On Oct. 9, 2025, the Mendocino County Coastal Permit Administrator approved a standard coastal development permit requested by Caltrans for a capital preventive maintenance project along a 19-mile stretch of State Route 1 from Post Mile 14.7 (just north of Point Arena) to Post Mile 33.9 (Philo Greenwood Road). The project scope includes resurfacing asphalt, replacing guardrails, updating traffic striping and lane delineation, installing or replacing road signs, repairing driveway and side-road conform transitions, bridge approach transitions, installing shoulder backing, and placing concrete vegetation control under guardrails.

Shelby Miller, the county project planner, said the project was referred to the Coastal Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because of proximity to Point Arena mountain-beaver habitat. Miller reported that Caltrans provided a programmatic letter of concurrence to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and that the project is covered by that letter. The Coastal Commission asked the county to ensure the project would not disrupt shoreline access; staff added condition 18 to require that all access be maintained and available at all times during construction and operation. Miller said biological-study recommendations and programmatic-concurrence measures were added as conditions of approval.

Caltrans project manager Tony Simonovich attended the hearing and said Caltrans staff were available to answer questions; no additional remarks were made by the applicant’s representative. The county found the project categorically exempt from CEQA under section 15301 (existing facilities) and recommended approval with the conditions described in the staff report. The Coastal Permit Administrator agreed and approved the project subject to the staff findings and conditions.

No public speakers were recorded. Staff added a condition to ensure that staging at Alder Creek Beach Road and other construction activities preserve public shoreline access throughout construction. Trustee-agency recommendations and USFWS concurrence formed part of the conditions of approval.