Since You Asked: Why is one lane of B Street in Marysville shut down?
Q: I have been wondering why one northbound lane of B Street in Marysville is closed between 12th and 14th streets and when it will reopen.
A: That section of B Street now serves as a dirt dumping-ground for the Caltrans repaving project on Highways 70 and 20 through Marysville.
It could take up to three years before the eastern lane of B Street is open for traffic again, Caltrans spokesman Gilbert Mohtes-Chan said.
"The excavated dirt will be stored there and then hauled away," Mohtes-Chan said. "It is just a temporary storage area."
B Street was reduced to one lane along Ellis Lake in July.
The work is part of a $48 million road improvement project that began over the summer. Funding comes from state and federal governments, according to Caltrans.
Road authorities have touted the project's anticipated benefits, which they say will cut maintenance costs and smooth out roads and sidewalks.
It includes new traffic signals, new trees, new drainage and ADA-complaint sidewalks, ramps and curbs. They claim the new pavement will last for the next 40 years.
Officials expect the full project will be completed in early 2015, which is around the time B Street will be fully reopened. That section of B Street will also be repaved.
Since You Asked is published on Mondays. Send questions to reporter Rob Parsons at the Appeal-Democrat, 1530 Ellis Lake Drive, Marysville, CA 95901, email him at rparsons@ appealdemocrat.com or call 749-4785.
