A Press Democrat Blog

Road Warrior

Trying to make sense out of getting around

Highway 1 bridge in Mendocino County being replaced

Monday, at 10:36 by

A two-and-a-half-year, $20.5 million project to replace an ailing bridge on Highway 1 in Mendocino County is under way, and drivers can expect some traffic delays. Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie Jr. said in a statement that the 56-year-old Greenwood Creek Bridge near Elk “is nearing the end of its service life” and ‘is in need of deck rehabilitation and rail replacement.” He said the creek’s channel shifted over the years and has exposed one of the footings for the bridge.… Read More »

Ft. Bragg $4.4 million roundabout opens

Friday, at 9:35 by

Going to Fort Bragg? Get ready for the Highway 1 roundabout. Drivers this week began using the roundabout at Simpson Lane just south of Fort Bragg after Caltrans opened it. Construction crews still are putting the finishing touches on the $4.4 million project and are expected to be done later this fall. Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie Jr. has said the roundabout is the second one on a Mendocino County highway, with the first on Highway 175 near Hopland. The Fort… Read More »

Mendocino highway projects OK’d

Friday, at 9:03 by

The state Transportation Commission this month several million dollars for two storm repair projects on Mendocino County highways. On Highway 1 near Elk, $1.65 million will be spent to realign the road and fix damage from storms in the 2005-2006 winter. The road will be shifted to the east because of an unstable slope, Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie Jr. said. On Highway 253 near Boonville, $1.54 million is targeted for repairing two slipouts that also occurred in the winter of… Read More »

24/7 traffic control on Hwy. 1

Thursday, at 5:50 by

Caltrans next week will impose 24/7, one-way traffic control using stoplights on Highway 1 near Bodega Bay as construction crews do roadwork. Traffic had been controlled by flaggers during the day since work began June 7, but Caltrans spokesman Robert Haus said the work “has reached a point where the signalized, one-way traffic control is now necessary. Work is expected to last for five days. The project involves building a retaining wall along about a 500-foot stretch of Highway 1… Read More »

New local road projects OK’d

Tuesday, at 7:01 by

The state Transportation Commission last week approved several road projects for Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties, with the biggest chunk being $45 million to replace the Highway 101 bridges over the Petaluma River with wider spans to allow car-pool lanes. Click here to read about that. Among the other projects approved locally are: –$6.1 million to repave stretches of Highways 29 and 53 in Lake County. The Highway 29 work will go from just south of the junction with Highway… Read More »

Caltrans eases Bodega Bay traffic control

Monday, at 2:14 by

After getting complaints from Bodega Bay businesses and local politicians, Caltrans has pulled back on its plan to reduce Highway 1 to one lane 24/7 for three months because of roadwork. Instead, Caltrans spokesman Robert Haus said that starting today flaggers will control one-way traffic during daytime construction hours and the highway will be open to two-way traffic at night and on weekends. Originally, Caltrans planned to use traffic signals for one-way traffic control 24/7 during June, July and August.… Read More »

Hwy. 1 project/bottleneck near Bodega Bay

Wednesday, at 5:55 by

Starting Monday and lasting about three months, Highway 1 will be down to one lane 24/7 as Caltrans builds a retaining wall near Bodega Bay. Although Caltrans vows to keep traffic delays to a minimum, it’s pretty likely that during summer weekends the backup could get ugly, so be prepared. The work is being done along about a 500-foot stretch of Highway 1 just west of Bodega Highway, Caltrans spokesman Robert Haus said. The retaining wall is necessary because the… Read More »

Caltrans road work in Lake, Mendocino

Saturday, at 4:00 by

Caltrans this week is planning road projects in Lake and Mendocino counties that likely will affect traffic: –Highway 1, storm damage repairs near Union Landing viaduct in Mendocino County, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Perhaps 5-minute delays with one-way traffic control. –Highway 20, highway widening from 2.3 miles to 3.3 miles east of Gravel Pit Road in Mnedocino County, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Perhaps 5-minute delays with one-way traffic control. –Highway 20, routine maintenance from Daws Avenue… Read More »

Fort Bragg’s $4.4 million roundabout

Wednesday, at 6:22 by

After more than four years of planning and preparation at a cost of about $2.8 million, Caltrans is ready to break ground to build a roundabout on Highway 1 just south of Fort Bragg. Construction was estimated at $1.6 million, for a total cost of $4.4 million, but last week Fedco Construction Inc. of Santa Rosa was awarded the contract on a bid of $1.36 million, so the total cost should be less, around $4.2 million. Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie… Read More »

Hwy. 1, 101, 116 lane closures this week

Monday, at 6:00 by

Highway construction season is back in swing in Sonoma County, so that means Caltrans is getting busy with lane closures. Here are this week’s closures, according to Caltrans: –Highway 1, two miles south of the Russian River Bridge, one-way traffic control 24/7 for storm damage repair. –Highway 116, just east of Monte Rio, one-way traffic control, 24/7, for pavement repair and resurfacing. –Highway 116, under Highway 101 in Cotati, completely closed 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday to Friday for… Read More »