SR-111 near Niland to close starting Friday

NILAND — Caltrans officials expect full closure of State Route 111 about 5 miles northwest of here at Davis and Gillespie roads for up to two weeks starting Friday after 5 p.m.

The closure is related to an emergency project to mitigate the mud-pot geyser has been migrating toward SR-111 since 2016.

Caltrans said there will be no access through SR111 at the closure points as crews will be installing drainage underneath the roadway. Local traffic may access SR-111 up to the closure points near Davis and Gillespie roads.

Because this is a stretch of highway without easily accessible parallel roads, general traffic will be detoured from the north and south of SR-111 to the west side of the Salton Sea along State Route 86 (see map).

Motorists are advised to plan for extended travel times along the detour.

The mud-pot geyser is releasing water, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gases in low concentrations and does not pose a health hazard from a distance. In the past 11 years, the geyser has moved slowly; however, the rate of movement has increased, and the geyser has already encroached the railroad right of way impacting Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

Caltrans is coordinating with local, state, and other partners for this mitigation and is now implementing this emergency project to expedite the work. For safety reasons, there is no access to the mud pot and public site visits are prohibited.

For more information or to receive project construction alerts, contact the Caltrans Public Information Office at (619) 688-6670 or by email to CT.Public. Information.D11@dot.ca.gov.

Visit the project webpage at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-11/ district-11-current-projects/SR-111-Niland-Geyser-Mitigation-Project.