[Update 7:25 p.m.] Caltrans Still Can’t Put a Date on Reopening 101 Near Leggett

Photo provided by Caltrans

From Caltrans District 1:


U.S. 101 CLOSURE UPDATE 4/19/17 6:30 PM:

Due to continuing slide activity, Caltrans cannot yet put a date on reopening U.S. 101 north of Leggett in Mendocino County.

Our contractor began work today, removing 82 dump truck loads of material and removing a small portion of the rock fall fence, but had to shut down early because the slide became too active to continue safely. They intend to resume tomorrow, working 12-hour long days, 7 days per week, until the highway is reopened. The progress of the work, however, will be dependent on the weather and the continuing movement of the slide.

Safety is Caltrans #1 goal for our workers, our contractor’s workers, and the traveling public. We know that the closure is a hardship for many, and we are committed to safely reopening the highway as quickly as we can.

Update 7:25 p.m.: From the California Highway Patrol:

Due to increase in vehicle traffic and number of vehicles becoming stuck or disabled, the CHP and CalTrans will be restricting Bell Springs Road to local traffic only. The CHP and Caltrans are working together to come up with the best plan to reopen US 101 in the safest and most timely manner.

Once again the suggested alternate routes of travel north and south around the closure are either SR-299, SR-36 or SR-20 to Interstate 5. Bell Springs Road is restricted to local traffic only.

There have been reports of travelers being routed by their GPS to take Usal Rd. around the closure. Please do not attempt to try and take Usal Rd. which is a 4×4 trail/road and,, in its best condition during the summer, is a very challenging road. Do not attempt to take Usal Rd.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work together with Caltrans to reopen US 101

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42 Comments
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Gary Wellborn
Guest
Gary Wellborn
6 years ago

I guessed a swag at 142 dump trucks. I think I guessed way too low. Go Caltrans.

Scooter
Guest
Scooter
6 years ago

And Bell Springs Road is soon to be clogged with the wrecks of little city cars, RV’s, and soil ladden semi trucks. Packs of stranded outsiders will be huddled around campfires eating the last few french fries from Willits. Ghosts of dead travelers haunting the ruts and ditches clawing at those little prius tires, trying to drag you off the road. Be safe bitches!

Reynard
Guest
Reynard
6 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

You win today’s comments on teh internets…

thinskin
Guest
thinskin
6 years ago
Reply to  Scooter

Thats why you always carry garlic.

Green Death
Guest
Green Death
6 years ago

I’ve been driving Bell Springs w/ studs and dragging chain, spinning tires whenever I can. Sooner we make that road impassable the better! Go out at night and divert water onto the road- let’s kill that route!!

Sylly
Guest
Sylly
6 years ago
Reply to  Green Death

The public has spoken. Vandalize the road and do not repair bell springs road.

Wow
Guest
Wow
6 years ago
Reply to  Green Death

That’s just rude. There are people that live in leggett and work in Garberville. Let’s not make it any harder for the locals than it already is, with all the extra traffic and the weather. Some people don’t want to drive it, but they have to. Enforcement of locals only is what’s needed.

so hum local
Guest
so hum local
6 years ago
Reply to  Wow

the people in leggett and garberville need to stop telling the prius folks to come this way .
the road is fucked
im ready to throw out spike strips

Life is Good
Guest
Life is Good
6 years ago

Get it done. Pretend it’s Jerry’s Bullet Train!

Life is Good
Guest
Life is Good
6 years ago

Get it done!!! Just pretend it Jerry’s Bullet Train and throw all the money and manpower needed to do the job.

Rick kelley
Guest
Rick kelley
6 years ago
Reply to  Life is Good

Yep

Uni
Guest
Uni
6 years ago

Wow usal road??? Thats dangerous, especially with little to no cel service for people who are used to it 24/7.
To the city folk visiting, yes its true, we still have many areas that have no cel reception, which a lot if us dont mind.

That roads barely usable with a quad and i imagine there are multiple trees down across it right now. There was just a flood warning for shelter cove today, there was between 1 to 2 inches in a short amount of time so usal is most likely crazy.
You are seriously risking your well being if you try that route.

Look if you want an alternate route, listen to what everyones saying and take the 20 or 36 or 299 (when open) to the 5 and around. Its a pain but better than getting caught in a landslide with big boulders pushing you down the cliff. Carpool if you can, with 2-3 drivers it goes faster.

