California Eminent Domain Report

In order to construct the Silva Valley Interchange on Highway 50, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors passed a Resolution on January 4, 2013 to acquire approximately 12 acres by eminent domain.  As reported by In El Dorado County, the county could not negotiate a deal with the owner of a 52 acre block of which the county seeks the 12 acres. The owner did not oppose the project but expressed concerns as to the impacts it would have on his remaining acreage. 

While the Board maintains that using eminent domain is not common for them and Caltrans forced its hand, it also said the acquisition was time sensitive to take advantage of lower construction costs and to ensure Caltrans funding for the project.  A state grant of one million dollars will expire this year on June 30 unless the county has possession of all of the properties it requires for the project. 

The interchange is along Highway 50 between Bass Lake Road and El Dorado Hills Boulevard.  A Caltrans engineer said the State has been working on the project since 1980.  Completion of Phase 1 of the project is slated for 2016.