Document Library : Last Chance Grade Project

Document Library

Update Presentation to California Transportation Commission, March 2025

Last Chance Grade Quarterly Update

These updates are intended to help communicate the variety and complexity of activities going on in the field and behind the scenes to help Caltrans avoid and minimize impacts while identifying a long-term solution for Last Chance Grade.

*Note: The April 2022 Quarterly Update has been revised since it was originally posted to reflect the rescheduled date for Senator McGuire's Last Chance Grade Town Hall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last Chance Grade Frequently Asked Questions - July 2024 (PDF 143KB)

Last Chance Grade Draft Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), as assigned by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), has prepared this Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation (EIR/EIS), which examines the potential environmental impacts of the alternatives being considered for the proposed project located in Del Norte County, California. Caltrans is the lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Caltrans is also the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The document tells you why the project is being proposed, what alternatives we have considered for the project, how the existing environment could be affected by the project, the potential impacts of each of the alternatives, and the proposed avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures.

Click here to see the Notice of Availability which explains how to submit comments on the EIR/EIS prior to the deadline of February 13, 2024.

Agency Coordination Plan for the Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project

The Agency Coordination Plan establishes an approach for agency (lead, participating, and cooperating) and public participation during the environmental review process for the Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project (LCG Project). The Agency Coordination Plan:

Identifies lead, participating, and cooperating agencies.
Identifies coordination points and responsibilities.
Establishes timing and format for public and agency participation.

Agency Coordination Plan for the Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project (PDF 11.3MB)

NOP/NOI for Preparation of Draft EIR/EIS for Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 1 released the Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Notice of Intent (NOI) for the preparation of a draft Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project. Last Chance Grade is the 3.5-mile-long section of US 101 in Del Norte County (post mile [PM] 12.0 to 15.5) that runs between Wilson Creek to about 9 miles south of Crescent City. The Project would realign the highway in response to landslide and roadway failures which have caused damage for decades.

The purpose of the NOP and NOI was to notify agencies, organizations, and individuals of this intent, and request input on the scope and content of the proposed joint EIR/EIS. The NOP and NOI were publicly circulated for a period of 30 days beginning on November 5, 2021 and ending on December 6, 2021.

Fact Sheet: Moving Forward with Alternatives X and F (updated December 2023)

Last Chance Grade Project: Moving Forward with Alternatives X and F (PDF 247KB)

Last Chance Grade Progress Update, Summer 2021

Last Chance Grade Progress Update - Summer 2021 (PDF 1.9MB)

Last Chance Grade Alternatives Analysis Report

The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of how the alternative alignments for a long-term sustainable solution at Last Chance Grade were developed, including screening, stakeholder outreach and participation, performance measure applications, analysis results, and the identification of the alternatives that will be carried forward for environmental review in the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) to be prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The report can be reviewed or downloaded below. Note that there is an option of downloading the full report, which includes the Alternatives Analysis Workshops Summaries below as Attachment B, or downloading the report with Attachment A and Attachment B separately (recommended for slower connections).

Last Chance Grade Alternatives Analysis Workshop Summaries

Between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, Caltrans conducted an alternatives analysis to determine which of the seven build alternatives under consideration should be studied further in more detail during the environmental impact analysis. The alternatives analysis process and criteria matrix were developed with input from four stakeholder groups. The analysis was based on criteria and performance measures related to the project’s major objectives, which include providing a long-term safe and reliable roadway, reducing maintenance costs, and protecting the economy and natural and cultural resources.

Caltrans hosted two rounds of workshops with the stakeholder groups to solicit and refine stakeholder input on the methodology and criteria. The third meeting was combined to share thoughts, ideas, and comments across all the stakeholder groups. More than 80 stakeholders participated in these workshops.

At the conclusion of alternatives analysis, the stakeholders confirmed their support for the process and the recommendation to further study Alternatives F and X in the environmental document, with Alternatives A1, A2, G1, G2, and L recommended for removal from further study at this time.

Summaries of the Alternatives Analysis Workshops can be reviewed or downloaded below. Note that there are several large documents that can be downloaded either as a whole or in sections (recommended for slower connections).

Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project – Alternatives Analysis Methodology Workshop #1 Summary of Results (Full document-PDF 23MB)

Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project – Alternatives Analysis Methodology Workshop #2 Summary of Results (Full document-PDF 5.7MB)

Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project – Alternatives Analysis Methodology Workshop #3 Summary of Results (Full document-PDF 5.1MB)

Last Chance Grade Working Groups

Last Chance Grade Working Groups Assessment Report, September 2020 (PDF 507KB)

Last Chance Grade Progress Update, Summer 2020

Last Chance Grade Progress Update, Summer 2020 (PDF 7.2MB)

Last Chance Grade Geotechnical Investigation Phase 2B Initial Study

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has finalized the Initial Study with Negative Declaration (IS/ND) and the Section 4(f) de minimis determinations for the Last Chance Grade Phase 2B Geotechnical Investigation.

