HUMBOLDT – Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire led an afternoon ceremony yesterday to officially dedicate the Annette Brooks Memorial Bridge on Highway 101 in memory of fallen Caltrans worker Annette Kaleialoha Brooks. 

Brooks served for 36 years at Caltrans, rising through the ranks from a toll booth collector in the Bay Area to Steel Structural Painter Supervisor in Humboldt County. She was beloved by her family, co-workers, and community of friends in Humboldt, and was known for her warm smile, big laugh, and many artistic talents.

After Brooks’ tragic death on April 24, 2017, Caltrans, along with the County of Humboldt and the City of Rio Dell, partnered with Sen. McGuire on a state resolution to name a bridge in honor of Brooks. The newly designated Annette Brooks Memorial Bridge is located in southern Humboldt County over beautiful Jordan Creek, just a few miles south of Rio Dell.

“On the almost the 8^th anniversary of her passing, we’re here to make good on a promise and raise the signs for the Annette Brooks Memorial Bridge,” said Pro Tem McGuire. “Ms. Brooks dedicated her career to the people of California and went above and beyond every day in her job. We were honored by the presence of Annette’s family, friends, and co-workers at this week’s ceremony. It was a beautiful tribute to her life in public service.”

“Our Caltrans family was honored to gather in memory of Annette Brooks yesterday. She was an incredibly dedicated and successful supervisor, and even more, a friend who is sorely missed by so many. It was our privilege to join Senator McGuire in designating the Annette Brooks Memorial Bridge, and cement Annette’s memory in the history of Humboldt County,” said Caltrans District 1 Director Matt Brady.

The dedication ceremony was attended by Brooks’ five siblings, Brian, Curtis, Douglas, Evalani, and Ferlin, and two nephews, Jordon and Jeran.

Following Brooks’ death at the Caltrans substation in Rio Dell, along with another horrific workplace violence event in 2021 at a light rail station in San Jose, the state Legislature passed SB 553 in 2023. Now state law, the legislation require employers to establish and maintain a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan that includes incident logs, trainings, and period plan reviews, among other support and protections from those enduring unlawful violence in the workplace.

The Annette Brooks Memorial Bridge designated Bridge Number 04-0208 over Jordan Creek at post mile 46.19 on State Highway 101.