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Caltrans District One just posted the following to its Facebook page:

THEFT IMPACTING SLIDE RESPONSE ALONG ROUTE 36: Caltrans and our contractor have been dealing with recent theft while responding to the slide along Route 36 near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park in Humboldt County.

Thieves have targeted an excavator, a skip loader, and changeable message signs, stealing fuel and batteries worth thousands of dollars. When crews arrive at disabled equipment, it slows our efforts to keep the highway open and drives up project costs.

We’ve also seen other vandalism in this corridor, including equipment at postmile 25 that was broken into with ignition systems destroyed, and a changeable message sign on another Route 36 project that was shot with a shotgun last year.

If you see suspicious activity around construction equipment or message signs in this area, please call 911 to report it.

Also,Photo: Caltrans District 1Photo: Caltrans District 1 a reminder that a full closure of Route 36 at this location is scheduled for this weekend, December 6 and 7, to support slide-response work. The roadway is expected to close at 8 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, and reopen at 6 p.m. on Sunday, December 7. During this time, crews are planning helicopter operations to remove hazards from the slide area, which are weather- and fog-dependent. The long detour uses Routes 299 and 3. Emergency vehicles will be accommodated through the closure if necessary.

Outside of the planned closure, one-way traffic control will continue with delays of up to 15 minutes. Please travel cautiously through the construction zone.