Caltrans outlines $48 million rehab on Highway 4, Bear Valley businesses say poor notice has harmed revenues

Caltrans deputy district director Corey Casey briefed the Alpine County Board on a multi-season rehabilitation of Highway 4 stretching from the Calaveras-Alpine county line to the Highway 4/89 intersection. Casey said the $48,000,000 project replaces 66 drainage structures and upgrades six bridge rails, and work is staged in compressed seasonal windows that require intermittent full closures Monday–Wednesday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Local business leaders and supervisors told the board that last-minute closures and inconsistent communications have hurt Bear Valley businesses. "The communication to the public has been really poor... it's taking a devastating impact on our community in Bear Valley," a local speaker told the board, and Bear Valley Venture Company general manager Aaron Johnson said his business laid off two part-time employees because of the disruption. Caltrans acknowledged permitting and wildlife-survey constraints can force late changes but said the agency would work on more proactive outreach and suggested a future public workshop for next season's schedule.

Board members discussed whether nighttime operations could shorten the construction window; Caltrans said temperature-sensitive paving and wildlife-permit requirements generally prevent night work. Supervisors also discussed sending a letter to the legislature or administration to press Caltrans for improved communication; the Board reached unanimous consensus to place an item on a future agenda for a letter and to continue to press Caltrans.