North State Street Bore Project

The North State Street Bore Project involves the installation of approximately 1,350 linear feet of underground utility conduit using horizontal directional drilling within existing public rights-of-way and utility easements near the North State Street/U.S. Highway 101 interchange in Ukiah, California. The work includes excavation of four temporary bore pits, installation of two primary utility vaults, associated fiber service vaults and communications boxes, eight underground conduits, and two utility poles, along with backfilling, surface restoration, and temporary traffic control measures. The conduit system will carry electrical conductors, city communications infrastructure, and fiber-optic facilities to support Middle Mile and Last Mile Broadband initiatives. The project is designed to relocate existing utilities and enable the future removal of a 12-kilovolt overhead power line crossing Highway 101, thereby improving system reliability and resolving conflicts with planned transportation upgrades in the area. The project area consists entirely of previously disturbed urban land, including roadways, utilities, and parking facilities. The project qualifies for categorical exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), specifically Sections 15302(c), 15303(d), and 15304(f), owing to its nature as a replacement, minor alteration, and small structure construction within existing infrastructure corridors. All activities are confined to existing public rights-of-way and utility easements, minimizing new environmental disturbance. The initiative is being led by the City of Ukiah, with primary point of contact for planning inquiries being Katherine Schaefers, Planning Manager, and Cindy Sauers, Electric Utility Director. The project is currently in a forecast phase, with no solicitation number assigned, and further details can be accessed via the provided CEQA Net link.