Redwood Highway Utility Undergrounding
Description
Overview
The utility undergrounding project targets a 0.4-mile stretch of Redwood Highway, between Belvedere Drive and Seminary Drive in Strawberry on the east side of US-101. Utility undergrounding enhances public safety, and improves utility reliability, reduces outages and repair needs related to wind and severe weather. The project would also improve appearances by removing overhead utility infrastructure and placing it underground.
The County’s role is limited to the initial phase of the project which is the construction work (trenching, conduit installation, and surface restoration). This is expected to take up to six months. Following that phase, the utility companies (PG&E, Comcast, and AT&T) would coordinate installation of primary and secondary electric, telephone, and cable into underground conduits.
Funding
The combined cost of both the construction phase and the utility phase is estimated at $4.5 million. The cost is covered by PG&E's Rule 20A credits. This is part of the California Public Utilities Commission’s Rule 20A Program, which allocates ratepayer-funded work credits to local communities to fund utility underground conversion projects on public streets.
Traffic Impacts
Traffic impacts would primarily take place during the construction phase of the project, when the trenching and conduit installation is occurring between Belvedere Drive and Seminary Drive. Two-way access for traffic will be maintained to the maximum extent possible by shifting lanes while working. However, some single lane access with alternating direction traffic control measures will be necessary.
It is anticipated that street parking along Redwood Highway would to be limited during the project. However, full or partial access to driveways is expected to be maintained throughout the project with only minor delays. The project is designed to focus on completing individual segments of the roadway with the intention of limiting traffic delays to under five minutes.
Timeline
August 2025
- Anticipated start of construction
Winter 2025/26
- Anticipated end of construction
Winter 2025/26 or Spring 2026
- Anticipated start of utility work phase