[UPDATE 9:41 a.m.] $40 Million Approved for Last Chance Grade Environmental Report

An air view of Last Chance Grade.

An air view of Last Chance Grade. [Photos provided by Senator Mike McGuire]

After years of watching Last Chance Grade on Hwy 101 crumble, the North Coast received the news this morning in a tweet by Senator Mike McGuire. He wrote,

BREAKING: The just approved $40 million to fund the environmental review of the Last Chance Grade in Del Norte. This funding will move the project forward, after decades of bandaids. 100% teamwork by and North Coast leaders

If this stretch of Hwy 101 failed, it could isolate most of Del Norte County from the rest of the North Coast of California. It would impact everything from medical care to access schools. The economic consequences of Last Chance Grade’s possible failure has long worried residents and leaders of the area.

Caltrans had placed the request for $40 million to create a permanent fix for the stretch on the California Transportation Commission’s March agenda and Senator McGuire broke the news in his tweet that the request has been approved. A press release in February announcing that the request would be made stated, the “request from Caltrans to the California Transportation Commission will secure all the necessary funds for the environmental impact report needed to design a long-term fix…”

Last Chance Grade has been crumbling for years.

Last Chance Grade has been crumbling for years.

UPDATE 9:41 a.m.: Press release from Caltrans:

The State of California is making a massive investment in Highway 101 and the Last Chance Grade. Senator Mike McGuire, Assemblymember Jim Wood and Congressman Jared Huffman, in partnership with Caltrans and the California Transportation Commission (CTC), announced that $40 million in funding to complete the environmental review of the Last Chance Grade Project was approved by a vote of the CTC today. The funding will allow Caltrans to evaluate each of the potential routes and ultimately decide on a preferred route alternative. This project will make Highway 101’s Last Chance Grade a reliable route for North Coast communities for generations to come, and today’s allocation brings the total new state investment for a permanent fix to Last Chance Grade to $50 million.

“We all made a commitment four years ago to get the job done with the Last Chance Grade and today’s vote moves the project forward, more than ever before in history,” Senator Mike McGuire said. “We have been grateful to partner with Assemblymember Wood, Congressman Huffman, the Del Norte Board of Supervisors, Crescent City Council, the California Transportation Commission and Caltrans on this critical project. This is a true testament of what can be accomplished when we all work together for the North Coast.”

“The Last Chance Grade is a critical transportation route for our North Coast and a project this massive, that will serve this community for decades, requires thoughtful and extensive planning,” said Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa). “The funding approved today moves this critical project along and ultimately will protect $1.5 billion in economic activity the region depends on.”

“California Transportation Commission’s decision to provide an additional $40 million in support of Last Chance Grade is big news for the safety of both the Del Norte community and the travelling public, as well as for the North Coast’s economy,” said Rep. Huffman. “This funding will be instrumental in helping to find a new, durable route at Last Chance Grade, which will reflect both safety and environmental concerns. After working with Senator McGuire and Assemblymember Wood, my Last Chance Grade Stakeholder Group, and requesting this financial support, I’m glad to see how momentum on the project has ramped up over the past few years and that we are taking major steps towards a permanent solution.”

$10 million in geotechnical work is currently underway, and this influx of new funding will allow the project to continue and complete the environmental process. This will include conducting studies related to environmental, biological, and cultural resources in addition to traffic impacts.

“Highway 101 is a vital transportation corridor for residents, visitors and freight in Northern California,” said Caltrans Director Laurie Berman. “This funding will help ensure this remains a reliable corridor for future generations.”

Caltrans maintenance crews monitor the area closely and have responded quickly to repair needs when necessary, promptly closed lanes to complete more extensive repairs. $55 million has been spent on temporary fixes to protect the highway. The funding approved today will allow for another big step to be taken in saving tax payer dollars and providing more reliable infrastructure.

“Last Chance Grade is a critical transportation/mobility corridor connecting North Coast communities,” said California Transportation Commission Chair Fran Inman. “The Commission expects today’s allocation for engineering analyses and environmental studies will lead to a permanent solution that keeps the region safe and its economy strong.”

The CTC officially voted to allocate $45 million today for the Last Chance Grade project. $5 million of the $45 million was previously programmed but had yet to be allocated for the geotechnical studies. This milestone is the result of many stakeholders working together to complete this critical project that will help prevent a complete failure of Last Chance Grade and avoid an annual loss of $1.5 billion in lost economic activity in the region.

