Caltrans outlines project delays, emergency repairs and timeline updates affecting Kern County

Caltrans told the Kern Council of Governments Transportation Planning Policy Committee on Jan. 15 that several locally significant projects will be delayed as state program rebalancing shifts funds and that emergency repairs are being prioritized.

“This funding is available for expansion projects and projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said a Caltrans District 6 representative while describing the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) apportionments for the region. The presenter said member agencies were emailed apportionment notices and encouraged operators to begin planning projects.

Caltrans staff described a statewide SHOP (State Highway Operation and Protection Program) rebalancing that has left about $750 million available this fiscal year while roughly $3.5 billion in projects remain to be programmed. “We are not deleting any projects at this point; we are moving some out,” the District 6 representative said, explaining that some projects will be postponed one fiscal year to manage the gap.

District 6 highlighted immediate and near-term items affecting Kern County: a bridge guardrail repair on State Route 204 over the Calloway Canal is slated to begin later this month with lane reductions for traffic control; Tehachapi Pass rest area basins closed after storm-related sediment deposits are being emptied; and several oversight projects including the Wasco pedestrian beacon and State Route 46/43 roundabout remain active with phased construction dates into 2026–2027. Caltrans stated the Kern 58 CAPM project was moved out one year (ready-to-list now anticipated in 2028, with construction beginning in early 2029) as a result of the SHOP rebalancing.

Caltrans also flagged implementation issues that may affect schedules: expanded Buy America requirements and terminated waivers at the federal level, utility relocations (including PG&E transmission lines) that delay start dates, and supply-chain timing for electrical equipment for pedestrian projects.

District 9 staff described tools intended to reduce repeated project briefings: a monthly, interactive web map and a project-template report with milestone, scope and contact information for each project. The District 9 representative said the materials are being shared via staff and are intended to give elected officials direct contact information for project managers and near-real-time status updates.

Several committee members pressed for safety-focused short-term fixes on Stockdale Highway and other high-traffic corridors while recognizing the longer-term Centennial Corridor work will not be needed until traffic forecasts increase. Caltrans responded that Segment 3 of the Stockdale extension will not be built until sufficient funding and traffic demand exists and that traffic analysis shows ultimate improvements likely not required until after 2038, while offering to work with the COG on nearer-term safety interventions.

The district briefs closed with a reminder that the monthly project list will be provided to the COG and that Caltrans staff are available to answer jurisdiction-specific questions.

What’s next: Caltrans will circulate the monthly project list and web links to district project pages; Kern COG members asked for follow-up presentations for some projects and for District 9 to appear at a future meeting with a comprehensive update.