Sheriff addresses delays along Highway 89
By Debra Moore
It’s going to be slow going along from Chester to the Greenville Wye over the next couple of months as PG&E works to underground lines at a couple of locations. The latest area was announced earlier this week — a two mile stretch near Indian Falls.
Motorists are advised to allow for more time when traveling this route and can expect delays of up to 15 minutes between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays and delays of up to 45 minutes between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays and 24 hours a day on weekends.
There are also delays just south of Canyon Dam and north of Greenville. Sheriff Todd Johns said he is concerned about the potential delays and called PG&E to discuss the issue. He was told that the stops would be coordinated.
“It’s not coordinated I assure you that,” District 3 Supervisor Tom McGowan said, who represents the Almanor Basin. He said it took him two hours to make the drive into Quincy the morning of the Board of Supervisors meeting, July 11.
Sheriff Johns told the board during the meeting that he had discussed the issue with Supervisor Kevin Goss the night prior and that “we need to monitor it for the next couple of days.” Both Sheriff Johns and Supervisor Goss reside in Greenville and make the drive to Quincy regularly.
Johns said that if the delays become too great and aren’t coordinated he would call for a meeting with PG&E, Caltrans, and the CHP to address the issue. The work stoppages have not hindered vehicles responding to emergencies, but they do cause a delay for regular travel of his personnel.
Goss said that PG&E has been responsive when asked, and suspended work over the Fourth of July holiday and for other area events. Goss added that he is concerned that there will be increased traffic traveling over Mt. Hough.
In a conversation this morning, he said that he has talked with PG&E and assured that the wait-time would be limited.
PG&E also plans to underground other areas in western Plumas County later this year, including more stretches along Highways 70 and 89. When completed, about 60 miles of power lines will be undergrounded in Plumas County.
