Last Chance Grade receives a closer look from stakeholder in Arcata
ARCATA, Calif. — Last Chance Grade recently finished it's geological survey, finding the risks/impacts of the potential routes to connect Crescent City with Highway 101, giving the projects stakeholders a better look before finishing the environmental study.
CalTrans and the State of California have been running the projects pros and cons through many different stakeholders throughout the state, in order to have a safe route to bring into Del Norte County.
"If we're trying to avoid old growth products we are choosing routes X and L," said Tom Wheeler, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Information Center. "X and L are more or less, on the same alignment as the current road is."
California Senator Mike Mcguire says this project is highly expensive and that a lot of the funding will need to come from the tax payers.
"We can't move with that construction without the environmental study, that environmental study is either 50 million to 60 million dollars," said Mcguire. "But, the only way we are going to fund Last Chance Grade is through SB 1 and Gas Tax."
While Wheeler does look at the economic advantages/disadvantages of the different routes, he also researches the environmental impact as well.
"We are engaged in the stakeholders process because we believe that this road is important for all motorists," said Wheeler.
