Board approves CEQA addendum for South Main/Soda Bay Road corridor; $10.5M CTC funding target

The Lake County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 18 voted 5‑0 to adopt an addendum to the project’s initial study/mitigated negative declaration that allows for limited nighttime construction as part of the South Main Street and Soda Bay Road widening and bike lanes project.

Interim Public Works Director Lars Ewing and Senior Planner Michelle Iris summarized project limits from the south city limits of Lakeport through the Soda Bay Road corridor to near the Lakeport Transfer Station. Staff said NEPA and CEQA work date to 2012, design is roughly 99% complete, most regulatory permits are in hand (Army Corps 404 and RWQCB 401 received; a CDFW Streambed Agreement was pending), and right‑of‑way acquisitions are nearly finished. The addendum updated regulatory analyses (for example, vehicle miles traveled analysis and tribal consultation) and concluded there are no new significant environmental impacts from the limited extension of construction hours.

Ewing told the board that, to access construction funding from the California Transportation Commission, the county must submit materials by Dec. 1 for a Jan. 20, 2026 CTC agenda, and staff expects STIP funding of about $10.5 million to cover the South Main portion and part of Soda Bay Road. If awarded, utility undergrounding work could begin mid‑2026 and road construction follow in 2027, subject to remaining funding for later phases.

Supervisor moved to adopt the addendum and the board approved the motion by voice vote (5‑0).