Someday soon, Humboldt drivers coming from or going to points south will shoot right around the Mendocino County town of Willits by default, avoiding its legendarily traffic-clogged streets. Some people have been waiting for this for literally 50 years or more; others deplore it as a destructive, unnecessary project. But it’s just about built.

There is no set-in-stone date for the bypass’ grand opening. A couple of months ago, the Willits News reported that Caltrans is shooting for September, but that construction contracts technically run through November. So who knows.

It’s getting close, in any case. Check out this video Caltrans District One shot yesterday. The driver drove slowly, but speeded up the video in post-production to approximately simulate a passage through the bypass at a legal and safe 55 miles per hour.

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THE WILLITS BYPASS CHRONICLES:

• Freeway to Go Around Willits
• EPIC and the Center for Biological Diversity Seek to Halt Construction of the Willits Bypass
• Accident North of Willits—Hwy 101 Closed —Detour
• Willits Bypass Goes Forward
• INTRODUCING: The New LoCO Senior VP for Boss Linkage and a Greatly Improved ‘Elsewhere’ Section
• Battle for Hearts and Minds Heats Up On Willits Bypass: Caltrans Puts Up Website and Anti-Bypass Crowd Offers Nude Photo Shoot
• Seven Arrested in Willits Bypass Protest Today, Says Earth First
• Reports that Tree Sitters are Being Extracted from Willits Bypass
• Pretty Intense Video From Today’s Willits Treesit Extractions
• The Battle for the Little Lake Valley: Debating the Willits Bypass, Pros and Cons (Part I of III)
• The Battle for the Little Lake Valley: Debating the Willits Bypass, Pros and Cons (Part II of III)
• The Battle for the Little Lake Valley: Debating the Willits Bypass, Pros and Cons (Part III of III)
• (VIDEO) Why We Need The Willits Bypass: Burger Razor Blades
• Protestors Hang Banner From Crane to Highlight Concerns about Willits Bypass
• Two Protesters Lockdown at Willits Bypass Construction Area/Photographer Arrested
• Willits Bypass Construction Will Cause Traffic Delays
• The LA Times Talks Willits Bypass
• EPIC: Federal Court Says ‘Destructive Willits Bypass’ is Actually A-OK; Construction to Proceed
• EPIC Claims Victory in Latest Richardson Grove Ruling
• Work Stopped on Willits Bypass; Army Corps of Engineers Revokes Permit
• Willits Bypass Work Suspended Indefinitely
• Caltrans Can Restart Construction on the Willits Bypass Friday
• Willits Bypass Pushed Back to 2017; Caltrans Blames Environmental Groups for Delays, Cost Increases
• Willits Bypass Falsework Collapses, Three Injured
• Aerial Photos of the Willits Bypass (PHOTOS)
• Willits Bypass Progress Shown in Latest Aerial Photos (PHOTOS)
• State Agency Cites Caltrans, Contractors for ‘Serious Violations’ Leading to Willits Bypass Collapse
• Mendo County Tribes Sue Caltrans for ‘Knowingly Destroying’ Historic Sites During Willits Bypass Construction
• Caltrans on New Willits Bypass Lawsuit: ‘All Historical Preservation Laws are Being Followed’
• Highway 101 Traffic Slowed by Rolled-Over Big Rig
• (VIDEO) Here is What Not Stopping in Willits Looks Like