Hats Off
Recognizing hard work
I live in South Lake Tahoe and work at Kirkwood Mountain Resort. I commute everyday between the two location and use Highway 50, State Route 89 and State Route 88.
I'd like to thank the Caltrans highway crews that have been working those specific roads this winter. Even though we've been experiencing a record-breaking winter, those crews have been doing an OUTSTANDING job – doing their best to keep the roads open as much as possible. On behalf of my daughter and myself – thank you! I sincerely appreciate the job you people have been doing.
Rick Hofheins
South Lake Tahoe
New respect
I had a different view of the effectiveness and efficiency of Caltrans at one time. What you guys did to manage and recover public transportation during the recent Santa Cruz slides was just amazing. You guys really "rock" and have a fabulous team. I am grateful that we have such an organization in California and hardworking folks. Thank you!
Sunil Bharitkar
Palo Alto
Overpass rescue
Good Samaritan Caltrans District 8 Maintenance Superintendent William R. Kerr stopped on his way home to help a woman get her car out of harm’s way on Interstate 15.
Photo by District 8
Many thanks to Caltrans District 8 Maintenance Superintendent William R. Kerr, the California Highway Patrol, Juan of Desert Valley Towing, Hesperia, and a close friend.
Mr. Kerr was off shift, on his way home and traveling southbound on Interstate 15 when he saw me - a woman stranded on a very dangerous bridge overpass - facing northbound at the Devore exit at the foot of the Cajon Pass. On a downhill grade, my stalled vehicle was on the shoulder of a two-lane bridge, inches from the travel lane, where a constant stream of tractor trailers traveling at very high speeds were swerving to avoid my vehicle.
Mr. Kerr was speaking on the phone to his wife at the time and informed her someone needed help, so he'd be a little late for dinner. After contacting the CHP, he carefully pushed my vehicle nearly two miles, until we were safe.
By then a CHP officer arrived, helped unload my disabled vehicle, and gave me a lift to McDonald's to wait for my rescue and arrange for a tow.
Juan, a driver for Desert Valley Towing, arrived an hour earlier than expected, picked up the keys, loaded my vehicle and delivered it to a dealership in Victorville within 45 minutes. He was kind, helpful and efficient.
My friend dropped everything going on in his life and immediately headed out to pick me up, getting me back to Las Vegas at 2 a.m., then picked me up at 6:30 to drive me to work.
I am grateful that a Good Samaritan, a kind highway patrolman, an efficient tow truck professional and a dear friend came to my aid.
Thank you. I will pay your kindness forward, with you in mind.
Paula K. Gregory, Esq.
Las Vegas
Grateful in Tahoe
I've lived in South Lake Tahoe for 38 years but this season Caltrans has been remarkable. Nice job and thank you!
Mark Treiber
South Lake Tahoe
Appreciated fence repair
(Left to right): Tony Rodriguez, David Leivas, Dario Escamilla, Angel Maldonado, John Bedolla and Albert Gonzalez from the San Bernardino Metro Crew, were commended for quickly repairing a fence along State Route 210 near a San Bernardino neighborhood.
Photo by District 8
THANK YOU for your exceptionally prompt response to, and repair of, fencing along State Route 210. The homeless continually try to set up camp in our area. This is of particular importance to us because these same people wander into our neighborhoods and steal and/or damage our property. Thank you again for helping to keep us safe!
Gregg Mitchell
San Bernardino
Emergency responders work together
Caltrans Crescent City Crew Equipment Operator II John Phillips helped an ambulance respond to an emergency by leading and plowing the way in a snow storm.
Photo by District 1
Editor’s Note: Responder agencies work side-by-side in emergencies, and sometimes they need help from each other. Caltrans received this thank you letter from Del Norte Ambulance General Manager John W. Pritchett regarding an emergency ambulance dispatch in a snow storm in the northernmost rural part of California.
Recently, Del Norte Ambulance was dispatched to a medical emergency during a snow storm. Road conditions required our crew to stop to install chains.
That was when a Caltrans truck with a plow came along, and told our crew to follow him. We believe that Caltrans employee was Equipment Operator II John Phillips of the Crescent City crew.
Because of his efforts, our crew was able to respond much faster to the patient.
Our sincere thanks to that driver, and all your people.
John W. Pritchett
Del Norte Ambulance General Manager
Clearing the slide
(Left to right) Kudos to Caltrans Geotechnical Engineers Ryan Turner and Steve Balaban, and the rest of the crews that worked diligently to reopen Highway 41 by mid-February, as promised.
The cities of Atascadero and Morro Bay would like to give a very big shout-out and a sincere thank-you to the Caltrans crews who worked so diligently in order to get Highway 41 between Atascadero and Morro Bay reopened to the public.
As all those who regularly use the well-traveled route between Atascadero and Morro Bay are aware, Highway 41 was closed in early January due to the heavy rains and rockslides. Since that time, the very hardworking Caltrans crews removed more than 21,000 cubic yards of dirt and rock and installed protective netting in order to allow safe passage along the primary connection between the two communities, for all of our local commuters as well as numerous visitors to the area.
We’d specifically like to recognize Caltrans geotechnical engineers Steve Balaban and Ryan Turner, who deserve a great deal of credit for getting the road reopened by mid-February, as promised. We also want to recognize Caltrans Public Information Officer Jim Shivers for keeping both communities informed of their progress every step of the way.
Tom O’Malley
Atascadero Mayor
Jamie Irons
Morro Bay Mayor
Good Samaritans on Friday the 13th
From left to right: Caltrans Maintenance Worker Cody Hurst and Equipment Operator II Gary Palmer changed a flat tire for a family stranded on Highway 46.
I am overdue in sending this letter, but want to express appreciation to two of the Caltrans employees that work in District 5.
On Jan. 13, (yes, it was Friday the 13th) I was traveling through California with my three children and pulling our travel trailer. We were westbound on Highway 46 when we completely lost the tread on one of our trailer tires. We have roadside emergency service and I contacted them immediately. Unfortunately, there were a number of errors regarding our location and covered benefits. In short, we ended up on the side of the highway for more than three hours.
My husband (from his work place in Portland) and I were both trying to resolve the situation when two Caltrans employees pulled up behind our vehicle. Gary [Palmer] and Cody [Hurst] had seen us earlier in the day when they were going the other direction. They stopped to see if they could be of any assistance. These two Good Samaritans changed the trailer tire and we were soon on our way to Paso Robles to get a replacement.
On behalf of our family, we would like to commend Gary and Cody for their “above and beyond” service that day. Their appearance was timely indeed; please pass along our gratitude.
Shauntel, Josh, Lindy, Sam and (dog) Bonnie Hogan
Sherwood, Ore.
Big Texas stuck in California
(Left to right) Kingvale Maintenance Supervisor Dave McIntire and Leadworker Randy Klar helped the Kirkland family get over the Donner Pass on Feb. 16 in the snow.
Photo by District 3
I personally want to thank the Caltrans guys working on Donner Pass. This morning, my husband and father-in-law were trying to get over the pass in a white Dodge dually, hauling a Big Texas trailer loaded with a fork lift and the truck got stuck in four wheel drive low. They had to be pushed over the top of the grade by a Caltrans truck. Needless to say, they wouldn't have made it over without the help of your awesome employees (Kingvale Maintenance Supervisor Dave McIntire and Leadworker Randy Klar). So I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are all truly grateful.
Karlie Campbell Kirkland
Lompoc