Delays Expected for July 4th Holiday Weekends on Interstate 5 Pit River Bridge.

REDDING, Calif. -- The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 2 advises motorists they should prepare for moderate to major delays through the construction/cone zone on the Pit River Bridge over Shasta Lake, the weekends before and after July 4th.

Work continues on

the two-year emergency deck replacement project that began July 2006. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction and the speed has been lowered to 45 MPH. Conditions do not allow for opening additional lanes and Caltrans asks motorists to be patient, plan extra time to reach their destinations and choose off-peak times to travel.

Caltrans will use changeable message signs, highway advisory radio and the internet, at www.caltrans2.info to inform motorists of delay times and backups. Travelers can also get real time updated information by calling the Pit River bridge hotline at 530-225-3054.

*Estimates of peak time delays and backups:

Saturday, June 30, 2007

* NB I-5: Peak 11:00AM - 7:00PM, 20 to 60 minutes

Sunday, July 1, 2007

* NB I-5: Peak 12:30PM - 4:30PM, 15 to 30 minutes

* SB I-5: Peak 3:00PM - 7:30PM, 10 to 25 minutes

Saturday, July 7, 2007

* NB I-5: Peak 12:30PM - 2:30PM, 5 to 10 minutes

Sunday, July 8, 2007

* SB I-5: Peak Noon - 11:30PM, 20 to 90 minutes

What to do to make your trip more comfortable:

* Make sure your vehicle is in good working order, with a full tank of gas before starting your trip.

* Bring along plenty of drinking water, snacks and something to occupy any children traveling with you.

* Charge your cell phone battery.

* Inform others of your planned destination, and let them know when you have arrived.

The California Highway Patrol will be enforcing speed limits and a service patrol contractor will be available to keep traffic flowing. The contractor can assist overheated vehicles with water, supply gasoline and/or tow disabled vehicles out of the roadway to keep traffic flowing.

NOTE: An electronic version of this news release is available on the Internet at the following web address: http://caltrans2.info/roadinfo.htm