THERE IS NO ALTERNATE ROUTE BESIDES THE 5, how much clearer does it need to be said.

If there was a viable alternate route, it would be listed by chp or caltrans or one of our many local media sources or a local here. When we say bell springs road is in bad shape, its not just a bunch of potholes. Its serious road damage.

I dont get why google maps wont change it. Does cal’trans or chp need to contact them?
Hey bell springs locals if chp is not maintaining a prescence on either end, perhaps its up to residents to sit there, im glad to help. Its not fair to have your ability to get home/medical services because people are driving the road who shouldnt be.

Dave
Guest
Dave
6 years ago
Reply to  Uni

Cue the banjoes

Eli @ Caltrans
Guest
Eli @ Caltrans
6 years ago
Reply to  Uni

I’ve personally contacted Google about Maps diverting people to Bell Springs, but never got a response back. It’s super!

geust
Guest
geust
6 years ago
Reply to  Uni

Traveling these roads are a risk. But, why do you feel that you are more entitled to use a county road or state highway than the next person?

Chuck
Guest
Chuck
6 years ago

We just came home on 36, friggin nightmare with all the extra traffic that has no clue. Snow was accumulating on South Fork Mtn with no warning or plow trucks…that should get interesting tonight.

CnD
Guest
CnD
6 years ago
Reply to  Chuck

Yeah! It would be nice to know, in advance, if there’s snow on the road.

local woman
Guest
local woman
6 years ago

Do not use bellsprings rd, residents here are sick of city driver trying to kill us, stay home…

Joseph
Guest
Joseph
6 years ago
Reply to  local woman

Sadly for you, as long as the counties pay for its maintenance, you have no say who uses it. So get sick. Or break out your wallet and pay for the maintenance yourself, you self centered …. .

Cowabunga
Guest
Cowabunga
6 years ago
Reply to  local woman

Why don’t you stay home too.

so hum local
Guest
so hum local
6 years ago

bell springs road is failing badly .this is gonna fuck everyone on south bell sptrings

Citizen Too
Guest
Citizen Too
6 years ago

Maybe because 101 is the mainline it will be cleared a lot faster than the fiasco at Big French Creek on 299?? Just saying…

CnD
Guest
CnD
6 years ago

To those who have come across on both 36 and 299 recently, which of the 2 routes is better? I would think 299. I assume most of the traffic is on 36. Thanks!

Midnight Rider
Guest
Midnight Rider
6 years ago
Reply to  CnD

I took 36 W/B on Monday mid-afternoon. Most of the traffic was E/B. I went slow, and took it easy, and overall everything went fine. The pavement had some rough areas, and one jackass passed on a double-yellow. Took about 4.5 Hours to go 159 mi. There wasn’t snow on the road when I went through, but there is now.

I don’t have any recent experience traveling on 299 during the current conditions.
But overall, I prefer 36 to 299, even if 299 was clear sailing, because 299 has speeds in sections that are way too fast for me. I also hit a bear there before. So generally, I avoid 299.

The main problem I have recently observed is that some people think they can take an alternate route, and still keep the same travel time as if they took the main route. That makes them go way too fast, and creates dangerous conditions for everyone.

This is just my opinion. I’ve made the East-West journey, on both routes, about 100 times over the last 37 years.

Kym Kemp
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Midnight Rider

Thank you!

Zippy
Guest
Zippy
6 years ago
Reply to  Midnight Rider

299 is in good shape. The place where they are fixing the slide is the only hangup. Just try to time it to arrive on the hour. It takes about 1 1/2 hoursto the slide fix from Arcata driving reasonably. When I went they let the west bound traffic go through first and that took about 10 minutes at 9:00 am. The drive is really leisurely IMO. If you are trying to get to Williz or Santa Rosa it is a big hassle and a bummer and hugely time consuming but such is the price for living on the North Coast. About 9 hours from Garberville to SF.

I would also suggest Bell Springs if you have to get from Garberville to Willitz or Ukiah (If going to SF then 299 is the way to go*.). You just have to travel really slowly, carefully, four wheel drive (Two wheel will make it but it is sketchy) and if it is rainy there probably is fog and visibility is about 10 feet. I would not go if it was not absolutely no other choice, emergency, a schedule that absolutely cannot be changed situation.

