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Caltrans gives timeline for multiple Kern County highway projects, delays expected on some work
Summary
Caltrans staff updated the Kern Council of Governments on the status and near-term milestones for several projects across Kern County, including rehabilitation work on State Route 99 and intersection improvements on State Route 155 in Delano. Several projects are in design or right-of-way review and some face permit-related delays.
Caltrans representatives gave the Kern Council of Governments an overview of dozens of highway projects in Kern County, noting design milestones, right-of-way reviews and construction windows for major corridors including State Route 99, State Route 58 and State Route 155.
The presentation, delivered by a Caltrans representative identified in the meeting as Mr. Brock, covered the State Route 99 Corridor Management Plan (CMCP) draft release timing, several rehabilitation projects that are nearing completion or in PS&E, and right-of-way and permitting issues that have pushed some start dates. Brock said a draft of the SR-99 CMCP would be released in April with a final document on track for June.
Why it matters: the projects affect travel and freight circulation across Kern County and include elements intended to improve safety, add bike lanes and replace aging bridges. Caltrans repeatedly cited coordination with utilities, the railroad and state permitting agencies as factors affecting start dates and phasing.
Key updates cited by Brock and other Caltrans staff: - State Route 4643 interchange / intersection improvements: utility relocations will begin this summer and construction is scheduled to be awarded in the fall; work has been delayed by coordination with the railroad and utilities, and the community should expect visible construction activity in coming months. (project in prelminary stages) - Southbound SR-99 to westbound SR-58 connector ramp: the team is working toward a 30% PS&E milestone scheduled at the end of the month. - Old US-99 and White Lane (SR-99) rehabilitation: work about 98% complete; plant establishment phase is nearly finished with estimated completion in May. - Delano — SR-155 rehabilitation (3R): pavement, shoulders, curb, gutter, sidewalks and Class 2 bike lanes planned; railroad work will include a cantilever structure and lighting to meet Union Pacific Railroad requirements. The project will be combined with the City of Delano’s intersection improvements at SR-155 and Lexington Street, which include dedicated left-turn lanes. Target design completion is June and target construction start is spring 2026. - SR-43 Seventh Standard Road roundabout and Santa Fe roundabout projects: PS&E milestones in progress with appraisal and right-of-way reviews; the Santa Fe roundabout requires federal permits (described in the meeting as from the Federal Lands Bureau and the Bureau of Reclamation) and Caltrans said that requirement is anticipated to delay construction until March of next year. - Kern 58 (PA&ED): reported at about 30% complete in PA&ED with an expected winter 2026 completion of that phase; subsequent construction year targets were discussed. - California Aqueduct (Bridge 166) rehabilitation: reached ready-to-list (RTL) and construction was awarded to Granite Construction; Caltrans said the contractor is pursuing encroachment permits with the Department of Water Resources (DWR), which will delay the start until July or August, with anticipated completion the following summer. - Bakersfield SR-99 rehabilitation 2: scope expanded to include a southbound auxiliary lane, Palm Street bridge replacement and California bridge widening. PS&E is working toward a 30% submittal at the end of the month. - Multiple pavement rehabilitation (CAPM/3R) projects across the county (Maricopa, Pumpkin Center, Morning Drive, Weedpatch, Arvin): various stages from construction to PS&E; Arvin CAPM is 95% through PS&E and anticipated to advertise for construction this fall.
Caltrans staff also reviewed near-term traffic impacts and utility work: intermittent shoulder and lane closures for pole replacements and fiber installations, overnight signal and lighting work on SR-178 and other routes, and scheduled one-way traffic controls that may produce short delays for drivers.
Board members asked questions about project district assignments and right-of-way acquisition; Brock and other Caltrans staff said they would follow up with specific parcel counts and right-of-way offer status where requested. The presentation concluded with Caltrans staff inviting questions and stating they would return with additional detail as requested.
Local impacts and next steps: several projects named a target design completion or PS&E milestone within the next several months and several construction starts are targeted for spring or summer 2026, subject to permitting and utility coordination. Caltrans emphasized that right-of-way appraisal and federal permits remain the primary schedule risks.
The Kern COG meeting offered no formal action on these projects; the board received the update and directed staff to follow up on specific right-of-way parcel counts and presentation timing for certain projects.
