Mendocino County Weekly Roadwork and Arrest Roundup: Aug 14-21

Key Takeaways

• Multiple utility and emergency roadwork projects continue on Route 1, Route 20, and U.S. 101 in Mendocino County through the week of Aug. 14-21.
• New work begins Aug. 17 on Route 20 near Willits and east of Fort Bragg, and on Aug. 19 near Jack Peters Creek Bridge on Route 1.
• Motorists on the coast should expect delays of up to 15 minutes south of Westport and 10 minutes near Elk.
• The Mendocino County Jail logged at least 13 bookings between Aug. 10-12, including DUI, domestic violence, burglary, and weapons charges.
• The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is a third short on staff, and a burglary at Point Arena's wastewater treatment plant caused an estimated $14,000 in damages.
• All arrestees are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Introduction

Mendocino County is facing a busy week of roadwork and law enforcement activity. Caltrans and utility crews are scheduled to maintain bridges, culverts, and utility lines across the coastal and inland corridors, while the Sheriff's Office and local police continue making arrests on a range of charges.

Route 1: Coastal Utility Work and Emergency Repairs

Several projects are active along Route 1. Utility work continues from north of Schooner Gulch Road to south of Buckhorn Cove Road, with one-way traffic control from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and delays up to 5 minutes.

Emergency work south of Elk is causing up to 10-minute delays, and utility work between Elk and Cameron Road remains active. In Albion, geotechnical work near Spring Grove Road continues with minor slowdowns from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Utility work from north of Elk to north of Cameron Road will be conducted with one-way traffic control from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with delays up to 5 minutes.

New utility work is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 19, from the Jack Peters Creek Bridge 10-150 to Road 500D. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with delays up to 5 minutes.

Construction in Fort Bragg between Hare Creek Bridge and Noyo River Bridge requires lane closures from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. North of Fort Bragg, emergency work south of Westport and at Wages Creek Road continues, with delays of up to 15 minutes near Westport.

At Wages Creek Road, one-way traffic control will be in effect with delays up to 10 minutes. Additional culvert work continues north of Hillshore Drive to the Juan Creek Bridge, with one-way traffic control from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and delays up to 5 minutes.

Route 20 and U.S. 101: New and Ongoing Projects

On Route 20, work is underway east of Fort Bragg, near Willits, and at various points between Camp One Access Road and Three Chop Road. New utility work begins Aug. 17 east of Fort Bragg from Pine Tree Lane to Camp One Access Road, and in Willits from Hollands Lane to the U.S. 101/Route 20 separation.

Utility work from Symes Lane to Pine Tree Lane in Fort Bragg began Friday, Aug. 14, and will continue with one-way traffic control from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and delays up to 5 minutes. The new work east of Fort Bragg from Pine Tree Lane to Camp One Access Road, scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 17, will follow the same hours and delay. Work from Camp One Access Road to west of Three Chop Road continues under the same conditions.

Utility work from west of the Broaddus Creek Bridge to Main Street in Willits continues with one-way traffic control from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 5-minute delays. The new work from Hollands Lane to the U.S. 101/Route 20 separation will begin Monday, Aug. 17, with one-way traffic control from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. and 5-minute delays.

U.S. 101 has multiple bridge and utility projects near Hopland, Ukiah, and the Sonoma County line. Lane closures are scheduled at night, and motorists should expect minor slowdowns. In Ukiah, northbound ramp closures are planned at Route 253, Route 222 (Talmage Road), East Perkins Street, Gobbi Street, North State Street, and Lake Mendocino Drive.

Additional U.S. 101 work includes utility work from Viaduct 10-289 to the Sonoma County line with lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., and bridge work from Viaduct 10-289 to Comminsky Station Road with lane closures from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. South of Hopland, bridge work continues from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., and utility work from the Pieta Creek Bridge to Mountain House Road runs from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Road work in Hopland from La Franchi Road to First Street will have one-way traffic control from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Utility work from Largo Road to north of Nelson Ranch Road began Thursday, Aug. 13, with one-way traffic control from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. On Friday, Aug. 21, utility work from Nelson Ranch Road to the Plant Overcrossing in Ukiah will require northbound lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Mendocino County Jail Bookings: Aug. 10-12

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office reported 13 bookings over three days. Notable cases include:

• Kenneth W. Eller, 59, of Kelseyville, arrested on drug possession with priors and giving a false ID.
• Alex Gaspar Jr., 29, of Riverside County, arrested for DUI and parole violation.
• Jose L. LeonAcevedo, 56, of Willits, arrested for possessing a machine gun, silencer, domestic violence, and child neglect.
• Vance M. Madson, 28, of Petaluma, arrested for domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, and witness intimidation.
• John M. Palacios, 57, of Ukiah, arrested for burglary and petty theft with priors.

DUI arrests included Vanessa D. Jimenez, 33, of Ukiah; Robert M. Moyer, 61, of Willits; and Eric D. Petterson, 41, of Willits.

The Sheriff's Office is also facing staffing challenges, running a third short on staff. Sheriff Matt Kendall is working the county board and a state grant to fill the empty jobs. Separately, Point Arena's wastewater treatment plant was hit by a burglary, with damages estimated at $14,000, a significant loss for the small city.

Other Public Safety Incidents

In addition to the Aug. 10-12 jail bookings, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office reported several other notable incidents. A Ukiah man was arrested Thursday, Aug. 14, after allegedly attempting to break into an apartment. On Aug. 12, a Redwood Valley man was arrested on suspicion of financial abuse of an elder, and a Lake County man was arrested for allegedly stealing copper wire and vandalizing a former school building in Redwood Valley. The Sheriff's Office also reported eradicating more than 170,000 marijuana plants in the first three weeks of July.

Ongoing investigations also remained in public view. Authorities arrested three people in connection with the July killing of a woman found at an illegal marijuana grow near Covelo, and the Sheriff's Office has identified the victim. Ukiah police arrested a man on suspicion of attempted kidnapping and rape, and the Ukiah City Council has heard community concerns about the city's Flock Safety camera network. Other arrests reported by local agencies include a Potter Valley man accused of grabbing a knife during a fight, a Ukiah man accused of trespassing, and a Covelo woman arrested for alleged attempted murder. In the courts, two Ukiah men recently pleaded no contest to charges of money laundering, drug sales and weapons violations.

Regional Fire Updates

Residents and businesses who had power shut off due to the Bug and Stallion fires have had power restored as of Friday evening. Containment on both fires continues to grow. The Bug Fire is 58% contained and has burned 93,367 acres, while the Stallion Fire is 74% contained and has burned 40,690 acres. Updated information is available on-air and online at mynews4.com.

Local California Context

Mendocino County's rugged coastline and inland valleys depend on state highways for daily commutes and tourism. The ongoing projects highlight the need for regular maintenance in areas prone to slides, culvert failures, and weather damage.

Beyond road work, local infrastructure projects are also moving forward. Fort Bragg's city council voted 5-0 to pursue up to $8.5 million for an all-weather track at Timberwolf Stadium and up to $10 million to make the C.V. Starr Center a resilience hub. The city's new fiber broadband network is also nearly complete, with early sign-ups for service beginning.

Background

Caltrans schedules routine work during daylight hours on the coast and at night on U.S. 101 to minimize traffic impacts. The arrest log is compiled from sheriff's reports and does not reflect convictions.

Conclusion

Residents should allow extra travel time and check for changing road conditions, especially on Route 1. For the latest updates, visit Caltrans' QuickMap or contact local agencies.