Traffic Advisory for the Week of May 26, 2025
EASTERN KERN, INYO, and MONO COUNTIES - The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announces the following project work and traffic impacts for the week of May 26 – May 30. \
There will be no work on the state highway system on Monday, May 26 due to Memorial Day.
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
- Ridgecrest Utility Work – On State Route 178 E from Reeves Avenue to the north gate of the China Lake Naval Base, the westbound outside lane and shoulder will close while utility crews work in the shoulder on Wednesday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
- Kern River Valley Utility Work – On State Route 178 W from Scodie Lane to Chimney Peak Road near Canebrake, utility crews will maintain infrastructure on Friday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. There will be one-way traffic control and drivers may experience 10-minute delays.
Inyo County
- North Sierra Highway Utility Work – On U.S. 395 from See Vee Lane to Wye Road in Bishop, the southbound outside lane and shoulder will close while utility crews relocate poles on the southbound lanes Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Drivers may experience brief delays.
- Bishop Overnight Utility Work – On U.S. 395 from Barlow Lane to Matlick Lane, the southbound outside lane and shoulder will close while utility crews relocate poles and cross wires across the road overnight on Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am. Drivers may experience brief delays.
- Mule Days Parade – The city of Bishop is holding its annual Mule Days parade on Saturday, May 24, on Main Street (U.S. 395) at 10:00 am. Detours at Mandich Street and See Vee Lane will be in place from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Drivers are reminded to slow down on local roads and follow the detour signs to get around the closure.
Mono County
- Dog Town Pole Replacement – On U.S. 395 from State Route 270 (Bodie Road) to approximately a half mile south, 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 20-minute delays.
Ongoing Traffic Impacts
Eastern Kern County
- South District Census Station Replacements Project – Crews continue to install traffic loops and electrical cabinets in the following locations:
- On State Route 178 E in Inyo County at the Nevada state line east of Shoshone.
- On State Route 14 in eastern Kern County at State Route 178 E near Inyokern.
- On State Route 58 in eastern Kern County between the Truck Scale House and Exit 165 near Mojave.
- On State Route 136 in Inyo County from U.S. 395 to the Death Valley National Park Visitor Center.
The shoulders will close in each location, and work is scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Inyo County
- Olancha-Cartago 4-Lane Project – Construction continues on the Olancha-Cartago 4-Lane Expressway Project. Northbound drivers will encounter two traffic switches on the new lanes of U.S. 395 and traffic remains limited to one lane in each direction through the northern half of the project area. The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph through the project area and 45 mph through the two traffic switches.
Mono County
- Sonora Junction Shoulders Project – On U.S. 395 from Burcham Flat Road to State Route 108 north of Bridgeport, crews are installing cattleguards and new guardrail while preparing to install wildlife fencing. Work is scheduled Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. There will be one-way traffic control and drivers may experience 20-minute delays.
- Rock Creek Pavement Project – On U.S. 395 from just north of Lower Rock Creek Road to 1.3 miles south of South Landing Drive near the community of Crowley Lake, crews are rehabilitating the pavement and adding turn pockets and acceleration lanes to the Upper Rock Creek Road/Owens Gorge Road intersection. Upper Rock Creek Road has fully reopened between Crowley Lake Road and U.S. 395. The median at the intersection near Tom’s Place will remain closed through Memorial Day Weekend. Businesses in Tom’s Place are open and can be reached using the detour at South Landing Drive. Traffic will shift to the outside lane and shoulders on Tuesday to allow crews to work on the inside lane and median. Access to Owens Gorge Road remains available with traffic control. For more information about the project and its detours, visit Upper Rock Creek Road Closure | Caltrans.
The Olancha Cartago 4-Lane Project received $38.3 million and the Sonora Junction Shoulders Project received $16.8 million from 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 Building California: Transforming Infrastructure for a Better Future | Home.
The Rock Creek Pavement Project has received $2,168,784.40 from Senate Bill (SB) 1. SB 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually split between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1. Find out how California is building for a better tomorrow by visiting build.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 Angela Bates at 760-881-7145TTY 711.