Calling it a "major milestone toward restoring normalcy for commuters and businesses," Caltrans announced that seven months after a fire gutted the historic Hotel Marysville, northbound State Route 70 is scheduled to reopen to traffic Friday evening.

Highway 70 in Marysville, which has been a headache for many local drivers, is set to reopen this weekend after the demolition of the Hotel Marysville.

Seven months after the June fire that gutted the Hotel Marysville, normal traffic along Highway 70 through the downtown will resume Friday.

The City of Marysville and Caltrans announced today Highway 70 northbound through the city will re-open late tomorrow. Contractors Thursday began applying gunite, a sprayable concrete, to the debris mound formed after deconstruction of the five story Hotel Marysville.

The reopening of the highway ends a seven-month detour after a fire damaged the historic building and caused safety concerns.