure is shown on this interactive map. Entry into the Forest Closure Area is prohibited to all. More information on the Forest Closure can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/srnf/notices/… (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/srnf/notices/…)
US-199 is now OPEN to all traffic but continues to have hazardous conditions and congestion with fire personnel. One-way controlled traffic at various locations from 3 miles south of Patrick Creek Rd to 2.9 miles south of the Oregon State Line. Motorists should expect delays of up to one (1) hour. Del Norte Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to refrain from any unnecessary travel. Local roads will be very active with firefighters and firefighting apparatus, especially between the hours of 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM.
Residents are highly encouraged to remain vigilant as the evacuation level could be raised again if fire activity and conditions warrant such changes. All county roads within the Forest Service Closure Area will remain closed and at a level 3.