Main Street Bike Lane Update

(New green bike lanes will be similar to this illustration)

Caltrans will be modifying the Willits downtown bike lane markings on the project starting this week.

This modification is a result of concerns that that the bike lane markings at the intersections and driveways could be misconstrued as pedestrian crossings. 

In coordination with the City of Willits, Caltrans has decided to remove the “Piano Key” markings at the driveways and public road intersections and replace them with solid  green markings only through the public intersections. 

Traffic control will be in place to allow this change between 6 AM to 6 PM weekdays.  Motorists can expect possible 10-minute delays.  Work is anticipated to continue for three weeks and is weather dependent. 

UPDATE 2/6:

• No parking signs will be placed at specific Main Street locations 72 hours before work is planned.  (Municipal codes require 72 hour notice regarding no parking for towing regulations).  The no parking signs in place on Main Street now are in front of locations where work is planned to occur in the next 72 hours.  The signs will be updated with the current planned work window, example 1-3 days (not the current wording of 2/4 -2/28). Work will be planned for only one side of the street at a time to help minimize the inconvenience for downtown merchants.

Main Street Paving Update:

We finished paving Downtown Main Street today. We are working on paving the side streets. Our crews are out of the Downtown area in time for the Harvest Moon Hometown Celebration today 3-8 pm.

We will be back next week to complete the striping. Thanks for your patience and support during this project.

Reminder: Daytime Main Street Paving Starts Monday, October 1st

The daytime paving portion of this project will start on Monday, October 1^st.  The paving work will take place in 12-hour shifts, typically from 9 a.m. to midnight weekdays.  Due to the temperature requirements for the new asphalt this work will be done during the day.  The asphalt needs 50 degrees and rising temperatures to set up correctly so the 12-hour shifts may have to adjust accordingly.  The daytime work will start as late as possible, depending on the temperature, to help avoid early morning school and work traffic.  Motorist should plan for up to 15-minute delays.

During construction motorists can expect one-way traffic control with a pilot car.  Some side streets maybe closed but detours will be available.  The work will be taking place from Sherwood Road to the Highway 20 intersection.   The paving work is expected to finish on October 15.

Striping is the final step of the paving project and is expected to take two weeks.  The target completion date is November 1^st.  All timelines are dependent on any weather delays and other unknown issues that can occur with any construction project.

This is one of the final phases of the Willits Relinquishment project.  The Willits Rehabilitation and Relinquishment of Old Highway 101 project will bring the road into a state of good repair and then turn it over the City of Willits and the County of Mendocino.

Thanks for your patience as we work to improve Main Street.

Main Street Paving to Start Wednesday, September 19th

The prep work for paving Main Street will begin on Wednesday, September 19^th.  The hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights, the work is expected to last for seven days, finishing on Friday, September 28^th.  This is one of the final phases of the Willits Relinquishment project.  The Willits Rehabilitation and Relinquishment of Old Highway 101 project will bring the road into a state of good repair and then turn it over the City of Willits and the County of Mendocino.

The paving portion of this project will start on Monday, October 1^st.  The paving work will take place in 12-hour shifts, typically from 9 a.m. to midnight weekdays.  Due to the temperature requirements for the new asphalt this work will be done during the day.  The asphalt needs 50 degrees and rising temperatures to set up correctly so the 12-hour shifts may have to adjust accordingly.  The daytime work will start as late as possible, depending on the temperature, to help avoid early morning school and work traffic.  The paving work is expected to finish on October 15.

During both construction periods, night and daytime work, motorists can expect one-way traffic control with a pilot car.  Some side streets maybe closed but detours will be available.  The work will be taking place from Sherwood Road to the Highway 20 intersection.  Motorist should plan for up to 15-minute delays.

Striping is the final step of the paving project and is expected to take two weeks.  The target completion date is November 1^st.  All timelines are dependent on any weather delays and other unknown issues that can occur with any construction project.

Thanks for your patience as we work to improve Main Street.

Main Street Roadwork Friday, August 10th

Just a heads up that you may want to avoid traveling on Main Street tomorrow (Friday, August 10) from 9 am to 1 pm.  We are conducting pavement testing all along Main Street from Highway 20 to the north Bypass interchange.  There will be lane closures.  Expect 15 minute delays as we move the equipment around.

This is part of the process to get ready to repave Main Street.  The downtown sidewalk project is ahead of schedule and expected to be completed by the end of October.  The paving and sidewalk improvements are components of the Rehabilitation and Relinquishment of Old Highway 101 from Caltrans to the city of Willits.

Thanks for your patience as we work to improve Main Street.

Sherwood Road work starts up again Friday night, August 10

Nighttime work at the Sherwood Road/ Hwy 101 intersection on will start on Friday, August 10th.  One-way traffic control will be in effect 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. weeknights.  This round of nighttime work is planned to go through Friday, August 17.  Motorist should expect 15-minute delays.

Project Background:

The Sherwood Road Realignment Project will improve the function of this high traffic volume intersection.  This project involves realigning the existing Sherwood Road intersection.  Currently, Sherwood Road intersects old U.S. 101 at a horizontal angle with a 12% grade, with two 12 foot lanes, no shoulders, and short left and right turn pockets. The project will re-align Sherwood Road to intersect old U.S. 101 perpendicularly, add a 4-foot wide right shoulder and include an 8-foot wide vehicle pullout along the east side of the road, include a retaining wall along the west side of the new road, reduce the grade on Sherwood Road to 10%, increase the length of the left and right turn lanes on
Sherwood Road from about 15 feet to 200 feet, and improve the signalized intersection with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.

