This new piece of art is a nod to regional culture and local wildlife. Photo courtesy of Caltrans

CHICO, CA (MPG) - Clean California is more than a slogan – it’s a call to action and a powerful catalyst that has transformed communities across the state into healthier, safer places to live and work.

In that spirit, Caltrans and the City of Chico recently completed a $3.5 million project that unveiled locally themed art and constructed safety enhancements on State Route 99 (SR-99) at the interchanges of Skyway and 20th St.

The new improvements feature decorative slope pavement under the bridges at both interchanges and detailed metalwork that captures a sense of motion as geese fly through ironclad clouds. The sculpture is a nod to regional culture and local wildlife, while the new slope paving will reduce the need for regular mowing and brush clearing, improving safety for maintenance workers.

This 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 and help keep them that way.

“Whether ridding the highways of unsightly litter, creating vibrant public art, installing climate resistant landscaping, or building local parks and playgrounds, Clean California continues to transform public spaces, beautify our state, and improve the safety of our transportation network,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “We are proud to partner with the City of Chico and its neighborhoods to provide these attractive features and rejuvenate this highly traveled portion of Highway 99.”

“The completion of this beautification project on State Route 99 reflects our commitment to enhancing not only the safety and functionality of our highways but also the pride and identity of the communities we serve,” said Sergio Aceves, Acting Director of Caltrans District 3. “Through the Clean California initiative, we are working together with cities like Chico to create spaces that reflect their unique character while providing lasting benefits to residents and visitors alike. This project is a testament to the power of collaboration in building a cleaner, more beautiful California.”

 The new artwork includes detailed metalwork that captures a sense of motion as geese fly through ironclad clouds. Photo courtesy of Caltrans

Since launching Clean California in July 2021, Caltrans and its local partners have picked up more than 2.5 million cubic yards of litter – enough to cover nine lanes of Interstate 5 with an inch of trash from San Diego to the Canadian border. 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.

To learn more about Clean California, visit CleanCA.com.

Caltrans District 3 maintains more than 4,385 lanes miles of state highway in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. More information and updates on local projects can be found at dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-3 or on Twitter via @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3.