Sonoma County Public Infrastructure

08/28/2026

Occidental Road Paving Update

Thank you to the Occidental community for your patience and feedback as Sonoma County Public Infrastructure continues work on Occidental Road between the Santa Rosa city limits and High School Road.

The first phase of the project, including road base work, was substantially completed on August 27, and the contractor is now moving into the asphalt overlay phase. Paving will continue in sections through September 3. Local access will continue to be accommodated, but through traffic will remain restricted while paving is underway.

We know these temporary closures and delays affect daily commutes, and we certainly wish we could complete this work without impacting travel. Road projects like this must be coordinated around construction sequencing, safety, environmental requirements, available funding, and field conditions, and we do our best to minimize disruption while delivering the improvements our communities need.

Our current schedule is:
August 28–September 3: Asphalt overlay
September 3: Full road closure anticipated to end
September 4–14: Driveway aprons, culvert delineators, roadway striping, cleanup, and other finishing work
September 14: Anticipated completion of all project work
After September 3, Occidental Road is expected to reopen to through traffic, although motorists should continue to expect intermittent delays while the remaining work is completed.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation while we work toward a safer, smoother, and more reliable roadway for the Occidental community.

08/26/2026

Today, we broke ground on the new Youth Crisis Center, a transformative project led by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services that will provide critical support to youth and teens experiencing mental health and substance use challenges right here in Sonoma County.

Joined by Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, Sonoma County Department of Health Services, Unger Construction, BA, Sonoma County Public Defender and Sonoma Public Infrastructure, we came together to mark the beginning of an important project that will expand access to behavioral health and substance use services for young people and their families.

This $18 million facility represents a significant investment in the health, well-being, and future of Sonoma County’s youth.

Project Manager Arianna Catalinotto, Project Engineer Garret MacInnis and Director Johannes J. Hoevertsz welcomed staff, local representatives, project partners, and members of the media to the active construction site to celebrate this important milestone.

We’re excited to watch this vision become a reality and look forward to celebrating the completion of the Youth Crisis Center, currently estimated for June 30, 2027!

08/25/2026

🚧 Help Shape the Future of Transportation in Sonoma County
The Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities (SCTCA) is seeking public input on draft recommendations for $118 million in transportation projects and programs across Sonoma County.

Sonoma Public Infrastructure has applied for several grants to support projects throughout the County—and now the community has an opportunity to weigh in on the broader funding recommendations.

📅 Public Workshop
Thursday, Aug. 27 | 1–1:30 p.m.
📍 SCTCA Office, 411 King St., Santa Rosa
💻 Or participate via Zoom

Can't attend? SCTCA is also accepting feedback through a bilingual online survey through Sept. 1. Participants can select the geographic areas they're most interested in and provide input on proposed projects.

Community feedback will help inform the SCTCA Board as it considers funding recommendations in September.

🔗 Workshop details and survey: https://f.mtr.cool/eot29dl2ag

Please see Zoom login information below:
https://f.mtr.cool/y2r8jlxy0j
Meeting ID: 847 1405 8981 Passcode: 246287 Phone: (669) 900-9128

Your input can help shape transportation investments throughout Sonoma County for years to come.

08/24/2026

🚧 Road Work Update: Preparing for the Season Ahead 🚧

With our major summer paving work now complete, Road Maintenance crews are shifting their focus to drainage, roadside vegetation, and other routine maintenance across Sonoma County.

This week’s work includes:
💠Cleaning roadside ditches and replacing culverts to help keep water moving and protect roadways
💠Roadside mowing and brush cutting, including continued work with CAL FIRE
💠Repairing a sinkhole on Stony Point Road
💠Hand patching worn sections of roadway
💠Repairing road shoulders and guardrails
💠Maintaining traffic signs at various locations

The Culvert Crew also removed and replaced a culvert on Canyon Road. The attached images show this work in progress, which helps improve drainage and protect the roadway from erosion and storm damage.

This transition from paving to drainage work is an important part of maintaining our road system and preparing for wetter weather ahead. Clearing ditches and maintaining culverts helps stormwater flow where it should and can reduce roadway damage when the rains return.

As always, please slow down when approaching work zones, follow posted signs and flagger directions, and give crews plenty of room to work safely.

Thank you to our Road Maintenance teams for the work they do year-round to keep Sonoma County moving.

08/21/2026

🐾 A Wild New Chapter for Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue

Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue recently celebrated two major milestones: the grand opening of its new Apex Predator Enclosure and the 20th anniversary of its Petaluma campus.

The celebration also recognized some of the people who helped support the project, including Sonoma Public Infrastructure team members Alma Roger, Glenn Morelli and Tiffany Seder, who received a special acknowledgment during the ceremony. We're proud to see the work of our staff contribute to a project that will serve wildlife—and our community—for years to come.

Six years in the making, the new enclosure provides black bears and mountain lions with specialized space and a natural environment where they can recover and prepare for their eventual return to the wild.

The event also marks Monique Chapman’s first event attendance as Sonoma Public Infrastructure’s new Deputy Director of Transportation & Operations. Monique joined the celebration on behalf of PI and had an opportunity to see firsthand the result of the collaboration our staff helped support.

