District: District 6
Contact: Elizabeth Yelton
Phone: (559) 488-4067
KINGS COUNTY — Caltrans will replace 36 lane miles of Interstate 5 from the Kern/Kings County line to south of Utica Avenue near Lost Hills in Kings County, due to the funds from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
"I-5 is a major freight corridor and endures a lot of wear and tear,” said Caltrans Director Laurie Berman. “This project will allow crews to make immediate long-term repairs that will provide a safer and smoother commute for motorists, and benefit California’s commercial and agricultural success."
More than 37,500 motorists per day use the roadway to reach their destination, and more than 9,400 truckers per day use this segment of I-5. Nearly 80 percent of the trucks on the interstate have five-plus axles.
"Without this SB 1 funded project, the pavement would continue to deteriorate, which would have a direct impact on travelers and result in costly maintenance repairs in the future. Providing a smooth roadway is imperative for our local truckers who are transporting livestock, tomatoes, hay, pistachios or other goods every day to the agricultural businesses in Kings County."
This $29 million pavement project has been awarded to Granite Construction, who will focus on replacing damaged pavement, filling potholes, and completing long-lasting repairs to restore the roadway and improve traffic safety. Work is scheduled to begin April 8, and take place during the night, Saturday through Thursday. It is anticipated that one lane in each direction will be open for traffic throughout the duration of the project. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, use alternate routes Be Work Zone Alert.
Work schedule is subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or materials, and/or construction-related issues. More information and updates on projects can be found on Caltrans District 6's Project page or on Twitter via @CaltransDist6.
SB 1 provides an ongoing funding increase of approximately $1.8 billion annually for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the state highway system. SB 1 funds will enable Caltrans to fix more than 17,000 lane miles of pavement, 500 bridges and 55,000 culverts by 2027.
Caltrans is committed to conducting its business in a fully transparent manner and detailing its progress to the public. For complete details on SB 1, visit http://www.rebuildingca.ca.gov/.