SANTA CRUZ COUNTY – Caltrans maintenance crews will be performing an emergency tree removal along a one-mile section of northbound Highway 17 from Vine Hill Road to Sugarloaf near Scotts Valley for one day only Friday, July 15, Caltrans officials have announced.

Roadwork will require closing the northbound #2 (right) lane from 9 am to 3 pm. Motorists can expect delays of 25-30 minutes.

An electronic message board will be activated today to advise the travelers of this roadwork. The CHP will be onsite to assist with traffic control. 

The purpose of this maintenance work is to safely remove a fir tree hazard that is splitting from the base up and needs to be removed. Roadwork is being performed by the Santa Cruz North Crew and is expected to be complete by 3pm Friday.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over or slow down when driving through highway work zones.