North Bay is getting $81 million in construction cash: Here’s where the money is going

Several big road construction projects across the North Bay now have a green light after the state poured $81 million into local county coffers earlier this month.

Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Marin, Lake and Mendocino counties each will get millions from the California Transportation Commission for transportation infrastructure projects, including updates and upgrades for bridges, roadways, public transit and improved facilities for people who walk and bike.

“California’s transportation infrastructure is critical to the economic and cultural lifeblood of our state, and this funding provides key support in our mission to provide a safe, equitable and sustainable transportation system for all users,” Caltrans Director Tony Tavares said.

The funding comes from buckets of state and federal tax dollars. The funds, which total nearly $2 billion statewide, were allocated to both long-term and emergency projects and can only be used on state routes, said Daniel Virkstis, a communications specialist with Sonoma County.

Mendocino County

At $45.4 million, Mendocino County got the more than half of the local funding. Projects there include:

• $28.5 million toward roadway and guardrail improvements from south of Shimmins Ridge Road to north of Old Sherwood Road near Willits;
• $7 million in emergency funding for culvert and embankment repairs, rock slope protection and erosion control on Highway 1 near Gualala and Highway 101 south of Route 271 near Leggett;
• $6.5 million in emergency funding for erosion control and to repair the roadway, viaduct, retaining wall and culverts on Highway 1 south of the Juan Creek Bridge near Rockport;
• $1.1 million toward roadway, guardrail, lighting and other improvements on Highway 101 north of the Robinson Creek Bridge to the Pomo Lane undercrossing near Ukiah;
• $900,000 toward building left turn lanes, a merge lane and other improvements on Highway 101 between the Hopland overhead to Mountain House Road near Hopland;
• $830,000 toward roadway, guardrail and sign panel improvements on Route 128 from the Mill Creek Bridge to the Robinson Creek Bridge near Boonville;
• $527,000 toward land restoration and fixing culverts along Highway 101 north of Route 271 near Laytonville, Leggett and Piercy.

Sonoma County

The bulk of Sonoma County funding is geared toward emergency repair projects along the coast, where Highway 1 sustained damage during January’s winter rains. Projects include:

• $8.7 million for Highway 1 near Timber Cove to repair damages caused by the heavy rains of January 2024. Projects include removing landslide debris, repairing slopes, installing concrete to protect slopes, resetting guardrails and constructing a new retaining wall. Additionally, the Caltrans District 4 Fort Ross Maintenance Station will be updated after the building experienced a sewage overflow in January, which created a biohazard for employees;
• $2.5 million for six new electric buses for either Santa Rosa CityBus or Petaluma Transit that will take diesel-fueled buses off the roadways;
• $972,000 to construct a retaining wall and improve drainage at Highway 116 near Guerneville at Riverside Drive;
• $1.5 million for new curve warning signs on Highways 12, 37, 101, 116, 121 and 128;
• $2 million for pavement and guardrail upgrades on Highway 1 near Jenner.

Lake County

• $3 million toward fixing the roadway and culverts on Route 29. The money will also be used to install a radar feedback sign north of Butts Canyon near Middletown.

Napa County

• $1.9 million to replace or install curve warning signs at various locations;
• $3.3 million to repave and upgrade facilities near the Solano/Napa County line on State Route 29 near American Canyon.

Solano County

• $117,000 for Safety Education and Encouragement Programs near E. Ruth Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning and Fairview Elementary School;
• $838,000 toward construction separated bike ways, a new crosswalk and curb extensions on West Texas Street in Fairfield;
• $1.1 million for installation of a message board and lighting along Highway 37 near Vallejo;
• $4.1 million to improve the safety of Highway 12 in Fairfield and Suisun with flashing beacons, signal warning signs and pavement markings.

Marin County

• $118,000 to reconstruct Highway 37 near Novato and Highway 101 to address sea level rise and recurrent flooding. This funding will be combined with $20 million already dedicated to that project;
• $320,000 for plant restoration and repaving parts of Highway 1 near Point Reyes Station, Olema and near Tomales;
• $1.1 million to restore areas of 101 near Corte Madera;
• $1.4 million to repair and stabilize the roadway, culvert, curb and sidewalk damaged on Highway 131 in Tiburon at Stewart Drive during the January 2024 winter storms;
• $3.25 million to repair and stabilize the embankment, slope and drainage system on Highway 1 damaged during the winter rains of January 2024 near Tomales and Muir Beach.

Amie Windsor is the Community Journalism Team Lead with The Press Democrat. She can be reached at amie.windsor@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5218.