The Inyo County Board of Supervisors approved an emergency contract on Tuesday to repair a failing  culvert discovered beneath Whitney Portal Road last week. The damaged infrastructure – estimated at  50-60 years old – is located just above the entrance to Lone Pine Campground and NOT part of the  section of road that was washed out by Hurricane Hilary in 2023 and underwent extensive  rehabilitation work.

According to Public Works Director Mike Errante, Speiss Construction is expected to start work on the culvert on Monday, March 17. The road has been closed just below the normal winter closure area, so impacts on motorists should be minimal. The targeted completion date is no later than April 30 – when Public Works typically reopens that section of Whitney Portal Road for the spring. In the meantime, detours will be available using Movie and Hogback roads to provide access to the

large dirt parking lot at the normal winter closure.

For more information, visit https://www.inyocounty.us/services/public-works/news/inyo-county-road-openclosed-status.