Town Hall Update, August 2025

At the Stirling City town hall meeting on August 21, 2025, local community leaders distributed a one-page status sheet on the Upper Skyway Slide Repair Project. The full text is transcribed below, and the original handout is available as a PDF.

What changed since the July update:

• A repair design has been chosen. A six-foot gabion retaining wall built into stable soil below the slide, with a reconstructed engineered slope above it to carry the road.
• The cost estimate has more than doubled. The preliminary construction cost is now $2.2 million, up from the $1 million figure the county gave earlier in 2025.
• FEMA has approved about $800,000. That leaves roughly $1.4 million uncovered. The county is preparing a request for the balance.
• There is now a timeline, and it is long. Agency reviews alone are expected to run three to four months each. The county anticipates construction in summer 2027, and says it will try for 2026.

That means the Skyway stays at one lane through at least the 2026 fire season, and likely into 2027.

Transcription of the handout

Upper Skyway Slide Repair Project Update

August 2025

Butte County Public Works is making steady progress on the Upper Skyway Slide Repair Project. This critical effort will restore long-term safety and stability to a section of the Skyway north of Stirling City that experienced significant slope failure after storm activity in 2023.

Project Status

• Field work is complete, including topographic, boundary, biological, and geotechnical surveys.
• A preferred repair design has been selected. It features:
  • A short gabion retaining wall (6 feet tall) built into stable soil beneath the slide area.
  • A reconstructed engineered slope made of compacted fill and reinforcing mats to support the roadway above. This approach offers a durable and cost-effective solution while minimizing disruption to travelers and the surrounding environment.

Estimated Cost

• The preliminary construction cost is estimated at $2.2 million, factoring in materials, equipment, labor, and contingencies.
• Currently, FEMA has approved approximately $800,000 in funding. The County is preparing documentation to request the additional funds needed for complete repair.

What’s Next?

• Late August: Preliminary design package submitted for County review (35% plans, engineering reports, cost estimates).
• Early September: Design package submitted to FEMA and Cal-OES for review and approval.
• Agency Reviews & Environmental Clearance:
  • Cal-OES Review: ~3–4 months
  • FEMA Review: ~3–4 months
  • NEPA Environmental Clearance: ~3 months
• Once approvals are received:
  • Final design and construction bid documents: ~2 months
  • Public bidding and contract award: ~2 months
  • Construction is anticipated in Summer 2027
  • Every effort will be made to complete the project in 2026, although this is heavily dependent on the various state and federal agencies involved with project review and approval

Staying Engaged

The County continues to work closely with Cal-OES and FEMA through regular coordination meetings. While federal agency review timelines can vary, these meetings have helped maintain communication and momentum.

Handout distributed by local community leaders at the Stirling City town hall, August 21, 2025.