Secret Tunnel Homeless Camp Found Under Stockton Bridge

City and state crews inspect and fill holes at underground encampment, sparking debate over homelessness solutions.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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An underground homeless camp was discovered carved into the dirt beneath a Stockton bridge, raising immediate concerns about fire danger, debris, and potential damage to the bridge's structure. Caltrans and city crews inspected the site, filled in the excavated holes, and planned further cleanup and bridge repairs, as officials and advocates debate how to address the growing homelessness crisis and make local infrastructure less vulnerable to encampments.

Why it matters

The discovery of the secret tunnel encampment highlights the growing challenges Stockton and other California cities face in addressing homelessness, balancing public safety concerns with the need for more housing and services. It also sparks debate over the city's proposed infrastructure changes, like the controversial riprap project at the Airport Way Bridge, as potential solutions.

The details

Video of the site showed a large, hollowed-out space beneath the Stockton bridge, prompting Caltrans to inspect the location and fill the holes. The agency said it plans to clear debris at the site once loose dogs are removed. Stockton has been grappling with how to make local bridges less vulnerable to people digging into embankments for shelter, with a proposed riprap pilot project turning into a political debate over its effectiveness and cost. The city has also taken a more enforcement-heavy approach to homelessness, including tightening camping rules and declaring a local emergency, which some advocates argue needs to be matched with increased housing and services.

  • In December 2024, Caltrans reported removing roughly 30 encampments in Stockton.
  • In the summer of 2018 and 2021, the Stockton bridge experienced fires, leading to repair projects.
  • Most recently, city and state crews inspected and filled the holes at the underground homeless camp on February 7, 2026.

The players

Caltrans District 10

The California Department of Transportation agency responsible for maintaining the state's transportation infrastructure, including the Stockton bridge where the underground homeless camp was discovered.

Stockton City Council

The governing body of the city of Stockton, which has been debating how to address homelessness and make local bridges less vulnerable to encampments, including a proposed riprap project at the Airport Way Bridge.

Stockton Homeless Advocates

Local advocates who have questioned the city's more enforcement-heavy approach to homelessness, arguing that it needs to be balanced with increased housing and services.

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What they’re saying

“The holes that were found were filled.”

— Caltrans District 10 (CBS News Sacramento)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery Employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Caltrans and the city of Stockton plan to continue coordinating on further cleanup and bridge repair efforts at the site of the discovered underground homeless camp.

The takeaway

The discovery of the secret tunnel encampment under the Stockton bridge underscores the complex challenges cities face in addressing homelessness, balancing public safety concerns with the need for more housing and services. It also reignites debates over infrastructure-based solutions, like the city's proposed riprap project, as potential ways to deter future encampments.