Donner Pass provides vital access to residents and businesses and a host of recreational opportunities on the summit and at Donner Lake . But traveling Donner Pass Road is getting more and more troubling as the pavement is in such bad repair. It used to be the only way to get over Donner Summit, then in the mid 1960’s Interstate 80 was constructed and as part of that project the state relinquished Donner Pass Road to Nevada County. Nevada County Principal Civil Engineer Joshua Pack says the county has struggled to maintain the road .

click to listen to Joshua Pack

Two years ago the County conducted a feasibility study to determine what it would take to bring the roadway up to good condition, then they searched for Federal funding to do the work. Pack says they found a good funding match in the new Federal Lands Access Program and applied for a grant in January of 2015.

click to listen to Joshua Pack

Nevada County Supervisors at their meeting Tuesday passed a resolution accepting the grant and an additional $310,000  in State Exchange Funds. Placer County which also holds a portion of the road will contribute $150,000. Board Chair Ed Scofield commented that Donner Pass Road is a treasure of the county.

click to listen to Ed Scofield

Several commercials have also been filmed on the iconic bridge near the top of Donner Pass Road. Improvements to Donner Pass Road are expected to get started in 2019, or possibly sooner.