Protest blocks trucks at Willits bypass construction site

Demonstrators blocked trucks from entering the northern Willits bypass construction site Tuesday morning as part of an ongoing protest of Caltrans’ controversial 5.9 mile bypass.

The protest began at about 8:30 a.m., said Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie. Within an hour, the CHP was on scene, warning people they would be arrested for trespassing, he said.

The protest was organized by Redwood Nation Earth First, the Bay Area Coalition to Save Headwaters and the Coalition to Save the Little Lake Valley, according to a press release they issued Tuesday morning.

The groups include Pomo Indian tribe members, who say the project is destroying Native American cultural artifacts, which are scattered throughout the Little Lake Valley outside of Willits. Environmentalists are hoping to convince Caltrans to reduce the scope of the project in order to preserve wetlands in the valley.

Caltrans and project supporters say the bypass is necessary to reduce the traffic jams that occur on Highway 101 as it narrows to one lane in each direction through downtown Willits.

The project has been frequently delayed by protests, legal challenges and work permit problems since construction began early last year. The most recent court challenge resulted in delays that Caltrans said could set the project back by a year and cost more than $12 million. The project is about 40 percent complete, officials say.