The signs they are a-changing — along U.S. Highway 101 between Eureka and Arcata, that is.
Say goodbye to the 50 mph posts and hello to the ones placed to reflect the new speed limit of 60 mph after “years of major safety improvements,” according to Caltrans District 1.
More than two decades ago, the slower zone was put in place in response to a history of crashes along the 6 miles where drivers needed to cross over the northbound lanes at cut-offs along the stretch and sometimes, depending on their travel route, merge into southbound traffic under the former configuration.
While the agency reports upping the legal limit was not the “intended goal” of projects done on the highway section, “the change marks a major milestone in efforts to reduce collisions and improve travel along the North Coast’s busiest stretch of highway.”
But beware: “The existing temporary speed limit reduction approaching the southbound Eureka Slough Bridge will remain in place until further notice because of ongoing emergency bridge work.”
Known as the Eureka-Arcata U.S. 101 Corridor Improvement Project, changes include “the Indianola Undercrossing, now known as the Brad Mettam Memorial Interchange, a northbound traffic signal at Airport Road, improvements to acceleration and deceleration lanes, the installation of cable median barrier, bridge and railing replacements at Jacoby Creek and Gannon Slough, tide gate replacements, and the closures of median crossings at Mid-City Motors, the former mill site, Bracut and Bayside Cutoff.”
“The Eureka-Arcata Corridor projects represent a significant investment in safety for our community,” said Caltrans District 1 Project Manager Jeff Pimentel. “Through the collective efforts of our project team and partners, we’ve eliminated uncontrolled at-grade crossings, addressed long-standing collision risks and made lasting safety improvements along this corridor. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together to improve safety for the traveling public.”
According to the release, “With most of these improvements now complete, Caltrans anticipates a significant reduction in collision rates over time, along with the potential for safer, smoother and more reliable commutes between Humboldt County’s two most populated communities.”
Find the full release here.
