Roadway obstacles dispatched efficiently in North State

By Manny Machado
District 1 information officer

No matter a major winter storm or wildfire, Caltrans District 1 dispatchers play an important role for Maintenance workers when responding to incidents on state highways, providing necessary information for scene arrival and roadway opening for the safety of the traveling public.

Located on the first floor at the district office in Eureka, the dispatch center employs seven full-time dispatchers (Amber Garber, Austin Bertucci, Kacie Hall, Nathan Moore, Renee Huett, Shannon Sullivan and Stephen Brown), covering more than 2,400 miles of highways in the region. Along with radio and phone communication, dispatchers also keep a watchful eye on the roadways with several large monitors displaying Caltrans live traffic cameras.

“We alert the public of road hazards, construction delays and closures,” said Joeinne Lingard, dispatch/emergency supervisor. “We answer calls from law enforcement, record road incidents and work closely with contractors and Maintenance crews that need traffic control.”

To better improve communication services, the center switched to providing 24/7 coverage in April 2023.

This was crucial last summer during the Smith River Complex Fires that burned more than 95,000 acres in Del Norte County. In the aftermath, repairs are still being made along U.S. Highway 199 with hourly weekday traffic delays.

“It’s really made a difference,” said Lingard. “Before, the CHP was answering calls after hours and the weekends. This has greatly improved our ability to respond quickly during emergency situations. We notify crews where they need to be, work with contractors with lane closures and give motorists real-time traffic safety information using our changeable message signs (CMS) on the state’s highway system.”

During another eventful winter storm season in the north region, rain, snow and wind caused havoc on the coast and in the interior. Route 20 in Lake County experienced road closures with snow, debris slides, downed trees and utility lines. Mike Dugan, a Clearlake Oaks Maintenance supervisor, expressed his thankfulness toward dispatchers for all they do when his staff responds to an incident.

“I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to the District 1 dispatchers," said Dugan. “Their professionalism and dedication to the job is instrumental to our safety in the field and is very much appreciated.”

The responsibilities of a dispatcher extend beyond just communication. They also collaborate with various departments, including traffic safety and engineering, to purchase and scan electronic files, further streamlining processes and improving efficiency.