Caltrans District 1 project manager David Melinda told the Del Norte Local Transportation Commission that Caltrans has secured full funding to advance improvements on State Route 197 and U.S. Highway 199, including lane widening and curve geometry changes to allow STAA‑size trucks to travel the corridor safely. The commission heard that the California Transportation Commission approved the project funding on Aug. 15 and the district is preparing to advertise construction bids in early October.

The project budget is $51,000,000 and covers nine discrete work locations on SR 197 and US 199. Melinda said the district expects to advertise the contract in the first week of October, keep the advertisement open for six weeks, receive bids in early November and seek contract award and final approvals in December. Contracts will include a standard 55‑day delayed start; Caltrans expects a spring 2026 construction start.

Caltrans staff emphasized that the bridge work over the Smith River will form the project’s critical path. The bridge location has seasonal environmental constraints and required close coordination with resource agencies, Caltrans said. Work at that location is estimated at roughly 485 working days, followed by about 250 working days of permanent erosion‑control establishment — a total of about 735 working days for the project elements tied to the bridge. Caltrans said rock excavation at several locations will likely require blasting and that rock retention and catchment systems will be used to prevent material from entering the river.

Traffic control at the most constrained locations will include temporary full closures from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to allow accelerated rock removal; Caltrans said contractors interviewed reported a minimum four‑hour closure for blasting operations on some days. The district plans a mandatory pre‑bid meeting in October; contractors must attend the pre‑bid to submit bids. Caltrans said it will seek contractor innovations, particularly methods to accelerate bridge work so construction might finish a season early.

Commissioners asked about environmental restrictions and potential legal challenges. Melinda said Caltrans coordinated with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and other resource agencies; the district negotiated work windows that allow some winter work but impose limits during storm events. Jen Buck, Caltrans office chief of project management, said Caltrans’ legal team assessed risk and judged it to be “very low to none.” Melinda described outreach and an aggressive public notification plan for planned closures.

Commissioners also asked whether the project would remove truck size restrictions on the corridor. Caltrans replied that once construction and reclassification are complete the route will be designated to allow STAA‑size federal trucks and should remove current restrictions.