Westside Road reopens Aug. 28 as Sonoma County nears completion of major storm recovery project

Nearly seven months after an atmospheric river dropped a deluge of rain on Sonoma County, causing massive destruction and tragically claiming two lives, the first of six critical road repair projects is nearing full completion. Westside Road in Forestville will reopen on Thursday, August 28, at noon including a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Sonoma County Public Infrastructure to mark the milestone.

“These projects are critical for residents, businesses, and emergency responders,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins. “Our goal has been to move these essential projects into construction as quickly as possible to restore access and ensure safety following last winter’s severe storms.”

On April 15, the Board of Supervisors approved all six priority projects. In addition to the Westside Road landslide, identified road repairs included: 

• Wohler Road creek bank failure, south of Wohler Bridge
• West Soda Rock Lane landslide, Healdsburg
• Two separate landslides on Cavedale Road, Glen Ellen
• Giovannetti Road culvert replacement, Forestville

 “Westside Road is the first of our six Priority 1 projects—emergency construction we identified and brought before the Board of Supervisors to repair landslides and bridge damage from the destructive storms last November and again this February,” said Johannes Hoevertsz, Director of Sonoma County Public Infrastructure. “The Board’s swift approval of emergency funding allowed us to expedite construction and restore these vital connections.”

Access across Wohler Bridge was restored earlier this summer, though work continues to strengthen the creek bank and bridge infrastructure. Construction began in late July on both Cavedale Road landslide sites, while work on West Soda Rock Lane launched August 11. All four projects are expected to be complete by late fall.

Additionally, while not included in the original six, North Fitch Mountain was prioritized after experiencing successive landslides from the November and February storms. Construction there began earlier this summer, with reopening scheduled soon.

Public Infrastructure crews were on Westside Road from the very beginning, responding alongside the Sheriff’s Department on February 4, when the first landslide call quickly escalated into a full road collapse and landslide, sending an unoccupied home into the river. Since then, Public Infrastructure has worked intensively with Geo-Logic and Ghilotti Construction to design and build the repairs.

“From day one, our crews and partners have been committed to these projects and to seeing them through to the end,” Hoevertsz emphasized. “We’re proud to be delivering on that commitment, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with the community.”

To honor the reopening, Sonoma County Public Infrastructure is hosting a small ribbon-cutting ceremony on Westside Road with support from local businesses, including Moishin Vineyards and Gary Farrell Winery. The event will bring together county leaders, project partners, and community members to celebrate the progress and the partnerships that made it possible.

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Media Contact:
Matt Brown, Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040