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Massive Marysville Highway Improvement Project Begins First Phase

MARYSVILLE (CBS13) — Work began on a massive construction project to fix up highways 70 and 20 in Marysville.

Day one of the $46 million project got off to a smooth start on Tuesday as construction crews began grinding down the 50-year-old cracked and bubbled asphalt along the eastbound Highway 70-20 interchange.

They'll dig two feet down, then lay about one foot of rock, and then another foot of highly reinforced concrete—the key ingredient which Caltans says will keep the road repair-free.

That portion of the highway sees more than 30,000 cars daily—10,000 of them big rigs and other trucks.

Business owners have been concerned the shifts and potential traffic jams could be bad for their bottom line.

But the first day of the much-anticipated highway overhaul didn't seem to impact traffic too much today. In fact, transportation crews say the commute seemed a little lighter than normal.

The roving detours will be in place depending on where the crews are working. The most difficult section for commuters will come in August when the entire intersection at Ninth and E streets will be closed. The entire project is expected to wrap up in 2015.

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