The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced a schedule of project work and traffic impacts for the week of Monday, October 5, through Friday, October 9. Motorists traveling through Eastern Kern, Inyo, and Mono Counties should anticipate various delays and traffic control measures due to electrical work, pavement drilling, utility replacements, and ongoing pavement projects. Caltrans reminds drivers that work schedules are subject to change based on weather, equipment availability, or traffic incidents.
Several projects are scheduled along U.S. 395, a primary artery for the region. In Bridgeport, utility crews will replace poles from Emigrant Street to one mile north, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. This work will involve intermittent traffic breaks and may cause five-minute delays. Further south near Lee Vining, utility pole replacement will occur from Test Station Road to Second Street, Monday through Wednesday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, also with intermittent traffic breaks and potential five-minute delays. Near Mono Lake, from Picnic Grounds Road to Cemetery Road, utility crews will also replace poles Monday through Wednesday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, with similar intermittent traffic breaks and five-minute delays.
In Bishop, a pavement project continues on U.S. 395 and State Route 168 West (W. Line Street). Crews will perform electrical work, grind new pavement for smoothness, and lay down permanent striping. Intermittent lane and intersection closures will be in effect both day and overnight, Monday through Friday, 6:30 am to 6:00 pm. Drivers may experience brief delays, and the speed limit is reduced to 25 mph from Jay Street to Wye Road. This Bishop Pavement Project received $18.36 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and an additional $2.4 million from Senate Bill (SB) 1.
The Manzanar Pavement Project on U.S. 395 between Fort Independence and the southern end of Independence will continue. All traffic has been shifted to the new southbound lanes while crews rehabilitate the northbound lanes. Southbound traffic has also shifted back to the new pavement of the southbound lanes from the southern end of Independence to 2.5 miles south of Manzanar National Historic Site. Turns onto several cross streets within Independence are unavailable from U.S. 395. The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph and 25 mph within Independence. Work is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, and drivers may experience delays. This Manzanar Pavement Project received significant funding, including $44.64 million from the IIJA and $5.78 million from SB 1. The IIJA provides substantial funding to rebuild California's transportation system, aiming to improve roadways, bridges, and infrastructure resiliency. SB 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually, accelerating project progress.
Other U.S. 395 work includes a sidewalks project in Lone Pine. The outside lane and shoulders will remain closed for drainage, sidewalk, curb, and gutter work southbound from Teya Road to Inyo Street, and northbound from Locust Road to E. Lubken Avenue. Work is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, with brief delays expected. South of Coso Junction, pavement repair from Little Lake to Cinder Road will involve intermittent closures of outside lanes and shoulders for striping new pavement, Monday through Thursday, 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, causing brief delays. Near Walker, a Cape Seal operation will take place on U.S. 395 from Hackney Drive to the Nevada state line, Tuesday through Thursday from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Friday from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm. This operation will use one-way traffic control, potentially causing delays of up to 20 minutes.
Beyond U.S. 395, several state routes will also see active work. On State Route 14 in Inyokern, electrical work from Athel Road to U.S. 395 is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. One-way traffic control will be in place, leading to potential ten-minute delays. Also in Inyokern and Ridgecrest, pavement drilling for core samples will occur on State Route 178 East at the U.S. 395 ramps and from Triangle Drive to Sierra View Street, Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. One-way traffic control and intermittent lane closures may cause five-minute delays. On State Route 178 West near Weldon, utility crews will replace wire on Tuesday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, with one-way traffic control and five-minute delays.
State Route 127, about 5.5 miles south of Death Valley Junction, will have electrical work on Wednesday and Thursday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. One-way traffic control is planned, with potential ten-minute delays. In the June Lake area, on State Route 158 from North Shore Road to the winter closure gate near Silver Lake, utility crews will replace poles Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. One-way traffic control is expected to cause five-minute delays. On State Route 168 East from U.S. 395 to Death Valley Road in Big Pine, utility crews will continue to replace poles Monday and Tuesday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, with one-way traffic control and potential five-minute delays. Finally, on State Route 120 West near Lee Vining, from Lower Lee Vining Campground Road to U.S. 395, utility crews will continue pole replacement Monday through Wednesday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, utilizing one-way traffic control and possibly causing ten-minute delays.
Caltrans urges all travelers to remain attentive to workers in the highway, to slow down in construction zones, and to move over when possible to provide additional clearance. Drivers are encouraged to be safe and work zone alert.
