Caltrans details $222.7 million Keene pavement project, says staged work will limit closures

Caltrans District 9 told the Kern Council of Governments Transportation Planning Policy Committee that it has $222,700,000 programmed to rehabilitate a key stretch of State Route 58, add a truck climbing lane and replace failing pavement with long-life concrete.

The project covers approximately 45 lane miles of new continuously reinforced concrete pavement, includes a roughly 3.5-mile uphill truck climbing lane just west of Hart Flat Road and two large animal wildlife crossings—one near Hart Flat and one west of Broom Road. Caltrans said the design life for the new pavement is 40 to 50 years.

The presentation, given by Brian Westling, deputy district director for engineering in Caltrans District 9, focused on staging and traffic handling because of steep grades, narrow medians and environmental constraints including Tehachapi Creek and several oak species. Westling said the project team is preparing for a 60% review this summer, expects 100% design in summer 2026 and is targeting a spring 2027 construction start. The current construction estimate is about 650 working days—roughly three years—although Westling cautioned schedules can change.

Why it matters: State Route 58 is a major interregional freight route. Caltrans said the new concrete overlay and climbing lane aim to extend pavement…