Antelope Grade Vertical Curve Correction and Truck Climbing Lane Extension
Project Description
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes to extend the existing westbound truck climbing lane and correct a vertical curve along State Route 46 from post miles 59.8 to 60.9 in San Luis Obispo County and post miles 0.0 to 0.9 in Kern County.
Project Benefits
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to improve traffic flow and corridor operations between the four-lane section of State Route 46 in Kern County and the three-lane section of State Route 46 in San Luis Obispo County.
Need
The existing State Route 46 configuration causes operational issues as westbound traffic climbs over the Polonio Pass in the project area. The project is needed for the following reasons:
- The existing lane configuration requires slow-moving trucks to merge with other vehicles as two lanes merge into one lane at post mile 0.4 in Kern County. The existing lane configuration returns to two lanes less than 1 mile later at post mile 60.3 in San Luis Obispo County.
- Operational issues occur as trucks traveling at slower speeds merge with traffic traveling at faster speeds at the merge point.
- There is a deficient vertical curve in the road, providing insufficient sight distance along the highway.
- Truck climbing and passing lanes have been constructed on sections of the westbound lanes (post miles 59.1 to 60.3) and the eastbound lanes (post miles 57.3 to 57.5 and 58.8 to 59.0). The existing corridor has limited facilities for passing slow-moving vehicles, and, for much of the day, there are insufficient gaps in oncoming traffic to pass slower traffic in the passing zones along the existing route.
Estimated Funding Breakdown
| Funding Source | Funding Amount |
|---|---|
| Local | $3,867,000 |
| State | $1,250,000 |
| Federal | Not applicable |
| Construction Cost | $5,117,000 |
Partnerships
- Kern Council of Governments
Proposed Project Schedule
| Process | Date |
|---|---|
| Final Environmental document to be completed | Fall 2024 |
| Design to be completed | Spring 2024 |
| Advertise | Summer 2024 |
| Construction to begin | Spring 2025 |
| Construction to be completed | Fall 2025 |
Project Contact
Nicholas Heisdorf, Project Manager
Phone: 805-835-6558
Email: nicholas.heisdorf@dot.ca.gov
Shane Gunn, Senior Environmental Scientist
Phone: 559-832-0051
Email: shane.gunn@dot.ca.gov
District 6 Public Information Office
Phone: 559-444-2409
Email: d6.public.info@dot.ca.gov
District 5 Public Information Office
Phone: 805-549-3237
Email: info-d5@dot.ca.gov
Documents
Accessibility Assistance: Caltrans makes every attempt to ensure our documents are accessible. Due to variances between assistive technologies, there may be portions of this document which are not accessible. Where documents cannot be made accessible, we are committed to providing alternative access to the content. Should you need additional assistance, please contact us at (916) 654-2852 or visit https://dot.ca.gov/request-ada-compliant-documents.
- Initial Study with Negative Declaration - FINAL November, 2024 (PDF 4.5 MB)
- Public Notice, English (PDF 86 KB)
- Public Notice, Spanish (PDF 119 KB)
- Notice of Completion (PDF 278 KB)
- Notice of Determination (PDF 224 KB)
Title VI Information
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).
Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, or national origin. In addition, Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner.