Date:    July 18, 2024
District:   9 – Eastern Kern, Inyo, and Mono counties
Contact:  Michael Lingberg
Phone:   (760) 920-0280

Traffic Advisory for the Week of 7/22/2024 – 7/26/2024

EASTERN KERN, INYO, and MONO COUNTIES – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announces the following project work and traffic impacts for the week of July 22 – July 26.

Work schedules are subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or materials, and/or construction-related issues.

New Traffic Impacts

Eastern Kern County

Boron Guardrail Repair – On State Route 58 from Boron Avenue to Borax Road, the westbound outside lane and shoulder will close while crews repair guardrail Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
China Lake Water Main Replacement – On State Route 178 E between N. Brady Street and N. Victor Street, the westbound outside lane is closed while crews replace a water main Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm. The outside lane will reopen after work hours and the shoulder will close at night.
State Route 58 Dirt Removal – on State Route 58 from State Route 202 in Tehachapi to the Broome Road overcrossing, the westbound outside lane and shoulder will close while crews remove dirt from a recent slide. Work is scheduled Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Inyo County

Badwater 135 Ultramarathon – The Badwater 135 Ultramarathon will begin on Monday in Inyo County. Runners in this event will start at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park and will end at the Mt. Whitney Portal. The following state highways will be affected Monday through Wednesday, 24 hours a day:
State Route 190 from just east of Furnace Creek to the junction of State Route 136.
S. Highway 395 from the junction of State Route 136 to Whitney Portal Road.

There are no lane or highway closures planned for this event. Drivers who encounter runners on the side of the road are asked to slow down, give them space, and wait for an opportunity to safely pass them.

Bishop Billboard Removal – On State Route 168 W (W. Line Street) from Pa-Ha Lane to Barlow Lane, the eastbound shoulder will close while crews remove a billboard on Wednesday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Mono County

Benton Utility Work – On U.S. 6 from Goolsby Ranch Road to State Route 120 E in Benton, utility crews will replace poles on Wednesday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. There will be one-way traffic control and drivers may experience 10-minute delays.

Ongoing Traffic Impacts

Eastern Kern County

Ridgecrest Sewer Replacement – On State Route 178 E between French Avenue and Gemstone Street, crews are installing traffic detectors Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. There will be intermittent lane closures. Detours will be available. Drivers could experience brief delays.
Rosamond Boulevard Overcrossing Work – On the Rosamond Boulevard overcrossing north of Edwards Air Force Base on State Route 58, construction crews continue to work in the shoulders Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. There will be intermittent lane closures and drivers may experience short delays.

Inyo County

Olancha-Cartago Traffic Switches – There are two traffic switches on U.S. 395 for the Olancha-Cartago project. At the southern end of the project area, there is a traffic switch between Sage Flats Road and N Haiwee Road. At the northern end of the project area, there is a traffic switch north of Cartago. The speed limit is reduced to 45 MPH through the new alignments for driver safety. Drivers may experience short delays.
Olancha Shoulder Closures – On U.S. 395 at the junction with State Route 190 in Olancha, there will be intermittent shoulder closures to allow trucks access to deliver material Monday through Wednesday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
State Route 190 Emergency Repairs – On State Route 190 from State Route 136 to Darwin Road near the western boundary of Death Valley National Park, crews continue to rebuild shoulder berms Monday through Friday from 5:30 am to 6:00 pm.
State Route 168 Bike and Pedestrian Improvements Project – On State Route 168 W (West Line Street) between Sunland Drive and Pioneer Lane in Bishop, the westbound shoulder is closed while crews stripe the roadway. Eastbound traffic is shifted into the center turn lane and left turns onto Sunland Drive are restricted. Work is scheduled Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Mono County

The Trees Shoulder Grading – On U.S. 395 from Mammoth Scenic Loop to the Crestview Safety Roadside Rest Area, the northbound outside lane and shoulder will close while crews continue grading the shoulders Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Sonora Junction Shoulders Project – On U.S. 395 between Burcham Flat Road and Sonora Junction, there will be one-way traffic control as work continues on the Sonora Junction Shoulders Project. Work is scheduled from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday, and 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Friday. Drivers may encounter 20-minute delays.
Conway Ranch Shoulders Project – On U.S. 395 between State Route 167 and just north of Conway Ranch Road near Mono City, crews will resume widening the shoulders, lengthening chain-up areas, installing lighting, and rehabilitating drainage infrastructure. Work is scheduled Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. There is one-way traffic control and drivers may encounter 20-minute delays.

The $16.8 million Sonora Junction Shoulders Project and $8.3 million Conway Ranch Shoulders Project were funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) – also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Under IIJA, California will receive an estimated $41.9 billion over five years. IIJA provides significant funding to rebuild California’s transportation system, including support to improve roadways, bridges, freight projects, public transportation, infrastructure safety enhancements, and to increase infrastructure resiliency to the impacts of severe weather and climate change. For more information about IIJA, visit https://rebuildingca.ca.gov/iija-by-the-numbers.

Find out how California is building for a better tomorrow by visiting build.ca.gov and rebuildingca.ca.gov.

Travelers are asked to be attentive to workers on the highway, slow for the cone zone, and move over whenever possible to give additional clearance. Be Safe and Be Work Zone Alert!

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For those with sensory disabilities requiring alternate formats (i.e., Braille, large print, sign language interpreter, etc.) and those needing information in a language other than English, please contact Bob Gossman at 760-881-7145 or TTY 711.