Hundreds of community members joined dignitaries and members of the California Transportation Department Thursday afternoon on a 1.1 mile long viaduct just south of Willits for the long anticipated Willits bypass and memorial bridge dedication.
Among those attending the ceremony and dedication of the bridge was Jeremy Treskon, a U.S. Navy Seal who served with the late Jesse Pittman, a local hero shot down in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011.
Pittman remembered
Pittman, 27 at the time of his death, was a Navy petty officer first class and elite Navy SEAL. The viaduct through the south interchange just south of the city was named after him at the ceremony.
Treskon said people should remember men like Pittman whose sacrifice makes it possible for everyone to have the privilege to vote. He urged those in attendance to remember those who put their lives on the line to allow others to enjoy their freedom.
“Jesse was always questioning the decisions I was making,” Treskon said. “He used to call me ‘Big Jeremy.’ He was my right hand man.”
Treskon retold the events which led to Pittman’s death when his Chinook helicopter crashed. According to a news reports, 30 servicemen also lost their lives that day while tracking the possible location of senior Taliban leaders in a mission classified as “high risk.”
The helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and crashed, claiming the lives of all those aboard.
2nd District Assemblymember Jim Wood said he learned a lot about Pittman while working on the resolution to dedicate the bridge to him. “As a Navy seal his missions were extremely dangerous,” he said. “But he was also quite the practical joker.”
Wood said he though the irony of having the structure named after him and the controversy surrounding the project might have amused the fallen local hero and former Cal Fire firefighter. Event organizers said they thought it would be inappropriate to play his favorite AC/DC song about a highway during the event.
“Jesse died while living a life dedicated to his country,” Wood said. “During this very political and polarizing time, we can always look for ways to heal. We can all agree naming this bridge after Jesse is the right thing to do.”
Bypass completion lauded
Justin Diston, representing Operating Engineers Local 3 thanked all the construction workers, Caltrans engineers and California Transportation Committee (CTC) members, a number of which were in attendance at the dedication, for helping make the project happen.
“It’s a great day for motorists traveling both north and south on U.S. 101,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. He thanked Willits residents for their patience and support throughout the long span of the project’s completion.
He said the bypass will help alleviate the congestion and traffic running through the center of town.
Phil Dow, Mendocino Council of Governments director joked about the length of the project from its approval back in the 1950s.
“I knew this day was going to come. I wasn’t sure I was going to still be alive,” he joked.
He said now that the $300 million two-lane bypass project has been completed, the state’s transportation department can focus on completing smaller projects in Ukiah, Laytonville and other nearby areas, including Willits.
“Today we have a once in a life time opportunity to draw a comparison between Willits and Chicago,” he said. “The long wait is over.”
Local classic cars were among the first to cross the bridge and carried guests including Reps. Jared Huffman and Mike Thompson, Wood, Willits Mayor Bruce Burton, and the family of and those who served with Pittman. Cal Fire provided a color guard for the bridge dedication ceremony, and Caltrans Honor Guard members were also present to honor the fallen Navy SEAL.
According to Caltrans officials, the highway improvement project is partially funded by $136 million in Proposition 1B funds from the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond. To date, more than $19 billion in Proposition 1B funds have been put to work statewide for various transportation projects.
