Northbound Traffic to Switch to New Lanes on U.S. 395 Near Olancha

Drivers are reminded that the speed limit through the project is 55 mph 

What you need to know: Northbound traffic on U.S. 395 within the Olancha Cartago 4-Lane Expressway Project will switch onto the new northbound lanes at the southern end of the project.

INYO COUNTY – Northbound U.S. 395 traffic will switch onto the new northbound lanes of the Olancha Cartago 4-Lane Expressway Project on Tuesday, November 19. Drivers are advised that the temporary detour that switched southbound traffic onto the new northbound lanes north of Cartago will now be used to switch northbound traffic onto the existing lanes of U.S. 395.

Northbound Traffic:

·     Northbound traffic will connect to the new lanes of U.S. 395 at the project’s southern end. Both northbound lanes will be open until drivers reach the temporary traffic switch south of Crystal Geyser Road.

·     Through traffic will use the lefthand lane to access the traffic switch that will move northbound vehicles to the inside lane of the new southbound alignment. Vehicles will remain in this lane through the remainder of the project area before reconnecting with the existing lanes of U.S. 395 at the project’s northern end, approximately two miles north of Cartago.

·     Northbound vehicles traveling to Olancha, Cartago, or State Route 190 and Death Valley National Park will use the righthand lane to stay on the new northbound alignment until they reach Crystal Geyser Road.

Southbound Traffic:

·     From just south of Crystal Geyser Road to the southern end of the project, both southbound lanes will be open.

Traffic will remain in this configuration until next year. On the existing lanes of U.S. 395, all southbound traffic will stop at N. Haiwee Road and all northbound traffic will stop at the Owens Lake Operations Access Road. There will be north-south access on U.S. 395 through Grant, Olancha, and Cartago. Drivers can access old U.S. 395 from the new lanes using the Crystal Geyser Road crossover and Lake Street connector in Cartago. State Route 190 into Death Valley National Park will be fully accessible.

The speed limit is reduced to 45 mph through the crossovers, and it remains 55 mph through the project area. Smartphone mapping apps and GPS devices may not be updated to reflect the current route. Drivers are advised to follow the signs posted in the project area.

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

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!

To get the latest information on conditions on the State Highway System, visit the Caltrans QuickMap site at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or download the app to your smartphone. You can also call the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).

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

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 Christopher Andriessen at 760-937-7217 or TTY 711.