Highway 99 rehabilitation in Gridley moves ahead of schedule as major excavation begins

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]A major traffic alert for drivers in Gridley tonight. A massive transformation along a 2-mile stretch of Highway 99 is moving ahead of schedule.

[00:00:09]As Action News Now reporter Jerry Olennon shows us, a critical phase of that project starts in just a few hours.

[00:00:16]>> Since ground broke on the Highway 99 project 13 months ago, there have been very few bumps on the road to revitalizing Gridley, aside from the ones on the asphalt itself. The goal is to make the tiny town safer and more visually appealing, just like these renditions.

[00:00:32]Crews are currently installing pedestrian push buttons, signal components, and electrical upgrades.

[00:00:37]Plus, new sidewalks are already making morning strolls much smoother.

[00:00:41]>> Oh, this is this is fabulous cuz the rest of the town got some really bad sidewalks.

[00:00:47]>> But some heavy lifting is on the way.

[00:00:49]Beginning tonight, roadway excavation begins. The process of digging out part or all of a road so crews can build, repair, or replace what's underneath.

[00:00:59]And then rebuild the roadway surface so that it's brand new.

[00:01:05]In the meantime, Caltrans says drivers should expect occasional lane closures, uneven pavement in work zones, and minor delays.

[00:01:12]>> Well, you know, we're a small town. We like things quiet and simple.

[00:01:16]>> Kathy Mills is a long-time board member with the Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce. She says the city's 7,300 residents have had to endure plenty of nighttime construction noise, crews even handing out earplugs to nearby neighbors. But local leaders say night work is better than a daytime gridlock that could hurt local businesses, businesses that already took a hit during a soggy winter.

[00:01:36]>> Driving in and out and the chuck holes made by the rain, but you know, we got through all that and uh it's improved.

[00:01:45]>> It's a classic case of short-term pain for long-term gain.

[00:01:48]>> It is going to be really, really nice.

[00:01:51]>> In Gridley, Jerry Olennon, Action News Now.

[00:01:54]>> Funding for the $30 project is primarily coming from federal and state grants.

[00:01:59]Butte County provided nearly $4 million and the city of Gridley pitched in $400,000.