California Department of Transportation
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Winter Operations

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Snow Removal Operations
Snow Removal Operations and General Information (PDF 946 KB)


Northern Sierra Chain Control Map
For current chain control locations in District 3, please click on the following link:
Current Chain Control Map (PDF 200 KB)

Northern Sierra Chain Control List
For additional chain control information regarding highway and direction(s) affected, please click on the following link: Current Chain Control List (PDF 102 KB)

Live Traffic Camera
Click a link below. To enlarge the camera view and unlock from the left side menu, click on the double white arrow in the corner, next to the video image.
WB 80 at Kingvale I-80 at Kingvale, west of Donner Summit
50 at Ski Run U.S. 50 in South Lake Tahoe

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California Highway Information Network (C.H.I.N.)
When traveling in California try our toll free service 1-800-427-ROAD (7623). This service is available free from any touch-tone phone, cellular phone or pay phone. For other areas outside of California please dial 916-445-7623. This system provides information regarding the condition of the California State Highway System. It covers incidents that cause significant delays to the normal flow of traffic such as, but not limited to, full closures, one-way traffic controls, lane closures, construction, maintenance projects, and emergencies. Normal commute traffic, ramp closures and traffic flow conditions are not included in these reports.
Chain Requirement Levels and Traffic Control Definitions
R-1:
Chains or snow tread tires required. Snow tires must have a tread depth of 6/32" with a "M & S" imprint on the tire's sidewall.
R-2:
Chains required on all vehicles except four-wheel drives or all-wheel drives with snow tread tires on all four wheels.
R-3:
Chains required - ALL VEHICLES- no exceptions
R-1 and R-2 are the most common chain controls. The highway will often be closed before an R-3 control is imposed.
C
Road Closed
S
Split Control - Chains or snow tread tire requirements are set at two separate points of the highway for different requirements. It is not uncommon to have R-1 conditions from point A to point B and R-2 conditions from point B to point C.
T
Truck Hold - During major storms when traffic flow is heavy, Caltrans may hold commercial tractor-trailer combinations at specific points below the snow line. These points typically are:
Eastbound I-80 at Applegate (east of Auburn, CA)
Westbound I-80 at Verdi, Nevada (west of Reno, NV)
H
Hold Traffic - Traffic is held due to spinouts and accidents. When the spinout or accident is cleared, traffic is then released.