OROVILLE, CA (MPG) – The section of Hwy 70 that stretches between the northern city limits of Marysville to Oroville has been knick-named “Blood Alley” by some and is known as one of the deadliest roadways in northern California. Over the recent years, the increase in hazardous diving along the mostly two-laned highway has resulted in over 30 fatal accidents. In an effort to promote safer driving conditions, Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and local elected officials announced a series of safety measures at a press conference held Wednesday, March 6^th.

These upcoming roadway improvements and measures are part of a multi-agency campaign to increase public safety and reduce traffic collisions along the highway 70 corridor and will precede the start of a series of construction projects along the route planned to begin later this spring. Among those projects will be the addition of passing lanes from Ophir Road to Palermo Road. Caltrans District 3 Director Amarjeet S. Benipal said during the conference that “We echo the public concerns about traffic safety along this corridor and stand committed to ensure the roadway stays safe for travel. Safety is our top 1 priority.”

Officials from the Yuba-Sutter and Oroville CHP offices, Butte and Yuba Counties, joined Benipal in announcing the establishment of a Daylight Headlight Section on a 22-miles stretch of highway 70. Motorists will now be required to turn on their headlights while driving on Hwy 70 anywhere between Laurellen Rd north of Marysville and Ophir Rd, just south of Oroville. Benipal states that “From our experience, daylight headlight sections have been effective in increasing motorist safety on heavily traveled rural roadways.” Statistics from National and International studies support the director’s comment, showing that the use of daytime use of headlights reduce daylight vehicles accidents from 5 to 15 percent. Signs notating the new measure will be installed along highway 70 as soon as weather permits.

Other safety measures that can be expected in the near future are the installation of 5 solar-powered RADAR speed feedback signs in along the route in Yuba and Butte counties and 3 signs alerting motorists that passing lanes are ahead between Cox Lane and Central House Rd. The installation of additional rumbles strips along the corridor, alerting motorists that they are crossing the center divide or leaving the roadway, is expected to cut fatal accidents by 44 percent and head-on collisions by 42 percent.