Photos: Caltrans

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Press release from Caltrans District 1:

In collaboration with the Karuk Tribe, the township of Orleans, and Humboldt County, Caltrans recently completed work on the Orleans Community Enhancement Project, a nearly $500,000 effort that highlights the area’s native culture and promotes safety along State Route 96, the Bigfoot Scenic Byway.

The project was made possible by Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative – a sweeping, $1.2 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and join with communities throughout the state to reclaim, transform and beautify public spaces.

The Orleans Community Enhancement Project features two new gateway monuments that mark the town’s north and south boundaries and bear the community’s name in both English and Karuk (Panamnik) languages. Tribal designs now adorn Orleans’ lone crosswalk, and changeable banners reflect the area’s rich Karuk heritage.

The Project also installed 10 decorative solar light posts to illuminate previously dim areas and pathways, increasing safety for pedestrians and cyclists. These features help to create a visual sense of place within the community and encourage travelers to slow down, and even stop to visit when driving through the community.

“The Karuk Council is very impressed with the concerted efforts of Caltrans, Humboldt County, and the Karuk Tribe Department of Transportation under the direction of Misty Rickwalt,” said Karuk Chairman Russell “Buster” Attebery. “The new custom gateway monuments, crosswalks, tribal designs, and solar lighting will make the town of Orleans a safer place and bring an awareness to the area’s rich Karuk heritage.”

“These enhancements not only pay tribute to Orleans’ history but also help make the town safer and more visually appealing for all of its residents and visitors,” said Caltrans District 1 Director Matt Brady. “The completion of this project marks a big step forward in revitalizing our local public spaces and promoting community pride.”

Since launching Clean California in July 2021, Caltrans and its local partners have picked up more than 2.3 million cubic yards of litter – enough to fill about 700 Olympic-size swimming pools. This represents a substantial increase compared to the department’s previous trash collection efforts and can largely be attributed to Clean California, along with other Caltrans litter removal efforts. Caltrans has hosted more than 500 free dump days in communities throughout the state – resulting in the collection of 12,000-plus mattresses and nearly 50,000 tires. The initiative has drawn more than 10,000 community clean-up volunteers and created 15,000 jobs, including positions for individuals who were formerly incarcerated, on probation, or experiencing housing insecurity.

For more information, visit CleanCA.com.