A California state agency has agreed to modify a newly constructed fence in Fort Bragg after residents voiced strong opposition, stating the barrier blocked cherished ocean views. The approximately $9.5 million improvement project, undertaken by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), was intended to enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility along Highway 1.
Residents expressed dismay when a tall new fence began to replace an older, shorter wooden barrier along Main Street. The previous fence had allowed passersby to see the Noyo Headlands and the Pacific Ocean beyond it. Critics argued the new structure fundamentally altered the character of a key town gateway and detracted from the coastal ambiance that draws visitors to Fort Bragg.
"The entrance to our town now has a fence that is substantially higher than the original fence and blocks the view of the ocean — a view that has long been part of what makes Fort Bragg special," Mary Rose Kaczorowski, a candidate for Fort Bragg City Council, wrote in a letter to the editor of the Ukiah Daily Journal. "This is not simply a matter of replacing an existing fence; it changes the character and view of one of our town’s important gateways."
Caltrans stated the project was part of sidewalk and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements. According to Fort Bragg City Manager Isaac Whippy, the fence was installed to replace an existing one removed for sidewalk widening. He explained that the fence and its construction costs were part of Caltrans’ broader project contract, not a separate city initiative.
Following community concerns raised in April during an open house and further amplified by residents, city officials reviewed project documents. Whippy announced in August that city staff found the replacement fencing was intended to match previous conditions. He also noted that the Caltrans project manager was receptive to the community's feedback and committed to working with the city and its contractor on modifications.
"We have a timeline for the construction crew to come back to town in the next couple of weeks for fence modifications," Whippy told SFGATE, indicating that adjustments would be made to address the residents' concerns about the fence's height, appearance, and impact on coastal views.