Willits Bypass Causing Business Slowdowns
The Willits News reports on loss of business in the town since the freeway bypass opened. One business already closed its doors. There's no doubt that even proponents of the bypass such as myself saw some loss in business when people weren't forced to drive through the town, but I offer no apologies. We love Willits and will continue to stop there when passing by.
The consensus seems to be that more signs are need along the bypass to let people know what they're missing. I agree, and noticed the lack of signs last time we drove through. How would anyone, especially someone new to the area, know what is offered in Willits without some signs.
Hopefully, they'll get signs up soon and they'll be effective. I suspect, though, we'll see the same people who opposed the bypass claiming it would ruin business in the town, objecting to any signs put up to advertise those businesses. We've seen that same sort of objection to signs up here with the safety corridor.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 9:25 AM
16 comments
16 Comments:
If only we could bypass Eureks. Maybe it too would disappear.
Yet, Cloverdale is thriving since the bypass many years back. I will now stop in Cloverdale rather than Willits for such things as gasoline, coffee and lunch. The charm is there, the relaxed pace and an escape from the rush of Highway 101.
CalTrans 1 Radical Environmental Activists 0
I love Willits too/ Plus Willits is perfectly located for a bathroom break.
Yep, I love Cloverdale and it's still there. Willits still has the cheapest gas, though, so it's still on our itinerary.
Why would the people who objected to the bypass object to signage? I'll wait and see what's done rather than make negative speculations.
The article is wishy washy journalism at best.
1) Gyro shop operates for less than 2 years, closes shop - no mention that the project itself created business for a few years....... unlucky Turkish food owners customers were 40% construction workers.
Willits PROPER is a dirty, shit ridden town...... nothing worth veiwing....it was already a poorly designed town/highway interchange......that offered nothing but traffic related problems as more vehicles used 101.
When travelers view Willits as a place for their "urine and shit depository aka potty breaks", it kinda reflects the very low bar that exists in Willits value wise.....
Signs is a no brainer, maybe Humboldt and CBS can donate the HWY 101 signs along the safety corridor to Willits....well, if Cal Trans did not already have an anti sign campaign politically.......
Willits folks will realize their town will go through short term fluxes, but overall, the town will be better off.....but still, something must be done to transform the dirty looking town into something that attracts cleanliness.....just saying......scumbag looking people detract.....
Willits now has a golden opportunity to create a vibrant business community as both Healdsburg and Cloverdale have done after the freeway by-passed their downtowns. I am sure that this is a priority for the Willits Chamber of Commerce. Within five years Willits will become a destination for travelers as Healdsburg is now.
"Willits PROPER is a dirty, shit ridden town...... nothing worth veiwing..."
Oh, bullshit. HOJ, you don't like anything. I love Willits. Small town Americana at it's best, with maybe only Cloverdale beating it out.
I'm gonna tell Willits' folk next time we go through there not to let you in.
I just passed by Willits this past week for the first time. Southbound had an easy exit. I was going to stop on the northbound pass, but it looked complicated to exit, so I drove past and stopped at the station across from the Reggae site. Sorry, but after all of the time spent over the years in Willits traffic, not missing it.
Funny that the first time we drove through after the bypass I felt there were more cars than before.The wife didn't, but I did. Probably not enough others to give them business, though.
Only dope keeps Willits alive much like the rest of Nor Cal. When big tobacco starts row cropping the valley....What then?
That is funny, "don't like anything".....really though, HOJ's whole life, Willits has been a dirty town, just no greenery, scuzzy folk like in Garberville, Arcata, Eureka, but with that back country dirt road hick town scuzzy sensation.....although, they gotta a pool off the main drag😀......the High School is a architectural keeper, but the road system and the vagabonds just give the town a dirty feel. The "strip" makes McKinleyville proper look like an oasis.....just saying driving through Willits sucks and it's a dirty town.....don't thing liking everything printing at all diminishes "that feel".
It could be more locals getting put again, filling up the road that the travelers used to occupy....plus, more marijuana growers and trimmers have relocated there no doubt.
I've never noticed bums in Willits as we see in Eureka, but maybe I wasn't looking. Seems to me a pleasant place with generally pleasant people.
SO THERE, I sure told you!!!
Maybe an internal bum meter is on auto mode when within Humboldt County territory....turns off when leaving Humco.
They definitely need signs.
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