Caltrans has chosen the tunnel as its preferred alternative for the Last Chance Grade Project in Del Norte County. Prior to the decision, Caltrans was considering three alternatives: (1) the “no action” alternative, which would prolong the current attempts to patch together the road through one-off fixes; (2) reengineering of the existing road with new dewatering wells to reduce landsliding and completely reengineered retaining walls and other structures (Alternative X); and (3) a tunnel that runs behind the active landslide area (Alternative F).
The alternatives each have their respective advantages and disadvantages. Alternative X would result in the fewest number of large, old trees lost to the project (21 trees above four feet in diameter at breast height, versus 40 large trees with Alternative F), although Alternative X would remove more old-growth Sitka spruce, a very rare tree type in our region. Alternative X would also result in less earthwork and excavated material than Alternative F (270,000 cubic yards compared to 1,100,000). Alternative X is estimated to cost $880 million. Alternative F, by contrast, is projected to have more predictable and reliable maintenance costs, although is estimated to cost $2.1 billion.
While EPIC preferred Alternative X, we acknowledge that it was a tough choice. In truth, there is no good way to rebuild a road through this erosive and difficult terrain, and all alternatives present unsavory choices. These alternatives are also the best of the lot; Caltrans considered and rejected many others that presented even more extreme impacts, such as Alternative A2 that would have created a bridge through an old-growth grove.
We are heartened that the process by which the choice was made was transparent and well-executed. EPIC, together with many other stakeholders, participated in over 10 years of meetings, and feedback from those meetings shaped and improved the decision.
The project is likely to have significant environmental impacts, including the loss of old-growth redwood trees. These impacts are regrettable. EPIC is committed to continue working with Caltrans to refine the project to reduce avoidable impacts and to ensure that whatever impacts cannot be avoided will be minimized and mitigated to the maximum extent possible. We continue to urge that Caltrans adopt a robust mitigation strategy that effectively works to offset impacts by investing in land conservation and restoration.
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