HUM-96 PM 26.51 - Repair Culvert (01-0R001)

The California Department of Transportation is preparing to undertake emergency repairs on State Route 96 at post mile 26.51 in Humboldt County to address a sinkhole that formed in December 2025 due to heavy winter rains and failed drainage infrastructure. The deteriorating conditions have compromised the highway shoulder, embankment, and pavement structure, creating an imminent safety risk to the public. The repair work will focus on reestablishing proper drainage by installing a new culvert and a cutoff wall beneath the existing concrete apron to prevent water from eroding the subsurface and undermining the roadway. The goal is to fully restore the structural integrity of the traveled way and eliminate the hazard posed by the failed system. The project, identified as HUM-96 PM 26.51 - Repair Culvert (01-0R001), was posted as a forecast on July 29, 2026, and is being managed by Caltrans District 1 in Eureka. Jeffrey Jahn, the Environmental Coordinator, serves as the primary point of contact for inquiries and can be reached at 530-708-5256 or jeffrey.jahn@dot.ca.gov. The work is critical to maintaining safe and reliable transportation infrastructure in the region and is being advanced promptly to mitigate further damage and ensure public safety before additional weather events occur.