Caltrans Breaks Ground On Highway 1 Realignment In Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Caltrans broke ground Tuesday on a $33 million state Highway 1 realignment project near Gleason Beach in Sonoma County to protect the roadway from sea-level rise and erosion.

SR-1 near Gleason Beach sits upon coastal bluffs that drop precipitously into the ocean; the three-year project will realign the coastal highway north of Bodega Bay and move it eastward away from rapidly eroding coastal bluffs.

The bluffs have been rapidly retreating due to multiple erosive forces, the greatest of which being waves crashing against the base of the cliff, Caltrans officials said in a news release.

As part of the project, Caltrans will also build a new bridge to span wetlands and Scotty Creek that will include room for pedestrians and bicyclists.

"The Gleason Beach project will make this part of State Route 1 more resilient against the challenges of climate change and coastal erosion," said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “It will also help maintain long-term connectivity for the surrounding communities of Bodega Bay and Jenner, despite the threat of sea-level rise.”

Once Caltrans directs traffic onto the new bridge, it will remove the old highway from the wetlands and the existing culvert from the creek. This will allow the creek to reach the ocean unfettered, where rainbow trout and salmon can migrate upstream again to old spawning grounds.

“The Gleason Beach Realignment Project has been an all-hands-on-deck effort," said California state Sen. Mike McGuire. "This specific segment of Highway 1 has been especially challenging, constantly being undermined by coastal erosion near Scotty Creek. The new alignment will ensure this vulnerable segment of highway remains open even with the new realities of sea-level rise. I’m excited that we’re finally here and I’m grateful to Caltrans for taking on this project and I truly appreciate the neighbor’s patience with this process."

The bluff erosion has forced the evacuation of homes west of the highway, and several of the homes have been demolished to keep debris from sliding into the ocean. Caltrans built a retaining wall in 2004 and made emergency repairs in 2007.

Caltrans said it is also working to reduce transportation greenhouse gas emissions, which are contributing to climate change impacts statewide, including sea-level rise. The department is electrifying its fleet and making operational changes to the transportation system to reduce dependence on driving.

“Climate change and its associated sea-level rise will continue to impact our planet, and Sonoma County certainly is not exempt from its effects,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, Chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “This project will successfully address the reality of coastal erosion, and it illustrates how managed retreat can be strategic policy.”