Caltrans representatives told the Kern Council of Governments Transportation Planning Policy Committee (TPPC) that work on multiple highway and pedestrian projects across Kern County is advancing but that several items remain on time-sensitive schedules and permit tracks.

"We've reached 60% design on that project," Caltrans staff said of the Keane pavement project, and added construction began April 28 with a tentative completion date of Aug. 1. The Caltrans representative said the program also includes slab replacements and median safety work associated with the project.

The district reported several traffic impacts on State Route 178 in Ridgecrest and the Bakersfield area, including sewer line tie-ins on SR‑178 east from Coso Avenue to Ridgecrest Boulevard that require intermittent lane closures, a closure of the left-turn lane at Drummond Avenue while a city paves the street, and shoulder work between US‑395 and Third Street that will close the westbound shoulder Tuesday through Thursday.

Caltrans also announced a 5310 call for projects: applications were released on June 30, a virtual application webinar is scheduled for July 30, technical consultations are planned for mid‑August, and the application deadline is Sept. 3.

On regional planning, a Caltrans District 6 representative said the 99 comprehensive multimodal corridor plan — delayed earlier by modeling issues — is expected to be released for stakeholder review by the end of this month or early next month. The district noted staffing has stabilized after recent changes and that the USDOT BUILD round 2 awards announced recently included only one California project in Placer County; Kern County applications were not selected in that round.

The district-level updates also covered a long list of individual project statuses: permit submittals for Wasco pedestrian beacons (one permit expected to issue within two weeks from a July update), the Bakersfield 99/58 connector (funded with $39.9 million in TCEP awarded at the June CTC meeting), completed rehabilitation on White Lane (accepted June 23), scheduling updates on Delano SR‑155 rehab, ongoing constructability reviews, and projects in punch-list or suspension stages pending subcontractor work or utility completion.

Board members raised local safety concerns about two overpasses on State Route 58 in Tehachapi (Mill Street and Dennison Road), noting guardrails are low and pedestrian traffic has increased near a hospital and new businesses. Supervisor Parlier asked Caltrans to treat any railing or screening improvement as a safety priority, and asked to be kept informed of follow-up with city staff.

A board member also asked Caltrans to standardize graffiti‑removal paint colors used on state structures in Bakersfield; Caltrans said it would relay that request to the district maintenance deputy, John Liu.

The Caltrans representative invited follow-up questions and committed to additional permit and schedule updates to staff who requested them.