Eminent Domain Report

As reported in the Willits News, Caltrans is going forward with public workshops for the Sherwood Road Intersection Project, one of four "child projects" of the Willits Bypass project, which is anticipated to increase the traffic on Sherwood Road.

But Willits residents won't be seeing improvements any time soon, because construction is dependent on the opening of the Willits bypass, a segment of US 101 through Mendocino County that has been in the works since the 1950s.  And construction of the bypass is currently suspended while Caltrans and the Army Corps of Engineers work through issues relating to the Willits Bypass Mitigation Project.  You can view Caltrans' letter to the Corps here.  This is just the latest of the environmental-related challenges facing the project.

Like all agencies, Caltrans must be prepared for the challenge of constructing public works through environmentally sensitive areas.  According to Caltrans, it is prepared, touting the Willits Bypass as an example of how Caltrans is applying contemporary and world-class engineering practices for a "sustainable approach" to highway construction.  You can read about Caltrans' sustainability commitment here.