Con Dig (15-Jan-26)  California-based civil contractor and construction materials producer Granite has been awarded a highway improvement contract valued at about $66 million by the California Department of Transportation for work in Nevada County.

The project will expand a section of State Route 49 to four lanes with a center turn lane, a move aimed at improving safety, traffic flow and local access along the corridor. Funding for the project will come from a mix of federal and state sources, and the contract value will be included in Granite’s fourth-quarter 2025 capital allocation plan.

According to Granite, the scope of work includes construction of a truck climbing lane to support freight mobility, accessibility upgrades to multiple driveways and side streets, drainage improvements to enhance long-term roadway performance, and installation of a wildlife crossing box culvert designed to protect local ecosystems.

“This project, located near Sacramento and within Granite’s market, highlights our partnership with Caltrans District 03,” said Carter Rohrbough, Granite vice president of regional operations. “The Nevada County Transportation Commission identified 59 collisions in this corridor over three years, with more than half due to congestion. Adding new travel lanes will help reduce congestion and improve access for residents.”

Granite will supply about 75,000 tons of hot-mix asphalt and rubberized hot-mix asphalt from its Bradshaw Hot Plant to pave the roadway, supporting material quality control and efficient delivery.

The Highway 49 project adds to Granite’s portfolio of public infrastructure work in California, where transportation agencies continue to prioritize safety improvements and congestion relief on key corridors.