What’s going on with the Woodland Research & Technology Park? What we know so far
After years of anticipation and periodic public updates, work on the Woodland Research & Technology Park is ongoing, though much of the recent activity has been happening behind the scenes.
In an email to Onsite Observer, Woodland City Manager Ken Hiatt said the project remains active, with the development team currently focused on detailed planning for what the city describes as the project’s “backbone” infrastructure. That work includes major utilities, internal circulation, and other systems that must be resolved before construction can begin.
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Hiatt said the current technical review is expected to wrap up over the coming months. Once completed, any minor refinements to the project’s Specific Plan would be reviewed to confirm consistency with the project’s long-term vision.
The Woodland Research & Technology Park, commonly known as WRTP, is planned for a 350-acre site on the city’s southern edge. The land has long been used for agriculture and remained outside Woodland’s developed area for decades before being identified in the city’s 2035 General Plan as a future growth site.
Video showing the WRTP project site, recorded Jan. 13, 2026
The land spans along Highway 113 and lies directly south of the Spring Lake Specific Plan area. At full buildout, the plan allows for up to about 2.2 million square feet of employment space, roughly 5,000 jobs, and approximately 1,600 housing units.
Planning documents describe the park as well-positioned to benefit from its proximity to UC Davis, about 7 miles away. The site is intended to support research, technology, and agricultural innovation firms seeking to locate near one of the world’s leading research universities and draw from its talent and partnerships.
Alongside site planning, Hiatt said the city is coordinating with Caltrans on future upgrades to the Highway 113 and County Road 25A interchange, which would serve as a primary access point for the development.
In December, engineering firm Mark Thomas announced in a social media post that it had been selected to provide final design services for the interchange modification project. The work includes ramp realignments, roundabouts at ramp intersections, and improved pedestrian and bicycle connections intended to support multimodal access and future growth.
City council records show the city moved away from temporary interchange fixes it had previously considered and instead planned a more permanent solution to accommodate anticipated growth tied to WRTP. Current cost estimates put the project at roughly $13.7 million, with most of the funding expected to come from development fees generated by the research park rather than the city’s general fund.
No construction start date has been finalized for WRTP. Hiatt said the work underway now is focused on preparing the site for infrastructure installation, which could begin as early as 2027. He also said the ownership team is actively evaluating potential development partners and pursuing an anchor tenant for the project’s first phase.