Congratulations to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue on 20 years at its Petaluma campus, the opening of this remarkable new facility, and the many employees, partners, volunteers and supporters who helped bring it to life. 🐻🌿


Alt text: Photo reel celebrating Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue’s new Apex Predator Enclosure and 20th anniversary, featuring wildlife in the enclosure, guests and supporters gathering for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and plaques recognizing major donors who helped make the new facility possible.

08/20/2026

08/20/2026

🚧 Occidental Road Update: Businesses Remain Open & Accessible
Full-depth recycling (FDR) is underway on Occidental Road as crews work to rehabilitate the roadway from the ground up.

Here’s what to know as work continues:

⏰ Work hours: Crews are expected to work approximately 7 a.m.–7 p.m. The longer workdays are intended to help shorten the overall duration of this phase.

🚧 Closed to through traffic: Please use the posted detour if you do not have a destination within the construction area.

🏡 Local access is maintained: Residents, employees, customers, deliveries, service providers and agricultural vehicles with destinations within the work zone will be accommodated. Because large equipment is operating in the roadway, please expect delays while crews make it safe for vehicles to pass.

🛍️ Occidental Road businesses remain OPEN and accessible. Signs are now in place at the construction area to help make that clear to customers and visitors, and additional signs will be placed at other key locations along the detour and construction signage.

🛣️ What does FDR look like? During this process, the existing pavement is recycled to create a stronger roadway base. The road will temporarily look and drive more like a maintained dirt road before it is paved.

📅 How long will construction last? The project is currently scheduled through September 3. Construction schedules can shift based on progress and field conditions, and we’ll share updates if that changes.

Thank you to the residents and businesses who have been sharing questions and feedback with us. We know this work is disruptive, and we appreciate your patience while these improvements are completed.

08/20/2026

🚧 Occidental Road Update: Businesses Remain Open & Accessible
Full-depth recycling (FDR) is underway on Occidental Road as crews work to rehabilitate the roadway from the ground up.

Here’s what to know as work continues:

⏰ Work hours: Crews are expected to work approximately 7 a.m.–7 p.m. The longer workdays are intended to help shorten the overall duration of this phase.

🚧 Closed to through traffic: Please use the posted detour if you do not have a destination within the construction area.

🏡 Local access is maintained: Residents, employees, customers, deliveries, service providers and agricultural vehicles with destinations within the work zone will be accommodated. Because large equipment is operating in the roadway, please expect delays while crews make it safe for vehicles to pass.

🛍️ Occidental Road businesses remain OPEN and accessible. We’re working on additional signage to make that message clearer to customers and visitors approaching the construction area.

🛣️ What does FDR look like? During this process, the existing pavement is recycled to create a stronger roadway base. The road will temporarily look and drive more like a maintained dirt road before it is paved.

📅 How long will construction last? The project is currently scheduled through September 3. Construction schedules can shift based on progress and field conditions, and we’ll share updates if that changes.

Thank you to the residents and businesses who have been sharing questions and feedback with us. We know this work is disruptive, and we appreciate your patience while these improvements are completed.

08/20/2026

🌳 Planning Today for a Greener Tomorrow in Sonoma Valley
Sometimes project planning means getting out of the office and walking the sites together.

Sonoma Public Infrastructure’s Engineering team recently joined City of Sonoma staff to evaluate potential locations for tree planting associated with County projects in the Sonoma area.

But choosing where to plant a tree involves more than finding an open patch of ground. 🌱

Environmental permits and resource agencies help determine where mitigation trees can be planted, generally requiring locations relatively close to the project. From there, teams consider whether a site can reasonably accommodate planting and, importantly, whether there is reliable access to water.

That last piece matters. Without a sustainable water source, young trees may not survive—or they may require costly long-term maintenance. Working with neighboring agencies can help identify locations where existing irrigation or other water infrastructure may be available.

And when possible, we’re looking beyond simply meeting a mitigation requirement. Could those trees also provide shade, enhance a public space or create another lasting community benefit? Finding locations that meet environmental requirements and make sense for the long term is the goal.

🌳 Know a potential location? If you represent a public agency or facility in the area and are interested in being considered for future tree planting associated with these projects, contact us at [email protected]. We’ll keep the information on hand as future planting opportunities are evaluated.

And after a day spent thinking about things that grow, there was one particularly appropriate final stop: the Watmaugh strawberry farm. 🍓

A little planning, a little partnership—and a few strawberries along the way.

08/18/2026

🚧 Upper Old Cazadero Road Update: 30-Minute Delays Ahead
Crews are continuing work on the newly installed lower ground anchors, including completing and testing them. This phase is expected to have less impact on the roadway, with:

🟡 Aug. 17–28: Up to 30-minute delays

When construction activities are not actively underway, the full width of the roadway will be open. Emergency vehicles will continue to have access at all times.

What comes next? The next anticipated six-hour closure will be needed for paving, currently scheduled for early September. We’ll share updated dates and times once that work is confirmed.

Thank you to Upper Old Cazadero Road residents and travelers for your continued patience as this project moves closer to completion.