Caltrans today will begin a repaving project on Highway 20 in Lake County from Highway 53 just east of Clearlake Oaks to the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge, about six miles away, and traffic delays are expected.

The project will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with one-way traffic control along some stretches.

Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie Jr. said the contractor, Argonaut Construction of Santa Rosa, will use a fairly new repaving technique called Cold In-Place Recycling, or CIR.

“CIR reduces the amount of waste (asphalt grindings) that must be reused or disposed of,” Frisbie said in a statement. “Several inches of the old asphalt are ground off, crushed, new oil is added, they are laid back down and compacted. This all takes place right on the highway. As a final step a thin layer of
new asphalt is laid down to finish it off. The recycled asphalt provides an excellent base for the new top surface, and it increases the life of the roadway compared to a conventional overlay.”

UPDATE JUNE 21: Frisbie reports crews first are taking core samples to confirm the depth and condition of the current pavement. Actual repaving is expected the first week of July, with the project being completed by Nov. 1.