Update on Hwy 140 Closure

Caltrans has released some updated information on the CA 140 closure along the Merced River. Some morning & evening one-way CHP escorts between Midpines and El Portal today (Monday, 23 Jan). Sounds like one-way traffic control from 6am-7pm starting Tuesday, 24 Jan. Estimate for full two-lane reopening remains two weeks. Not sure if that means two weeks from the date of the slide (15 Jan), the original estimate (18 Jan) or today.

Caltrans update on Hwy 140 closure

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) continues to make progress clearing a rockslide that occurred on Sunday, January 15, 2023, temporarily closing State Route 140 near Briceburg in Mariposa County.

Route 140 currently is closed in both directions from the Bug Hostel (Midpines) to Cedar Lodge (El Portal).

At 6:00 a.m., on Monday, January 23, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will escort motorists from the Bug Hostel in Midpines to the Route 140 Yosemite National Park gate (El Portal). Motorists must be in the traffic queue in time to leave at 6:00 a.m. There are no restrictions to vehicle type.

At approximately 7:00 a.m. on Monday, January 23, CHP will escort motorists from the Route 140 park gate to Midpines. At 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 23, CHP again will escort motorists out of the park from the Route 140 park gate to Midpines.

Barring any setbacks, one-way traffic control will be enacted from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., beginning Tuesday, January 24, and will continue daily until both lanes of Route 140 are fully reopened. Motorists should expect delays.

Route 140 will be closed in both directions nightly from approximately 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Motorists who miss the available travel windows will be turned around at the closure points – the Bug Hostel (Midpines) and Cedar Lodge (El Portal).

To date, there is no change to the two-week estimate of fully reopening both directions of Route 140. Caltrans is working as safely and expeditiously as possible to reopen the highway sooner.

Clean up on the slide is ahead of schedule. Crews are working seven days a week, from sun up to sun down. This week, excavators knocked down overhanging and loose rocks from the slope, broke larger rocks into manageable pieces, and are hauling the material from the job site.

This work and the schedule are subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials and construction related issues. Motorists can access Yosemite National Park on State Route 120 or Route 41. For

Visit quickmap.dot.ca.gov or call 1-800-427-7623 (ROAD) for road information.