FORTUNA— Fortuna residents will be greeted with a new improved view as they enter the town’s limits, thanks to the construction of a welcome monument on U.S. Highway 101 and the Main Street connector ramps.
This $390,000 Clean California Beautification project revitalizes the entry point near the city's northernmost Main Street connection to U.S. 101 with refurbished concrete islands and water wise landscaping. The year-long undertaking transformed two previously deteriorated concrete islands by replacing cracked surfaces and overgrown weeds with sustainable, low-maintenance hardscaping and drought-tolerant plants. The project’s completion reflects Caltrans’ ongoing commitment to beautifying public spaces and improving the experience of both residents and the traveling public.
To celebrate, community members, city officials, county supervisors, and Caltrans representatives gathered today to unveil the brand-new monument.
“City staff are very pleased to have been able to deliver this long-envisioned amenity to the residents of Fortuna and our many visitors,” said City of Fortuna Public Works Director Brendan Byrd. “We are very grateful for the participation from our partners at Caltrans, and through the grant funding received from the Clean California program. Without both this project will still be just a vision.”
“The successful completion of a project like this necessitates a community-driven approach, and through collaborative efforts with the City of Fortuna, local partners, and the support of Clean California, this beautification project has become a testament to community spirit,” said Caltrans District 1 Director Matt Brady.
This project was made possible through Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative, a sweeping $1.2 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and help communities beautify their public spaces. Clean California has funded 319 projects statewide to revitalize and beautify underserved communities. Projects are improving public spaces, tribal lands, parks, neighborhoods, transit centers, walking paths, streets, roadsides, recreation fields, community gathering spots, and places of cultural importance or historical interest.
Since July 2021, Caltrans and its local partners have picked up more than 3 million cubic yards of litter – enough to fill 100,000 residential garbage trucks. Caltrans has also hosted more than 600 free dump days in communities throughout the state – resulting in the collection of 15,000-plus mattresses and 57,000 tires. The initiative has enlisted more than 60,000 community clean-up volunteers and created thousands of jobs, including positions for individuals who were formerly incarcerated, on probation, or experiencing housing insecurity.
For more information, visit CleanCA.com.
Media Contact: myles.cochrane@dot.ca.gov