The Redwood Times, along with Times-Standard reporter Donna Tam, and Humboldt County Supervisors Mark Lovelace (District 3) and Clif Clendenen (District 2) were invited on a tour of the Richardson Grove highway project on Thursday, Jan. 7. The proposed project alternative will cost $5.5 million.
Caltrans is currently proposing to make specific adjustments to the roadway through Richardson Grove State Park. This project will allow access by industry standard-sized trucks conforming to the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA), which are currently prohibited north of Leggett.
Highway 101 is the primary north-south route serving the north coast of California and is critical to the commerce of the region. Highway 101 through Richardson Grove is a narrow two-lane road with large old growth redwood trees adjacent to the roadway.
Proposed Alternative
The following will be included.
* Construct minor realignment, including minor widening where necessary, to accomodate STAA truck access.
* Provide two 12’ travel lanes and two paved shoulders (old growth trees will remain and will encroach into the shoulder in certain locations).
* Contstruct a retaining wall at the north end of the project outside of the State Park.
* Overlay existing pavement.
* Extend existing culverts where necessary.
Industry standard-sized trucks conforming to the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) are currently prohibited from traveling Highway 101 north of Leggett due to the narrow alignment at Richardson Grove. This location is one of the few remaining areas of the state in which these trucks are not permitted. As STAA trucks have become the national standard, communities with routes unable to provide STAA access are at an economic disadvantage. Truck cargo must be unloaded and transferred to shorter trucks, making goods movement more expensive. Many truck drivers with sleeper-cabs making them over length stop south of Richardson Grove and switch to the smaller cab-over tractors. This is an added expense for the transporters of goods. Once they are out of the restricted area they hook back up to the larger tractors and continue with their loads.
The truck restrictions at Richardson Grove are due to the tightness of the curves, making it difficult for longer trucks to stay in their lanes. The 1.1-mile stretch of Richardson Grove is the only remaining location on Highway 101 restricting access of STAA trucks traveling into Humboldt County from the south.
Caltrans spokesperson Kimberly Floyd, P.E., said they reroute certain curves in the roadway by removing approximately 60 small trees, with the largest in diameter being 22 inches. These trees will include maple, fir, and some redwoods. She said no large trees will be removed. Once the roadway is rerouted and the curves are changed the current roadway will be removed and returned to its natural state to maintain the integrity through the park. The new curves will allow the larger trucks to “track” correctly and safely through the grove. The road will not be “straightened” as some people believe. This means speed limits will remain the same and the shoulders will be improved allowing for bike riders to travel more safely. However, there will be no turnouts added along the route. This would create unsafe conditions if vehicles were to pull out into traffic.
If you would like more information about the project you can check it out on the web at http://www.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/richardson_grove/.
REDWOOD TIMES PHOTOS BY SUSAN GARDNER
1. Humboldt County Supervisors Mark Lovelace, left, and Clif Clendenen, far right, discuss the Richardson Grove realignment project with Caltrans’ Eric Lund, P.E., second from left, and Kimberly Floyd, P.E., second from right.
2. The dents on this paddle marker and the missing bark on this redwood tree indicate vehicles have traveled over the fog line, probably causing damage to their mirrors and/or their vehicles.
3. Supervisor Clif Clendenen holds a side mirror from a vehicle. The shoulders along the highway are littered with vehicle parts.
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