Caltrans told Humboldt County transportation officials on July 16 that the Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project had reached project approval, marking the end of the environmental phase and clearing the way for design.
Leana Winkler-Prinse, Caltrans’ project manager for District 1, said the milestone came around 5 p.m. the day before the meeting, according to the meeting transcript. She told the Humboldt County Association of Governments board and Policy Advisory Committee that the project is now entering design, which she described as roughly a five-year phase running from 2026 to 2031.
Winkler-Prinse said Caltrans estimates construction would then take seven to nine years. She also said the project team plans to go to the California Transportation Commission in August to request funding allocation for design.
The presentation also outlined related work underway on cultural treatment, geotechnical investigation, funding planning and workforce development. Winkler-Prinse said Caltrans signed a memorandum of agreement about a month ago to outline cultural treatments and that a record of decision was completed the morning before the meeting, allowing the final project report to be signed.
The July 16 HCAOG agenda had listed a Last Chance Grade Project update as a presentation item.
