The Mendocino Railway's efforts to reopen a collapsed tunnel connecting Fort Bragg and Willits have encountered numerous delays and legal challenges, as the railway company contends with lawsuits and community opposition.
The tunnel, which collapsed in 2013 and suffered further setbacks in 2015, remains unusable. Despite the setbacks, the Mendocino Railway continues to plan for repairs, leveraging a $31.4 million loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation, shared with Sierra Northern Railway. Approximately one-third of this funding is earmarked for tunnel restoration, according to Mendocino Railway President Robert Pinoli.
"While this funding is a loan, not a grant, it has enabled us to begin crucial preliminary engineering," said Pinole, emphasizing that the railway is working through federal processes and environmental reviews. These processes have attracted scrutiny from the California Coastal Commission, which has challenged the project’s environmental impact assessment.
In the meantime, the railway has adapted its offerings, providing shorter tourist trips from Fort Bragg to Glen Blair and from Willits to Northspur. It has also introduced rail bikes and developed Glen Blair into a destination with trails, picnic areas, and an event space.
The tunnel repairs are essential to restoring full transportation and excursion services between Fort Bragg and Willits. If completed, the repairs could also enable a freight hauling service, potentially reducing truck traffic on Highway 20 by a handful of trucks a day.
“We’re looking at new technologies, like unmanned excavators and advanced imaging, to update our plans and prevent future collapses,” Pinole said. The tunnel structure relies on redwood timber supports, which have proven durable over the years.
Legal hurdles remain, however. The Mendocino Railway is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Fort Bragg over polluted stormwater issues related to the city’s mill site. Despite these challenges, Fort Bragg Mayor Bernie Norvell has noted the local desire to see the project completed.
Further details on the railway's mill site plans and the legal disputes surrounding them are expected in upcoming reports.
Photo by Thomas Hawk. See more of Hawk's Mendocino photos. Photo is used under the Creative Commons license.