After much deliberation, a tree in poor health in front of Savings Bank of Mendocino County will be removed

For the last two weeks Caltrans and the City of Willits have been trying everything possible to keep this tree (pictured above)  located in front of Savings Bank of Mendocino County at 145 South Main Street.  Sadly, today it was decided by both parties that it is in the best interest of safety to remove this tree.

This process started on July 11 when the certified arborist was on-site monitoring during the concrete curb/asphalt removal activities around this segment of the Downtown Sidewalk project.

The contractor’s aborist recommended that the tree be removed due to the removal of three large roots in the way of the sidewalk construction.  It was determined that the tree will lose at least 30% of its stability.

Following the tree removal protocol, the City of Willits and City Planner, Dusty Duley were notified. The City reviewed the arborist report and decided to try and see what could be done to keep the tree.  The city hired a second arborist to review the tree.  Their arborist evaluated the tree and came to the similar conclusion.

Both arborists have said in order to avoid the inevitable risk of tree failure causing damage to infrastructure or pedestrians, the removal of this tree is recommended.

The tree is scheduled to be removed Wednesday, July 25.

 

 

 

 

 

Downtown Sidewalk Update:

The new sidewalks on Main Street are looking good!

Five segments have been completed so far. Work is moving along ahead of schedule.

Granite Construction and Caltrans crews have really appreciated all the nice comments and support of the merchants and people of Willits. Merchants have even brought the workers ice cream and burgers to thank them. One business decorated his TPAR, (Temporary Pedestrian Access Route) with beautiful flowers and colorful fabric.

Thank you for your patience. Support your community by shopping local during construction. #willitsshoplocal

Sherwood Road Nighttime Work Starts Monday, July 16

Nighttime work at the Sherwood Road/ Hwy 101 intersection on will start on Monday, July 16th.  One-way traffic control will be in effect 8 p.m. until 7 a.m. weeknights. Motorist should expect 15-minute delays.

Project Background:

The Sherwood Road Realignment Project will improve the function of this high traffic volume intersection.  This project involves realigning the existing Sherwood Road intersection.  Currently, Sherwood Road intersects old U.S. 101 at a horizontal angle with a 12% grade, with two 12 foot lanes, no shoulders, and short left and right turn pockets. The project will re-align Sherwood Road to intersect old U.S. 101 perpendicularly, add a 4-foot wide right shoulder and include an 8-foot wide vehicle pullout along the east side of the road, include a retaining wall along the west side of the new road, reduce the grade on Sherwood Road to 10%, increase the length of the left and right turn lanes on
Sherwood Road from about 15 feet to 200 feet, and improve the signalized intersection with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.

Two trees in poor health to be removed in Segment #9 of Sidewalk Project

On Thursday, July 5, the certified arborist was on-site monitoring during the concrete curb/asphalt removal activities around two street trees in Segment #9 of the Downtown Sidewalk project.

Tree #1 is located on the east side of Main Street/Hwy 101 south of Sherwood Road and north of State Street.  Tree #1 is near the old Starchild Chocolate storefront.  This tree had a significant amount of browning/dead leaves and branch tips

Tree #2 is located south of State Street and North of Commercial Street on the east side of Main Street/Hwy 101. This tree is in front of The House Doctor Paints store.  This tree was in poor health with decay observed in some of the branches and a large old wound with decay on the trunk.

It was identified that the new curb will need to be installed through almost the center of Tree # 1’s trunk.  Removal of the existing concrete sidewalk and curb around Tree # 1 also exposed a large anchor root that was running parallel to the existing curb that will need to be cut for the installation of the new curb.

During the removal of the concrete sidewalk and curb around Tree # 2, a significant amount of small feeder roots and a number of larger roots were exposed and severed.  Further, the existing curb was deeper than typical and the tree was found to lack anchor roots down to sub-grade on this east side of the tree due to the presence of the
deep curb. When the curb was removed, the entire tree shook, indicating potential instability and a structural integrity concern.

The arborist determined these two trees needed to be removed.

Following the tree removal protocol, the City of Willits and City Planner, Dusty Duley were notified. The City reviewed the arborist report and agreed with the recommendation to remove the two trees.  They city said they appreciated the effort from Caltrans and Granite to work carefully around the trees.

Both trees are scheduled to be removed Tuesday, July 10.

From the arborist’s report:

“Recommendations:

Since the new curb alignment will need to cut though the base of Tree #1, this tree will need to be removed.

Due to the significant loss of feeder roots, the potential impacts to the structural integrity of the tree from the curb removal and the presence of existing decay in the tree trunk, it is recommended that Tree# 2  be removed. Since the tree is already unhealthy from the past trunk damage and subsequent decay that spread through the trunk, the impacts from the ground disturbing activities will put too much additional strain on the tree to recuperate in the long term and in order to avoid the inevitable risk of tree failure causing damage to infrastructure or pedestrians, the removal of this tree is recommended.“