Guerneville 116 Pedestrian Upgrades

                      Guerneville Pedestrian Upgrades along State Route 116

 

Update December 2, 2024

Caltrans has finished sidewalk work on a two-block section of eastbound Route 116 between Brookside Lane and Church Street.  Sidewalk work has mostly been completed between Armstrong Woods and Old River Road, except a strip of concrete needs to be removed along the retaining wall that will allow for landscaping.  

Caltrans expects to complete the sidewalk work on westbound Route 116 between Old River Road and Armstrong Woods by the end of Janauary 2025. Likewise, sidewalk work in the westbound direction between Mill Street and Brookside Lane should be completed by January 2025. 

The last section of eastbound Route 116 between Armstrong Woods and Church Street will be completed by summer 2025. 

Caltrans will complete the final section of westbound Route 116 between Armstrong Woods and Mill Street by summer 2025. 

See the image below for a visual rendering of the latest schedule. 

 

 

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Guerneville Pedestrian Upgrades along State Route 116

 

Caltrans began a project in the summer of 2024 to upgrade sidewalks, replace traffic signals and add pedestrian beacons on State Route 116 in Guerneville between River Road and 4th Street.  Some patching of pavement will occur, but this is not a paving project. 

The improvements include replacing 23 curb ramps with ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).  

Traffic signals at River Road and Highway 116 will be replaced. The sidewalk between River Road and Armstrong Woods Road will be widened at each light-pole to provide a clearance of 48-inches clearance. Driveways will be reconstructed to conform with the new sidewalks. 

To enhance pedestrian safety, Caltrans will install pedestrian hybrid beacons and curb extensions at intersections of SR-116 at Church and Mill streets.  The new pedestrian signals will be a High-Intensity Activated Cross Walk beacons (HAWK), which will alert motorists to the presence of pedestrians. 

Also, curb extensions or bulb-outs will be installed at several locations to slow down traffic, and to reduce the distance pedestrian must travel to cross the street. 

Being a pedestrian in Guerneville will be a safer, and more pleasant experience by the addition of ADA compliant curb ramps, wider sidewalks, upgraded traffic signals and, curb extensions and pedestrian beacons to accommodate pedestrians at busy intersections on SR-116.

 

Downtown Landscaping, Bike Racks and Other Enhancements

Caltrans worked with Somona County PIO to include landscaping, bike racks, and aesthetic improvements to the project, items that were funded by Sonoma County. 

The new retaining wall at the east end of the project has 300 feet of wall available for murals. The county has obtained a permit and estimates that it will be ready to paint sometime in mid-2025.  

Caltrans is replacing three old bike racks and installing 11 new ones for a total of 14 bike racks.

In some locations, there will be a textured sidewalk with colored concrete.

Caltrans will install 64 flagpole sleeves. Three flag sleeves will be placed between each streetlight for a proportional appearance. The sleeves will be galvanized to prevent rust, and lids will be attached to cover them when not in use.

Caltrans will maintain three existing tree wells and add nine more, for a total of 12. The county will plant the new trees. The tree wells will be 8 x 5 and have either walkable surfaces or mulch.

The Fife Creek Bridge includes some design elements to enhance its aesthetics. At the ends of the bridge, stacked rock motifs will be added, and a new green railing will match the color of the streetlamps. 

 

 

Images and Maps

The images and maps below show examples and diagrams of improvements that will be made along Route 116, including a diagram of a curb extension, an example of an ADA-compliant curb ramp, an image of a pedestrian hybrid beacon and an explanation of its signals, and two maps showing the improvements that will be made during the project.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

     

            

    

 

 

 

 

           

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 

 

The project also involves upgrading the sidewalks and railings on the Fife Creek Bridge at the west end of town. The ends of the bridge will be detailed with a ledger rock design.