Westside Road is back: Sonoma County rebuild hits a key milestone

Seven months after a February slide damaged Westside Road and sent a house into the Russian River, the county will reopen the Forestville segment on August 28 at noon. This marks the first of six “Priority 1” storm repairs completed by Sonoma County and restores access as fire season approaches.

During the February 4 atmospheric river, the hillside beneath the 12000 block collapsed, forcing evacuations and a full road closure. The dramatic failure showed fractured pavement, debris, and a home in the water, though no injuries occurred.

County supervisors approved an emergency package on April 15, allocating $5.5 million from the Tobacco Securitization fund to fast-track six storm sites. Westside Road represented the largest single project at $1.5 million.

The reconstruction involved building a retaining structure, installing drainage systems, laying new pavement, and adding safety hardware on a narrow bench above the river. Sonoma Public Infrastructure partnered with Geo-Logic consultants and Ghilotti Construction.

Timing was critical because the nearby Wohler Road Bridge underwent seismic retrofitting, forcing detours onto Eastside and Westside Roads. Opening Westside before fall improves emergency response times and restores the river-adjacent route for residents and agricultural operations.

The broader repair program addresses slides on Cavedale Road and West Soda Rock Lane, plus creek-bank stabilization on Wohler Road. Cavedale and West Soda Rock fixes should reach substantial completion by late fall.

Supervisors invoked Road Commissioner authority to streamline approvals, cutting six to eight weeks from the typical schedule. The county is pursuing state and federal disaster reimbursement now that winter storms carry emergency declarations.

A ceremony with county leaders, crews, and neighbors will mark the reopening at noon on August 28.