California Transportation Commission Approves $40 Million for Last Chance Grade Project

California Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Chris Rogers announced that a $40 million investment was approved by the California Transportation Commission June 27 to jumpstart the design phase of the Last Chance Grade Project.

For decades, a 3-mile segment of Highway 101, just south of Crescent City, has been in a losing battle with the elements with some of the most geologically unstable soil on earth crumbling, sliding, and washing away during heavy winter storms. As the lifeline that connects Del Norte County to rest of the state, this decades-long repair project is a critical economic investment for the North Coast.

The $40 million state allocation, which will kick off the design phase of the project, builds upon the $50 million already fought to secure to successfully complete the project’s environmental review. The state’s latest investment marks a pivotal step toward a permanent fix for the landslide-prone section of highway.

Caltrans District 1 will now formally begin designing a new 6,000-ft tunnel that will bypass the unstable stretch of earth entirely, realigning Highway 101, and delivering the long-term solution this region has waited decades for.

“The restoration of the Last Chance Grade corridor doesn’t just provide more reliable transportation for this area, it also supports economic resilience and ensures our communities maintain access to essential services, even during emergencies,” Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) said.

For more information about the Last Chance Grade Project, visit LastChanceGrade.com.

RELATED: Caltrans Selects Tunnel Alternative for Last Chance Grade Project