Wild and Scenic River Area. The area separates Sierra National Forest (south) and Stanislaus National Forest (north). Inside Yosemite, state routes are federally maintained and are not included in the state route logs. The highway continues into the park as El Portal Drive, following the Merced River to Yosemite Valley. The road intersects with Big Oak Flat Road, providing a connection to State Route 120. El Portal Drive then splits into a one way loop road to connect the rest of the valley, heading east as Southside Drive on the south side of the river and then looping back west as Northside Drive on the north side of the river. State Route 41/Wawona Road intersects with Southside Drive just east of the split. SR 140 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System, and is part of the National Highway System, a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration. SR 140 is eligible to be included in the State Scenic Highway System; however, only the part of the road from Mariposa to El Portal is designated as a scenic highway. History The "All-Weather Highway" (now State Route 140) opened in 1926, ensuring year-long visitation and delivery of supplies under normal conditions.[74] NPS 1989, p. 113. In June 2006, the road between El Portal and Mariposa was closed due to a rock slide. The Ferguson Slide buried about of SR140 between Cedar Lodge and Briceburg Visitor Center between SR-49 and SR-41. A small detour opened in August, 2006, with a traffic light system to allow drivers to circumvent the original slide damage area. Plans are underway for construction of a rock shed through the slide area to restore the original alignment. The road was closed in 2018 due to the Ferguson Fire. Major intersections See also References External links Caltrans Route 140 Photos California Highways—State Route 140 California @ AARoads.com - State Route 140 Caltrans: Route 140 highway conditions Acrobat US Forest Service file containing a map of the slide, (June 2006). Current Conditions - Ferguson Rock Slide, Chronology of Events 140 State Route 140 140 State Route 140 Merced, California