# California Builds $400m Shield for Yosemite Highway

> California constructs $400 million rock shield to protect Yosemite’s Highway 140 from deadly slides.
- Title: California Builds $400m Shield for Yosemite Highway | Shortify
- Summary: California constructs $400 million rock shield to protect Yosemite’s Highway 140 from deadly slides. California is building a $400 million shield to protect…
- Keywords: caltrans, yosemite national park, highway 140, ferguson slide, rockslide, california, yosemite, mariposa, el capitan, half dome, merced river, el niño
- Source: Sfchronicle — https://sfchronicle.com/california/article/yosemite-national-park-highway-140-22463847.php
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: caltrans, yosemite national park, highway 140, ferguson slide, rockslide, california, yosemite, mariposa, el capitan, half dome, merced river, el niño
## Highway 140 at Yosemite
Highway 140 ends abruptly near Yosemite National Park with two traffic lights directing cars across steel bridges over the Merced River.
## Ferguson Slide Threat
The Ferguson Slide buried Highway 140 in rocks and debris in 2006, creating a dangerous canyon for drivers.
## New $400m Shield Project
California is building a $400 million rock shield to protect Yosemite’s most dangerous highway from rockslides.

> California is building a $400 million shield to protect highway 140, yosemite’s most dangerous highway.
## 675-Foot Rock Shed
Caltrans is constructing a 675-foot rock shed over Highway 140 to restore the vulnerable segment for five years.
## 100-Year Structure
The vaulted concrete arch will last a hundred years and withstand catastrophic shifts in earth and weather.

> Designed to last a hundred years, the structure could tolerate just about any catastrophic shift in earth and weather
## Rock Slide Risk
The structure could be buried up to 40 feet by a rock avalanche in seconds, but larger rocks would go over it into the river.

> Anything larger than this, he added, will simply go over the shed and into the river.
## Local Concerns
Residents worry about winter storms and El Niño bringing heavy rain that could cause more rockslides.

> We have an el niño coming
## Historical Context
Highway 140 opened a century ago with a dedication ceremony at the Clark Ranch, carrying visitors to Yosemite.

> When highway 140 opened to the public a hundred years ago, local politicians, park service workers and state highway commissioners held a dedication ceremony at the clark ranch
## Tourism Impact
Tourism is now the top industry in Mariposa County, funding public services through hotels and vacation rentals.

> Tourism is now the number one industry in mariposa county, funding many of the public services
## Recent Slide Incidents
A truck-sized boulder blocked Highway 140 near Cedar Lodge, requiring three days to blast in half.

> They had to blast the rock in half to get it off, took about three days
## El Niño Concerns
Residents fear heavy winter rains from El Niño could trigger more rockslides on Highway 140.

> We’re always going to build things where they shouldn’t be built
## Project Completion
Caltrans aims to complete the rock shield by 2031, but winter storms could test its durability.

> The shed heralded a new era for 140, promising that engineers could once again keep the canyon’s rockfalls at bay
## Key takeaway

California is building a $400 million shield to protect Yosemite’s most dangerous highway from rockslides.