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You’re Invited!
Caltrans invites you to attend the Virtual Gleason Beach Roadway Realignment Project Community Meeting to be held via Zoom on
Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Join Caltrans to learn about the latest project updates and
to provide your input:
- Get an overview of the Project Purpose, History and Project Timeline;
- Learn how the project would protect and enhance sensitive coastal resources;
- How public input has been incorporated to shape the development of the project;
- View the latest project developments including roadway and bridge project renderings and,
- Hear about upcoming public meetings.
Click here to access the meeting via Zoom.
To enter the meeting, please use the information below when prompted:
Meeting ID: 931 5824 5963
No registration is required.
If you are planning to participate in the community meeting via phone, please use the following: +1 669 900 9128, 93158245963# US (San Jose). When prompted, please enter in the meeting ID: 931 5824 5963
If you would like to submit a question ahead of the community meeting, you can do so with the comment form at the bottom of this page or contact Jeff Weiss, Public Information Officer, at D4Gleason@dot.ca.gov or (510) 715-8770
A project scoping meeting was held in Bodega Bay to provide project information and to receive comments from the community regarding the proposed project. Key comments received during and after the project scoping include the following*:
- Visual Impacts of the project.
- Access to houses on Old Highway 1, and issue of public parking.
- Consideration of a shorter bridge design.
*A complete overview of community meetings is included in the SR 1 Gleason Beach Roadway Final EIR/EA.
Caltrans held an Open House with a Q&A panel to solicit public comments on the Draft EIR/EA. Comments were taken into consideration in the Final EIR/EA. Key comments received during and after the public open house include the following*:
- Visual impact and design of the roadway, bridge and public access improvements.
- Restoration of Scotty Creek.
- Public access to Gleason Beach and other public improvements.
*A complete overview of community meetings is included in the SR 1 Gleason Beach Roadway Final EIR/EA.
Caltrans held a community meeting and Q&A forum to provide a project update since the release of the Draft EIR/EA including the Preferred Alternative. Key comments received during and after the project update meeting include the following*:
- Status of SR 1 roadway and emergency repairs.
- Safety concerns and status of plans to limit heavy trucks from traveling on SR 1.
- One-way traffic control and emergency repairs.
*A complete overview of community meetings is included in the SR 1 Gleason Beach Roadway Final EIR/EA.
Caltrans held a community meeting in Bodega Bay. Technical specialists provided an overview on the bridge design (including height, length, bulk) and related constraints including environmental, structural, and visual.
The community selected Design Concept 3 (see rendering below). Caltrans selected this design as its official type selection, based on community and California Coastal Commission and Sonoma County input. The bridge design evokes the classic Bixby Bridge style and seeks to complement the natural surroundings and provide a cohesive, regional design aesthetic.
Caltrans and its partnering agencies facilitated a followup community meeting in Bodega Bay to share the latest project plans with the community including bridge and roadway designs and the latest public access and biological restoration plans.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution authorizing the Coastal Commission to consolidate approvals required for this project into a single Coastal Permit to be processed by the Commission.
Caltrans initiated emergency repair projects along the Sonoma Coast including at post mile 15.4 within the Gleason Beach project area. Caltrans completed the installation of one-way traffic control in May 2019 to conduct minor repairs due to cracking and subsidence.
Project Status
The Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) was made available for a 45-day general public and public agency review period from July 9, 2015 to August 24, 2015. Final EIR/EA is expected June 30, 2016.
As a result of public input and Caltrans’ evaluation of potential environmental impacts associated with the three alternatives discussed in the Draft EIR/EA and public input, Alternative 19A was selected as the preferred alternative.
Project Benefits
- Continued access along SR 1 for residents, visitors and businesses near Gleason Beach
- A long-term approach to address continual coastal bluff erosion that threatens the stability of the roadway
- Preservation of the highly scenic coastal landscape by maintaining the road as a two-lane roadway
- Daylighting Scotty Creek is expected to improve the flow of Scotty Creek and thus have a beneficial effect upon the creek
- Recreational enhancements including bicycle and pedestrian access
- Enhanced public access including some parking, vehicular turnarounds and beach boardwalk/stairs
Project Update
Based on community and partnering agency input, received at the Community meeting in February 2017, Caltrans has selected Design Concept 3 (see graphic below) as its official type selection. The bridge design evokes the classic style of other coastal highway bridges and seeks to complement the natural surroundings and provide a cohesive, regional design aesthetic.
The project also maintains access to homes and enhancements to public access, including considerations for beach and pedestrian/bicycle access and parking.
Caltrans also continues to work with agencies on the biological restoration along Scotty Creek and to obtain approvals by spring-2018 to commence construction in 2019.
Project Status
Caltrans certified the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) on June 30, 2016. Next, Caltrans is preparing to submit permit applications and obtaining agency approvals by early-2018 to commence construction in 2019, including, but not limited to:
- Water Quality Certification by the Regional Water Quality Control Board under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
- Permits approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
- 1602 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Coastal Development Permit/Local Coastal Plan Amendment
Project Update
In partnership with Sonoma County and the Coastal Commission, the Gleason Beach Realignment Project balances the need to protect the scenic qualities of the Sonoma Coast and improve connectivity and resiliency of the transportation network for coastal communities for years to come.
Caltrans has maintained the roadway as a two‐lane highway and provided for safer access for pedestrians and bicyclists; the inland bypass of the roadway would also accommodate sea level rise and bluff erosion, both long‐range planning efforts for each entity; the project would also protect and enhance sensitive coastal resources, including wetlands and public access.
The project will provide resources to fund public access enhancements and biological restoration that will benefit the region, including the following:
- Cleanup of the bluff at Gleason Beach
- Maintain parking and beach access
- Development of the California Coastal Trail within the project limits
- A bicycle/pedestrian bridge across the mouth of Scotty Creek
- Restoration of the lower reach of Scotty Creek for fish passage and on‐site wetland mitigation plan
Project Update
The project will provide resources to fund public access enhancements and biological restoration that will benefit the region, including the following:
- Cleanup of the bluff at Gleason Beach
- Maintain parking and beach access
- Development of the California Coastal Train plan within the project limits
- A bicycle and pedestrian bridge across the mouth of Scotty Creek
- Restoration of the lower reach of Scotty Creek for fish passage and on-site wetland mitigation plan