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

23 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

🕯Thank you Kym for the aireal view. Fix is easy peasy. 👍🏾

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
5 years ago

We can hook it up to the go Road in Klamath and then I will finally be able to sell some lemonade from my little lemonade stand in big flat

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

$40 million for studies? It would be nice to hear what they have in mind as a viable alternative in spending so much money.

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

An astute study of the studies has concluded that the studies weren’t properly studied and more studies will follow to complete the study.

neverlayup
Guest
neverlayup
5 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

haha! sounds like they are getting ready to get ready!

ralph
Guest
ralph
5 years ago

the reason for the 40m$$$$$ impact report is so the bureaucrats will feel good about
the enormous amount amount they will be able to ask for the actual work…

hmm
Guest
hmm
5 years ago

Unfortunately we have very reason to be cynical. Im sure this will come at tremendous environmental costs. Just like the willits bypass.

Kc masterP
Guest
Kc masterP
5 years ago
Reply to  hmm

Do you use the bypass?
Tremendous environ cost?
The built a 2 mile lokf viaduct to avoid impacting the land below it….simply for that purpose

Bill
Guest
Bill
5 years ago

Congratulations to McGuire for giving us this sick joke. $40,000,000 for a study that could be waived because of the obviously necessity of this project. What a disgrace!🖕

Bill
Guest
Bill
5 years ago
Reply to  Bill

Make that $50 million, I didn’t realize that $10 million of taxpayer money had already been allocated for a study! Are you sh****g me?

299 Commuter
Guest
299 Commuter
5 years ago

101 should have been moved inland decades ago. It would have paid for itself multiple times already.

FORG
Guest
FORG
5 years ago

Outrageous amount of money for a “study”, that you can bet they already have all the data compiled for. Taxpayers paying 40M for someone to collate and publish a report sounds like maybe that bureaucratic leech The Army Corps of Engineers is involved. Why? Because they get 3-5% of EVERY contract they manage…

nines
Guest
5 years ago

How much money would it cost to start a ferry service between Crescent City and Eureka?

ralph
Guest
ralph
5 years ago
Reply to  nines

if the state did it the EIR would cost aprox 40 million….

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  nines

most all of our tourist come from the north.

clearlake fool
Guest
clearlake fool
5 years ago

and after the overpriced study is finished and alternate route announced and construction amounts announced into the tens of billions then it will be held up for years in court by tree huggers and environmentalists only to have a final cost of the project 20 years later at 10s of billions over cost .

Steve
Guest
Steve
5 years ago
Reply to  clearlake fool

Clearlake fool…maybe they should put in a bullet train…couldn’t run much over bid…LMFAO

Treesha
Guest
Treesha
5 years ago
Reply to  clearlake fool

Environmentalists are hoping the best bypass route of three will be chosen.. The three alternatives all have huge negative environmental impacts. The environmentalists I know all agree keeping 101 open to the north is not an option.

Water ways must be considered as a primary protections. Sadly, there will be old growth logged, but this can not be avoided if we are to keep 101 open to the north. I want to protect the environment and I know in this case that huge losses need to happen to keep a major highway open for the people needing to travel north to Crescent City and Oregon and they depend on us to the south.

gunther
Guest
gunther
5 years ago

Will this be our last chance?

Small Fry
Guest
Small Fry
5 years ago

That’s a lot of money for a “study”.. but, I am glad they are putting a lot of energy toward a proper study.. The road definitely needs to be rerouted … and personally, I would like to see it done with the least harm to the forest..

Treesha
Guest
Treesha
5 years ago
Reply to  Small Fry

I am an environmentalist and I agree there is no other option besides a bypass. Get it started with this money. Don’t pour endless amounts to study. There will be no opposition. Use these funds to start one of the three choices studied for the last several years. Stop pouring money while Last Chance Grade falls further into the ocean with each passing rainy day. More wasted money; over how many years? In the meantime. Last Chance Grade (10 miles south of Crescent) is Highway 101 slipping into the ocean; landslides continue, while friends and family need this route for their homes and their jobs.

Kc masterP
Guest
Kc masterP
5 years ago

These studies, are why simple projects cost double in “mitigation” costs. Personally, I’m understanding of protecting the environment, but I’ve seen 1st hand this bullshit get out if control..no common sense.
$20m project= $7m in revegetatuon at tax payers expense. No science to back it, just an agencies feelings.
It’s a soft science at best holding all.projexts hostage

ralph
Guest
ralph
5 years ago
Reply to  Kc masterP

I’ve seen 1st hand this bullshit get out if control..no common sense.

ME TOOO!