Note that this is a large document; it can be downloaded either as a whole or in sections (recommended for slower connections).

Last Chance Grade Phase 2B Geotechnical Investigation Initial Study with Negative Declaration (Full document-PDF 15.9MB)

Last Chance Grade Project Fact Sheet, January 2020

Last Chance Grade Fact Sheet 2020 (PDF 2.4MB)

Addendum to Project Study Report

The purpose of this report is to document any significant changes since the Project Study Report (PSR) document signed in June 2016 (included below).

Addendum to the 2016 Project Study Report, Last Chance Grade Permanent Restoration Project (PDF 19MB)

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Preliminary Tree Survey Data

This data provides a preliminary estimate of the tree counts and sizes of trees in selected key areas of concern. The project team will be performing more comprehensive and in depth tree surveys in the future as the entire project footprint is considered.

Preliminary Tree Survey Data (2.3MB Zip File)

Last Chance Grade Informational Flyer, June 2019

Last Chance Grade Informational Flyer and Open House Information (PDF 2MB)

Geotechnical Maps

These maps show the planned locations of the preliminary geotechnical investigations. The investigations include (1) boring holes in the ground to identify types of materials along with installing equipment to monitor groundwater dynamics and any potential movement and (2) performing seismic refraction geophysical tests to understand the subsurface conditions between boring locations. The overall purpose of these preliminary geotechnical investigations is to validate and refine the project alternatives and to help assess how well each alternative would improve the reliability of the highway.

March 2019 Letters of Support for Full Project Funding

In February and March 2019, stakeholders provided letters of support for the California Department of Transportation's (CTC) request for $40 million to full fund the Project Approval and Environmental Document phase of the Last Chance Grade project.

Letters of Support for Full Funding, Last Chance Grade Project Approval and Environmental Document Phase (PDF 9.3MB)

July 2018 Community Open House

On July 19, 2018, Caltrans and its partner agencies hosted an Open House to update the community on progress made and answer questions on what is currently being done to keep travelers safe on Last Chance Grade. Documents and displays from the Open House are as follows:

Value Analysis Study Report

The Value Analysis Study Report, completed in October 2018, will assist Caltrans in determining the extent of the studies needed to determine a perferred alternative.

Final Value Analysis Study Report - D-1 Del Norte 101 Last Chance Grade (PDF 16.1MB)

Economic Impact Study

The Economic Impact Study originally completed in January 2015 to determine the economic impact of a major slide closing U.S. Highway 101 at the Last Chance Grade has been updated as of May 2018.

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Geotechnical Expert-Based Risk Assessment

Last Chance Grade Expert-Based Risk Assessment-June 2018 (PDF 35.3MB)

Last Chance Grade Informational Flyer, June 2018

Last Chance Grade Informational Flyer and Open House Information (PDF 10MB)

October 2017 Community Open House

On October 18, 2017, Caltrans and its partner agencies hosted an Open House to update the community and answer questions on what is currently being done to keep travelers safe on Last Chance Grade. Documents and displays from the Open House are as follows:

Project Study Report

The Caltrans Project Study Report (PSR) performed a more detailed analysis of the alternatives recommended for further study from the Engineered Feasibility Study as they relate to the cost, scope and schedule of developing the project. During this study, alternatives and alignments were refined with more precise cost estimates along with more detailed technical analysis of proposed structures and right-of-way.

Note that this is a large document; it can be downloaded either as a whole or in sections (recommended for slower connections).

Last Chance Grade Project Study Report—June 2016 (Full document-PDF 29M)

Engineered Feasibility Study

The Caltrans Engineered Feasibility Study (EFS) for Last Chance Grade will be used as a reference document identifying potential improvement projects, enabling Caltrans to respond to and compete for various project funding sources as they become available.

Last Chance Grade Engineered Feasibility Study - June 2015 (PDF 16.9M)

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March 2016 Community Town Halls

The Last Chance Grade Partners hosted a series of community Town Hall meetings in March 2016 to discuss the status of the Last Chance Grade project and what is currently being done to keep travelers safe as they travel on the Grade. Documents and displays associated with the Town Halls are as follows:

Huffman Stakeholder Group Consensus White Paper, December 2015

Huffman Stakeholder Group Consensus White Paper (PDF 112KB)

January 2015 Community Workshops

The Last Change Grade Partners hosted a series of community workshops in January 2015 to get public input and ideas on a range of possible alternatives for Last Chance Grade. Documents and displays associated with the workshops are as follows:

Partnering Meetings

Caltrans, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the National Park Service, the Yurok Tribe, the Tolowa Dee-Ni' Nation, and the Elk Valley Rancheria, California are collaborative partners in the Last Chance Grade studies. Executive Summaries of the Partnering Meetings are available below: