Bishop - Caltrans rolling towards completion of Inyo County four-lane projects

After more than 50 years, Caltrans’ commitment to widen the entire State Route14/U.S. 395 corridor from two to four lanes is nearing completion.
The Blackrock 4-Lane Project, a 14-mile stretch of U.S. 395 between Big Pine and Independence, is halfway complete.
In early November, contractor Skanska construction moved two-lane traffic to the new southbound lanes while crews began improvements on the old two-lane highway that will soon be the new northbound lanes. This project is expected to cost $30.9 million.
According to a Caltrans press release, this project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2009.
Caltrans has also announced that Granite Construction has begun construction on the Manzanar/Independence 4-Lane Project. This project will upgrade 11 miles of two-lane highway to “a four-lane expressway.” The $43 million endeavor will also add new sidewalks, “historic” street lighting and move some overhead utilities underground.
The project is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2010.

Crews from Skanska Construction have begun upgrading the old stretch of U.S. 395 between Independence and Big Pine. Traffic is being diverted onto the new lanes while the old stretch will be made into the new northbound U.S. 395 by late spring 2009. Photo by Mike Bodine

“These projects represent part of a commitment that began in 1955 between Caltrans and Inyo, Mono and Kern counties to upgrade the S.R. 14/U.S. 395 corridor to a four-lane expressway,” said Caltrans District 9 Director Tom Hallenbeck. He added that only two sections of highway are left to complete this project. One is the 16 miles on S.R. 14 south of Ridgecrest known as the Freeman Gulch Project. The other is an 11-mile stretch of U.S. 395 near Olancha, the Olancha/Cartago Project.
District 9 Caltrans Deputy District Director Bryan Winzenread said Friday that there will be an open house on the Olancha/Cartago Project on Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. at the Olancha school gym. He said the public is welcome to review the project alternatives as well as make public comments. Construction of this project is slated to begin in 2014.
Winzenread added that this is the last section of highway in Inyo County that will need to be upgraded.
The Freeman Gulch Project, which will be handled by Caltrans District 6, is to be completed in three phases; phase one in 2014, phase two in 2018 and phase three in 2022.
Winzenread explained that this massive four-lane project, extending from Mojave to Lee Vining, has taken so long because there is so much road to improve or build. “We can’t just buy and fix all 250-plus miles of road at once,” he added.
He said Caltrans has been piecing the project together as funding becomes available.
Winzenread added that District 9 was fortunate enough to secure funding for these projects despite rocky economic times for the state.
According to Winzenread, there is also competition for funding for these projects. These four-lane projects must go up against projects in the Bay Area and Southern California, where, Winzenread explained, there may be a higher priority for funding.
Winzenread concluded by saying he was pleased that District 9 will have $100 million worth of projects going on in 2009.