Hwy 108 Bypass Project Well Ahead Of Schedule
Sonora, CA — The work on the Highway 108 East Sonora Bypass is running almost one year ahead of schedule.
Tuolumne County Transportation Council Executive Director, Darrin Grossi, was Friday’s KVML “Newsmaker of the Day”.
Grossi says, “They are well ahead of schedule.”
He added, “At the rate that they are going, I would not be surprised if the bypass is open to traffic sometime in October of 2013. However, there is no official date set yet.” Grossi continues to meet with Caltrans for detailed updates on a regular basis.
The East Sonora Bypass was originally scheduled to open in the summer of 2014. The highway is being built to federal standards which only permit a maximum 6% incline. Grossi added that the new section is being built 80 feet above the existing road.
Grossi is also pleased to announce that the agency plans to bring back YARTS beginning on May 16th and it will run through September 15th.
YARTS is the Yosemite Area Roundtrip Service offered daily between Sonora and Yosemite Valley.
In 2012, the service was considered a great success. On Saturday and Sunday there were two additional runs.
“All of the rides were so popular, that this year we will add the second bus every day from June 15th through August 18th,” said Grossi.
During the Mother Lode Round-Up Parade on Saturday May 11th, Grossi points out that special trolley rides will pick-up the public from Columbia, Jamestown and east Sonora.
The services will bring people into downtown Sonora from 8am through 10 am and will take people home from 12:30 pm through 6pm.
As far as regular Public Transportation in Tuolumne County, Grossi says to expect a new daily schedule and new route information, based on public feedback, July 1st. Fares will not be going up.
For more information, log on to http://www.tuolumnecountytransit.com
The “Newsmaker of the Day” is heard every weekday morning on AM 1450 KVML at 6:47, 7:47 and 8:47a.m.
