Following a pilot car and in a “caravan-type” fashion, motorists will cross the Merced River for a six mile detour around the slide on a partially paved road. It is expected that the first caravan for westbound traffic will leave east of El Portal at the Foresta Bridge at 5:30 a.m. Travelers must be in line by 5:30 a.m. to be allowed to join this caravan. This will be followed by a caravan for eastbound traffic which will leave from approximately five miles east of Briceburg at 6 a.m. Travelers must be in line by 6 a.m. in order to be allowed to join this caravan.
In the evening, the caravan for westbound traffic will leave east of El Portal at the Foresta Bridge beginning at 6 p.m. Traffic flow will alternate in direction until the final evening caravan leaves westbound at 7:30 p.m. In order to join the final westbound evening caravan, travelers must be in line east of El Portal at the Foresta Bridge by 7:30 p.m.
As this is a controlled one-way limited opening, vehicles must be in line before each opening to be allowed to join the caravan. Motorists should be aware the speed limit on the detour will be 15 miles per hour.
The California Highway Patrol will be on site to enforce construction work zone rules and regulations. Due to roadway limitations, pedestrians and bicyclists will not be allowed on the temporary Highway 140 bypass. Vehicles using the temporary Highway 140 bypass are restricted to twenty eight feet in length.