Repairs to storm-damaged stretch of Highway 116 could take a year, Caltrans says

"Repairs to storm-damaged Highway 116, a key thoroughfare along the lower Russian River in western Sonoma County, could take a year to complete once the work begins, with travel limited to one direction at a time until then, Caltrans officials said Tuesday. That word came a day after the rain-saturated soil beneath a stretch of the highway just west of Monte Rio gave way about 4 p.m. Monday, spilling into the swollen Russian River."

"Between Dec. 31 and Monday night, storms have dropped about 6 inches of rain around Monte Rio and about 10 inches in the nearby hills of Austin Creek State Recreation Area. The lower Russian River jumped by more than 20 feet over that same period, cresting in Guerneville on Tuesday afternoon at more than 30 feet, or just two feet shy of flood stage."

Repairs to storm-damaged Highway 116 near Monte Rio could take up to a year, with travel reduced to alternating one-way controls during the work. Rain-saturated soil beneath a stretch of the highway gave way late Monday, spilling into the swollen Russian River and dragging down trees, a portion of the guardrail and 75-100 linear feet of the eastbound lane. Runoff from nearby hills and the surging river are expected to cause the washout to grow. Storms dumped about six inches of rain in Monte Rio and about ten inches in nearby hills, and crews are monitoring the site and directing motorists.

Read at The Mercury News