Grass Valley - Motorists traveling between Auburn and Grass Valley can expect intermittent delays beginning Tuesday, February 14 as crews from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) replace reflective markers on State Highway 49 between Wolf/Combie Road and McKnight Way.

Wednesday through Friday, February 15 - 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., motorists can expect a moving lane closure and delays of up to 15 minutes as crews replace reflective markers along this 11-mile stretch of roadway.

Caltrans along with Nevada County officials, the California Highway Patrol and local activists have formed a Highway 49 Safety Corridor Task Force. This force has already begun planning safety improvements, identifying available funding sources, promoting public awareness and discussing the feasibility of long and short-term roadway improvements to increase safety on Highway 49 between Wolf/Combine Road and McKnight Way.

Last week's re-striping of the traffic lanes, along with the replacement of the reflective markers are part of the immediate safety improvements requested during a recent community meeting and identified by Caltrans and the Task Force as a preliminary phase of the effort to improve safety on Highway 49.

Future improvements include grinding a new centerline rumble strip and re-striping that section of roadway with wider double yellow lines. Additional speed limit and warning signs would also be posted. Passing could also be restricted in select areas. This $500,000 project would be funded from the State Highway Operation and Protection Program, a fund used to improve the safety and operation of the State Highway system. Construction could be beginning as soon as this summer.