By Kevin Schuh

Sonoma Mountain Road (SMR)

Why SMR should be prioritized in 2025-2026 Sonoma County Re-Pavement Plan:

A SIGNIFICANT RURAL ROAD

●      SMR is specifically designated by County officials as a significant rural road.  Significant rural road designation is given due to the road’s importance to transportation, economic development, agriculture, recreation, and tourism in the county.

●      While other rural roads in Sonoma County are noteworthy, Sonoma Mountain Road's history of disrepair, the community's efforts to advocate for its improvement, and ongoing repair projects make it a significant example of a rural road in the county.

VERY POOR FIRE SAFETY CONDITIONS

●  In 2017 SMR was “the” strategic artery for emergency vehicles and residents during the fires, while Bennett Valley Road was completely closed to traffic.  It is important to keep this road open and well maintained. 

●  SMR is the only western connection and emergency escape route from Sonoma Valley north of 116 and south of Bennett Valley Road.  It connects Glen Ellen and Kenwood to Rohnert Park and Petaluma.

●  SMR is the last fire defense line to stop a major fire in the valley from going up and over Sonoma Mountain on its way to Petaluma.  It must be maintained for first responders.

●  In 2025, a grand jury found that Sonoma County is ill-prepared for emergency evacuations given the poor maintenance of rural roads, such as SMR, needed for emergency vehicles and evacuations: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-grand-jury-emergency-evacuations/

●  Sonoma Valley Fire Department has very strong views on SMR safety and concern in operating their vehicles and crew safely.  They should be consulted.

●  Safety is always a prime concern.  Accidents on this road are much more likely and serious accidents have continued to occur over the years.  https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/cyclist-injured-in-crash-into-winery-truck-near-glen-ellen/ 

DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS, BIKERS, AND PEDESTRIANS

●  SMR is unique in county roads in that it is very narrow, hilly, sunken, and contains many blind curves.  Unlike a flat, straight road, this makes the addition of uneven patchwork, potholes, and failing, sinking pavement exponentially more dangerous to drivers, bikers, and walkers.  It should be prioritized over flat roads with clear line of sight.

●  The fire department, delivery companies, contractors, propane companies, wineries, and other large vehicle operators find this road very difficult and dangerous for their drivers to navigate and are willing to voice their concerns.  Some delivery drivers, property managers, and visitors refuse to drive SMR.

●  Emergency vehicles must drive at excessively slow speeds to care for their patients.  One resident suffered 3 broken vertebrae, and it took 3x as long to get to the hospital as it should have, given the pavement condition.  The pain was excruciating.  Extra time could be deadly, and nobody should have to endure extra pain from poor infrastructure.

●      SMR is too dangerous for School Buses.  Sonoma Valley School District’s Transportation Department has confirmed that although families live on the road, SMR is so bad that NO BUSES ARE ALLOWED to run on SMR.  They indicated the road is too narrow, sunken, bumpy, and impossible to turn around safely.   Families with children wanting to use the public school bus system have to drop off their children in Glen Ellen.

●      SMR is a major biking destination due to its grades and natural beauty.  Many bike groups visit this road, making it even more dangerous given the road conditions, yet others avoid it and post online about its dangerous surface.  All of these groups would greatly support this road improvement.  “the pavement is consistently poor, with patches on the patches. It’s a real bother”  http://bestrides.org/sonoma-mountain-road/

FINANCIAL LOSSES TO RESIDENTS AND COUNTY

●  Homes on this road provide significant tax revenue, but the condition of the road is reducing values of our homes and thus reducing tax revenue that could actually help fund the repairs.  One of the most expensive homes in Sonoma County is for sale in in 2025 for $32.5M and it sits in the middle of the 3 mile stretch of failed road.  

https://7596sonomamountainroad.com  (this home has since taken a large price reduction)

●  As with all roads of poor condition, residents have all endured the ongoing numerous damages to their vehicles, ranging from broken oil pans, blown tires, broken rims, and the ever-common bad suspension.  These have accounted for thousands of dollars in costs to residents and businesses.

DECADES OF NEGLECTED COUNTY OBLIGATIONS

●  Since 1975 or longer the remaining eastern 3.2 miles of SMR have not been repaved. Residents that have lived here 50 years+ have no memory of any roadwork.

●  In 2013 over 250 residents signed a petition to fix SMR

●  In 2014 550 residents signed a second petition.

●  In 2014 the Sonoma County Long Term Roads plan SMR was designated as one of the worst roads and in very bad condition.  This same report said funding would go to the “WORST FIRST” as the plan to fix roads.

●  Since 2015 SMR was TWICE voted the worst road in Sonoma County in Press Democrat contests and still remains only partially repaved.

●  In 2015 the County Opened a new Regional Park on SMR.  This park has continued to add additional traffic each year to SMR for park visitors, yet the county has only repaved the portion of SMR west of the park.  Leaving the eastern half of the road in very poor condition and taking on additional traffic.

●  By 2016 the county approved Belden Barns expansion of winery operations and expansion of the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center on SMR which will increase traffic while not improving the road.  https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-county-supervisors-ok-controversial-belden-barns-winery-on-sonoma-mo/https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/sonoma-mountain-road-conditions-at-heart-of-controversy-over-buddhist-retre/

●  While winter washouts and massive potholes are common, repairs are sometimes slow to come, and SMR has had SoCo barricades and yellow tape on the road for years.  Sometimes the weeds even grow over the barricades, and the tape starts to fall and blow away.  It is embarrassing to say the least and saddening to see in such a beautiful and peaceful place.

●      The county maintenance team for potholes is very familiar with SMR. Residents have all met them over the years and the team has agreed that this road is beyond pothole repair.  They are great workers and do their best.  We do appreciate them every year.

●      An interesting note, resident Tim Metzger mentioned that in the Waldruhe Heights neighborhood, off SMR, there is a set of county roads that serves 22 homes.  According to county records, when this road was established, the county took ownership but would not provide maintenance of the road.  For over 100 years the neighbors have paid for and maintained the small road network.  It is in great condition and the main road has been repaved several times in the past 15 years.  The neighbors have kept their promise and partnership of maintaining this road while the county has failed them in maintaining the “larger” SMR road that we all rely on to reach their neighborhood.

Given past promises, the residents of SMR have been patiently waiting for decades for the final repair of their road.  They are now standing up for what they believe is right.  The residents can provide hundreds of signatures from neighbors and businesses yet again, or they can write letters to more news media, or they can show up at additional county meetings.  What does it take to finally be heard and have this beautiful part of Sonoma Valley maintained properly?

Road photos & videos

       https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PPNgP1Siska4rGbXssmtZwMlrXo70RSl?usp=sharing 

Author Kevin Schuh lives off of eastern Sonoma Mountain Road, and welcomes comments from BV community members interested in finishing the job of repaving SMR. 

Please contact him here.