Verizon Plans Major Cell Tower Upgrades to Enhance Highway 101 Coverage

Verizon is pursuing approval to upgrade its wireless infrastructure near the Marin-Sonoma border to improve service along Highway 101. The proposal involves replacing two existing cell towers with taller, more advanced structures located on a hillside east of the highway, situated within a sprawling 465-acre property.

Upgrading Existing Cell Towers

Verizon aims to remove two current towers and install taller replacements equipped with six new antennas. The plan also includes laying two new concrete foundations and adding additional supporting wireless equipment to enhance network performance.

The current site features two light gray poles topped with rectangular antenna arrays, all within a chain-link fence. According to Verizon's contractor, the installation occupies a very small footprint on a large working cattle ranch, with residences and agriculture buildings located well away from the towers. The primary goal is to boost coverage along Highway 101 rather than serve local neighborhoods.

Commuter Feedback on Current Cell Service

It is solid most of the time.
It is hit or miss, with frequent dead spots.
It is bad. Dropped calls and no signal are common.
I can't say, I don't use my phone while driving there.

Vote | View Result

Reducing Dead Zones and Dropped Calls

Image by PhoneArena

Weak signals and dropped calls pose challenges for thousands of daily drivers on Highway 101, affecting navigation, emergency calls, and connectivity. The planned upgrades aim to minimize these dead zones by providing more reliable coverage and fewer interruptions.