Gleason Beach lies along the Sonoma coastline, midway between the community of Bodega Bay and the Russian River, where State Route or Highway 1 travels along the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Coastal erosion resulting from factors such as wave action, sea level rise, surface water runoff from surrounding land uses, and groundwater intrusion have contributed to rapid bluff erosion over the last few decades. Caltrans has been conducting emergency repairs along this stretch of Highway 1 since the early 2000s, with the most recent emergency repair work conducted in the winter of 2019.

To keep State Route 1 open and operating in a safe manner, Caltrans is realigning a half-mile stretch of Highway 1 up to 400 feet east of the current alignment.

The project includes many benefits to the region, including a new 850-foot-long bridge that will include a separated pedestrian sidewalk over the Scotty Creek floodplain. The current highway will be repurposed to become a portion of the California Coastal Trail, and parking spaces will be provided to maintain and improve public access to the beach. Additionally, the existing culvert over Scotty Creek will be removed. The culvert currently poses a barrier to the migration of state and federally listed anadromous salmon and steelhead. Scotty Creek will be daylighted at the mouth of the creek and restoration efforts will be conducted to improve the riparian habitat along Scotty Creek. The Gleason Beach Project will contribute to maintaining a safe and resilient Highway 1 for future generations.