Caltrans traffic safety staff told the Del Norte Local Transportation Commission that collision rates at Elk Valley Crossroad and U.S. Highway 101 are higher than average, but most crashes have low severity, which limits eligibility for major state safety funds.

Andreas Kraus, office chief for the Safe System Office, introduced Clark Davis, the district traffic safety investigator, who said his office has studied the location for nearly two decades. Davis said most collisions there involve drivers failing to see approaching through traffic, often because a slowing vehicle or turn pocket blocks sightlines. He said a roundabout would be an effective solution but the current statewide safety‑fund distribution assigns dollars by crash severity; because Elk Valley has few severe crashes, it does not qualify for the larger pots of safety money that would pay for a roundabout.

Davis and other Caltrans staff said the immediate, fundable steps are signing, delineation and other low‑cost countermeasures. Commissioners suggested narrower geometry and lane drops based on past work at a nearby US 199 intersection that reduced collisions; Caltrans staff said they will investigate whether a lane‑drop is feasible at the US 101 intersection and noted that changing the pavement configuration could affect the expressway designation and traffic flow.

Caltrans staff and commissioners also discussed right‑of‑way availability and previous successful measures at the US 199/Elk Valley location. A Caltrans engineer said a roundabout at the US 199 intersection is already moving toward advertisement in December and that some lane reductions will be part of that project; commissioners asked staff to explore funding and to keep Elk Valley safety on the commission’s agenda for updates.