The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced today that a project on U.S. Highway 101 in Humboldt County, which will enhance freight movement and improve safety, can move forward after a favorable court ruling.
The California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, affirmed an earlier Humboldt County Superior Court judgment, ruling that the Richardson Grove Improvement Project followed the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The published opinion marks the end of more than 15 years of legal challenges under CEQA and related laws. The court upheld Caltrans’ environmental review and project approvals.
The project will make roadway improvements along approximately one mile of U.S. Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park in southern Humboldt County to allow standard freight STAA legal (Surface Transportation Assistance Act) vehicles to travel through the corridor.
“This is an important milestone for a project that has undergone extensive environmental review and public input over many years,” said Caltrans District 1 Director Matt Brady. “We appreciate the thoroughness of the process and are ready to move forward with improvements that will enhance commercial mobility and improve safety on this critical stretch of U.S. 101 while protecting the surrounding environment.”
No old-growth redwood trees will be removed by the project. As part of early project work, Caltrans has recently conducted time-sensitive tree work to minimize impacts to nesting birds. Crews marked and removed only younger, newer-growth trees in preparation for construction. All tree removals planned for the project have been completed.
To further protect the sensitive environment within the park, Caltrans plans to use unconventional construction methods, including hand digging and air spades, to minimize impacts on redwood root systems.
Project construction is currently anticipated to begin in late May or early June, pending favorable conditions.
Caltrans will continue to provide project updates via "Caltrans District 1" on social media.
Additional information is available on the project web page.
Contact: myles.cochrane@dot.ca.gov
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