The stretch of State Route 70 that runs through Portola between Green Street and Second Street is getting an update this season. The roadway will be repaved and repainted. New striping will reduce through lanes from four to two, create new bike lanes with a buffer zone, widen the turn lanes and realign the traffic signals — all while maintaining current parking, said Caltrans Public Information Officer Kurt Villavicencio. His email to The Plumas Sun relayed details provided by Project Manager Azeddine Bahloul.
A new streetscape
The work is part of Caltrans’ “Cromberg Combined” project, which covers about 16 miles of State Route 70 in eastern Plumas County, from Cromberg to just past Portola. The $101 million project encompasses a variety of roadway improvements, according to the Caltrans website: Recycling and replacing old pavement, widening shoulders to current standards, replacing guard rail, and replacing or installing drainage systems and culverts. The work, begun in 2024, is expected to be completed by 2026.
The restriping portion of the project was originally presented to the Portola City Council in September 2024, after other work had already begun. The plan was finalized following a public meeting April 3. Written feedback provided via comment box at the meeting was “positive and supportive,” Villavicencio reported.
Caltrans also received questions about parallel parking along SR 70 and snow clearance near intersections. The planned changes should improve both concerns, Villavicencio said. A new four-foot buffer zone will separate traffic from the seven-foot bike lane and 10-foot parking area, allowing for safer parking. A wider 14-foot middle lane will enable better snow management, he said.
The timeline for restriping depends on contractors’ schedules and weather conditions but will most likely take place at the end of the construction season, after repaving is complete, Villavicencio reported.
Improved safety, foot traffic expected
There are both safety and commercial benefits to the restriping plan, Villavicencio and Bahloul said in their email. Fewer lanes will calm traffic, resulting in more consistent speeds by removing the opportunity for passing, and reduce crashes at side streets, where motorists and pedestrians will cross only three lanes rather than five. The addition of bike lanes will better accommodate the needs of all road users.
Slower speeds and the addition of buffer zones make parking easier, which encourages foot traffic for local businesses, they said. It’s a theory City Manager Ryan Bonk heartily endorses.
“In my position as city manager, I personally spoke with most of the businesses along highway 70. All the businesses I spoke with had either positive or neutral responses to Caltrans’ proposal. Many believed this project would help attract customers to their storefronts, especially during the recreation season,” he said.
“As a resident, I am thrilled to see Caltrans implementing this proposal, which will provide a safer experience for both pedestrians and motorists. I also believe this plan emphasizes our small-town charm while laying the foundation for long-term benefits to the community,” said Bonk.
Nicole Formosa, marketing and communications manager for Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, a local mountain biking and trail-building nonprofit, concurred: “Additional bike lanes are an important infrastructure piece for connectivity around the region, allowing cyclists safer passage between towns and trails as they link up adventure rides on the vast web of gravel roads and singletrack trails, or road-ride between towns.” Projects that support bike tourism and the broader recreation economy in the region — such as SBTS’ Beckwourth Peak trail, currently under construction, or these new bike lanes — mean that “more dollars stand to flow into local businesses and will help ensure the long term health of our communities,” Formosa said.
Local businesses have seen mixed results so far. The construction work has brought business to Portola’s Napa Auto Parts, said Manager Michael Guerra, who added that he looks forward to the lane reduction.
At the Mountain View Cafe, business is suffering, said General Manager Louis Servin. The restaurant has seen fewer customers since the construction began. People often park in the restaurant’s large lot without patronizing the business. “They look more at the yellow and orange signs then they look at us,” he said. “We are really hurting right now. I was just in a meeting talking about changing menus for the same reason.” Once the construction is complete, he hopes things will go back to normal.
Meanwhile, at the Hub Community Fitness Center, it’s business as usual, said owner Chad Hermann. The gym isn’t intended to be a money-maker, Hermann explained. Its purpose is to create a safe environment for the community to work out. He hasn’t noticed any impact on usage due to construction, and doesn’t anticipate a change as a result of the lane change.