Work Ramps Back Up at the Willits Bypass for the 2014 Season

Temporary piles being delivered on April 8 at the south end of the viaduct. These piles will help support the falsework (concrete form) that shapes the various parts of the viaduct.

This week work began to ramp back up at the Willits Bypass Project.  Work is beginning to construct the southern half of the viaduct and eight bridges south of the viaduct which includes the six bridges that help form the southern interchange.  Work will include driving piles and constructing more viaduct columns. There will eventually be traffic control required on some local streets which run under the bypass, and Caltrans will release details in advance to alert the public.

Work will also begin soon to excavate soil on the south end of the project and haul it to the north interchange.  This work is in full  compliance with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.  Both agencies agreed that the intent of previous letters to Caltrans prohibiting fill dirt from being brought into the project until the mitigation plan is approved does not prohibit soil being moved from one location inside the project to another.  The soil will be transported at night along US Highway 101 through Willits to avoid traffic impacts.

The north interchange, showing the first phase under construction along with the future second phase (dashed lines).