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Board flags Hiller Road overpass retrofit as opportunity to study future ramps in McKinneyville ahead of RTP update
Summary
Board members told HCOG they will raise a concept to study adding ramps at the Hiller Road Overpass in McKinneyville during the regional transportation plan process, citing concentrated development and school locations nearby.
A board member told the Humboldt County Association of Governments that Caltrans has contacted local officials about earthquake retrofit work on the Hiller Road overpass in McKinneyville and urged the board to consider whether retrofit work could preserve the future option of adding off- and on-ramps.
The board member said McKinneyville now has higher-density development and important community facilities clustered near Hiller Road, including schools, a planned town center behind Safeway, Life Plan Humboldt senior housing and a community service district sports complex. The member said adding ramps — likely a two-ramp configuration with a southbound off-ramp and a northbound on-ramp as priorities — could improve safety by reducing vehicle miles traveled and easing traffic on Central Avenue and McKinneyville Avenue, which carry school traffic.
The member cautioned that ramps would present design challenges because right of way was not previously acquired and that one ramp might require an expanded bridge structure. The member said they and Tom Mattson, public works director, will propose the Hiller Road ramp concept for consideration in the regional transportation plan (RTP) update slated for 2026.
The board did not adopt any policy at the meeting; the discussion was presented as an early heads-up to HCOG staff and member jurisdictions so the concept can be developed for formal consideration during RTP development.
