Calaveras County officials and regional partners on the morning of the ceremony gathered in Angels Camp to mark completion of Phase 1 of the State Route 4 Wagon Trail realignment. Supervisor Martin Heberty, who served as county board chair, said the project has been a long community goal and praised the multiple agencies and staff who brought the work to fruition.

"This project has been around practically that long," said Martin Heberty, Chair of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors, referring to decades of planning and community support. Heberty noted the Wagon Trail realignment is important to local tourism and safety and introduced Calaveras County Public Works Director Micah Martin to describe the project details.

Micah Martin, Calaveras County Public Works Director, summarized the technical and administrative hurdles the project overcame, including environmental and cultural‑resource coordination, a mid‑project redesign, severe weather delays, right‑of‑way issues and funding challenges. He praised long‑term contributors and contractors for adapting to those difficulties and said the new alignment "makes State Route 4 safer, more efficient, and better equipped to handle the needs of our community and visitors for years to come." Micah Martin specifically acknowledged Robert Patchenger and Craig Pedro for sustained contributions to the effort.

Grace Magsayo, Caltrans District 10 director, placed the phase‑one cost at about $52,000,000 and said funding came from a combination of federal, state and local sources. Magsayo identified "nearly $6,000,000" from the Road Repair and Accountability Act (Senate Bill 1) and referenced the State Highway Operation and Protection Program as a source of state funding. She said the work reduces unnecessary curves, widens the roadway where appropriate, and supports Caltrans priorities of safety, equity and climate action.

"Because of this project, the traveling public will enjoy improved safety along State Route 4 between Copperopolis and Angels Camp," Magsayo said, adding a reminder to drivers to watch for maintenance and construction workers and to move over for flashing amber lights.

Amanda Fallendorf, chair of the Calaveras Council of Governments and Supervisor for District 4, framed the realignment as a multi‑decade undertaking and credited regional collaboration and consistent prioritization by COG and county leaders. Fallendorf said State Route 4 carries "over 7,000 vehicles a day," called the route a "critical emergency evacuation route," and urged partners to carry the same unity into future phases.

Speakers repeatedly thanked partner agencies — Caltrans District 10, the California Transportation Commission, the City of Angels Camp, county staff, the tribe and consulting/contractor teams — and called out long‑serving staff (Melissa Rogers, Melissa Eads, Amber Collins) and local champions (Gary Tofinelli) for persistent advocacy. The program included a group photo and a continued emphasis from officials that Phase 2 remains a future priority.

No formal votes or regulatory actions were taken at the ceremony; it was a celebratory event recognizing Phase 1 completion and acknowledging partners and contributors.