*36 might be a little tiny bit faster than 299 but the stress and possible snow and curvy slow road, terrible drivers and irritating traffic is not worth it for me.

Zippy
Guest
Zippy
6 years ago

The problem is city folks with GPS navigation units…yeah, please do take Usal Rd

Kym Kemp
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Zippy

To clarify: Zippy’s comment is sarcasm. Please do not drive Usal Road.

Zippy
Guest
Zippy
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Actually I forgot a word Please do not!!! use Usal road. I am very sorry for that. 🙁 Usal road is not passable without a chainsaw and an earth mover and a second growdozer to pull you out.

Kym Kemp
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Zippy

Whew! That makes sense!

Bruce
Guest
Bruce
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym,
Usal Road has locked gates at either end. It is also reported to have an impassible roadbed slip out. It has been maintained minimally to prevent stream damage throughout the winter (culverts cleared etc). It is best described as a dirt (now mud) surface, even in summer.

Kym Kemp
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Bruce

I’d call it a trail!

SteveWinslow
Guest
SteveWinslow
6 years ago

I took bell springs rd late Wednesday afternoon and it is in great condition for a mostly dirt road. I’m used to much worse. If someone is going to take it, you do not need four wheel drive, drive slow, be courteous to other drivers. There are many sections narrow enough for only one vehicle

PUBLIC ROADS ARE PUBLIC NOT PRIVATE
Guest
PUBLIC ROADS ARE PUBLIC NOT PRIVATE
6 years ago
Reply to  SteveWinslow

You Do Not Need 4×4 I just drove it in my honda

Zippy
Guest
Zippy
6 years ago
Reply to  SteveWinslow

It is NOT!!! in great condition. Pot holed muddy and very slow. It is passable by 2WD but it is in very bad shape. What is it? About 25 miles? It takes well over an hour (More like an hour and a half in the rain and fog. Plus you should not go faster than that even with no rain and fog.) from 101 to Alderpoint Rd.

Liz
Guest
Liz
6 years ago

To get to Usal road, to go north, a person would have to go through Fort Bragg/ Westport. Can’t get there from hwy 101.

Hick
Guest
Hick
6 years ago

Glad I’m a homebody. Looks like it might be easier to put a tunnel there.

gunther
Guest
gunther
6 years ago

Parker Schnabel, of the Gold Rush TV show, would have that slide cleared in about 2 hours. Just saying. 🙂

PUBLIC ROADS ARE PUBLIC NOT PRIVATE
Guest
PUBLIC ROADS ARE PUBLIC NOT PRIVATE
6 years ago

BELL SPRINGS ROAD PAID FOR BY YOUR TAXES IT IS NOT A PRIVATE ROAD IT IS PUBLIC ROAD THAT ANYONE CAN USE IT .I DRIVE IT EVERY DAY TO GO TO WORK .THE LOCALS DON”T WANT YOU TO SEE HOW THEY ARE DESTROYING THE ENVIRONMENT WITH THEIR HUGE GROWS !

Ruby
Guest
6 years ago

Stuck local needs help. Stuck in Garberville since Sunday. Live in Leggett and need to get to work at Boomers in Laytonville. Is there anyone who can take a passenger over bell springs?

Stoplying
Guest
Stoplying
6 years ago

Bells spring is your road bells spring is my road. From murder mountain to the one oh one. Don’t let the scum bag growing locals try and scare you just flip em the bird and keep on driving. Bells spring was made for you and me

Ihatepeople
Guest
Ihatepeople
6 years ago

Doesn’t anyone have anything better to do than argue over a road?? Haha last time I checked people can only stop u from doing something if u let them or they are able to force it. How about you all stop sitting around arguing behind your screens and actually go out and do something about it. Who’s gonna stop u? The pigs? That’ll go well in court rite? Since you pay for the road with your taxes. Kinda like it should be enter at ur own risk. Like since when was your safety up to someone else? If u want to risk it then do it. You risk ur life everyday the second u get into a vehicle, on bell springs road or highway 101. Either way u should be aware of the possible threats either rd has then keep that in mind while your driving. And people who live on bell springs rd if u don’t like the way someone is driving how bout you stop having people fight ur battles for u (a.k.a.🐷🐷🐽🐽) And do it the ol fashioned way, [edit]You all of bunch of cry babies.