UPDATE: The Applegate Road over crossing, within the City of Atwater, is now open. Thank you for being so patient during the repairs. These repairs made the over crossing safe to drive on.

CALTRANS EXPEDITES EMERGENCY REPAIRS ON APPLEGATE ROAD OVERCROSSING ON STATE ROUTE 99 IN CITY OF ATWATER

Northbound State Route 99 Lane Closures Scheduled on October 20-21, Nightly Full Highway Closures Scheduled for October 27 through November 10, 2018

Merced County — The Department of Transportation (Caltrans, District 10) is expediting repairs of the Applegate Road Overcrossing on State Route 99 (SR-99) in the City of Atwater, California after the structure was hit by a big rig traveling on northbound SR-99 on the morning of October 11, 2018.

Following inspection by Caltrans bridge engineers, it was determined that four girders underneath the structure were damaged. While three of these girders will only need concrete patching, the fourth damaged girder will require reconstruction. Results of the inspection also deemed it safe for motorists to drive under the overcrossing, although the overcrossing has been closed to prevent vehicles from adding additional weight as they drive on top of the structure.

Caltrans, along with contractor R A Nemetz Construction Co, Inc of Galt, will begin the emergency concrete patching repairs on Saturday, October 20, 2018. This work will see a closure of the #1 (left) lane on northbound SR-99 beginning on Saturday, October 20, 2018, through Sunday, October 21, 2018, from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. The #2 (right) lane and the on- and off-ramps of northbound SR-99 at Applegate Road will remain open to traffic during this time.

On Saturday, October 27, 2018, efforts will begin to reconstruct the fourth damaged girder and will require nightly full-highway closures of northbound SR-99 at Applegate Road from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m., through Saturday, November 10, 2018.

DETOUR INFORMATION:
Motorists traveling on northbound SR-99 will be directed to detour at the Atwater Boulevard Exit 196 approximately 1.5 miles south of Applegate Road, continue north on Atwater Boulevard, and then take the Atwater Boulevard on-ramp to northbound SR-99. Traffic on southbound SR-99 will not be affected. See illustration below.

ALERT FOR HIGH-PROFILE VEHICLES:
The vertical clearance of the Applegate Road Overcrossing will be temporarily lowered to 14 feet, 6 inches during all repair work. Big rigs and other high-profile vehicles are suggested to take the Atwater Boulevard detour.

Caltrans will continue to provide updates on the emergency repair efforts and any change in schedule for lane closures, highway closures or detour routes.

Safety remains the top priority for Caltrans and it will not re-open the structure until it is determined safe to do so.

For the safety of workers and other motorists, please Slow For the Cone Zone.

CHP Press Release