U.S. District Judge William Alsup stopped the progression of a highway project in Richardson Grove State Park to determine the environmental impact to a grove of ancient redwoods in widening Highway 101. Issuing his ruling on July 6, Judge Alsup made Dec. 1 the trial date for the case.

To complete the project of widening the roadway, the California Department of Transportation, also known as Caltrans, would have to unearth dozens of trees and realign the roadway to connect with other major networks of roads on which large trucks, such as Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) trucks, are able to travel. Currently, STAA trucks are prohibited from traveling on the Highway 101 segment between San Francisco and the Oregon border known as the gateway to Humboldt County, unless they are part of a special exemption.

[Editor’s Note: On behalf of its members, CMSA worked with the California Highway Patrol to create a special exemption known as the Interim Access Agreement back in March 2009. By complying with the terms of this Agreement (details listed on the CMSA website), CMSA Member trucks are allowed access to this restricted stretch of Highway 101.]

Residents near this Highway 101 segment, particularly Humboldt County natives, contend that the construction would have a negative environmental effect on the redwoods and would destroy the small-town ambience of the area. UC Berkeley Professor of forestry Joe McBride agrees with local residents and adds that Caltrans’ plans of cutting two-inch or smaller-sized roots of the trees would still be harmful to redwoods’ root systems. Caltrans’ plan, being sensitive to environmentalists’ concerns, is to remove 54 trees during the construction project, but only six would be redwoods.

Humboldt County economic development coordinator Jacqueline Debets said truck transport is the only cost-efficient way to move large quantities of goods in such a remote area. Debets also reasons that her neighbors’ fears of becoming inundated with zealous developers and truck pollution after the construction is complete are exaggerated. Once the project is finished, Debets believes that Humboldt County residents won’t notice a difference.

Caltrans spokeswoman Julie East stated that the department is disappointed with Judge Alsup’s decision. The agency continues to stand by the Richardson Grove Improvement Project as it will remove a long-standing transportation obstacle for the North Coast.