Officials warn proposed U.S. 395 realignment could sideline the city

Adelanto — City officials raised alarm about a proposed realignment of U.S. 395, saying the plan, though currently on hold, could reroute the highway away from the city and inflict severe economic damage.

"A realignment for 395 would take 395 away from our city ... it would kill our city," said the Chair during discussion of recent transportation planning, adding that the city manager and planning director joined the conversation and that the council will pursue "aggressive action" to oppose the change.

The Chair said the proposal has a history: earlier county discussions considered routing the highway out of the city years ago. He cited input from a former deputy director of San Bernardino County engineering, saying funding exists to expand portions of the route but that the realignment as proposed would divert traffic and economic activity.

Council members did not detail a specific legal or administrative filing during the meeting, but the Chair said staff and local officials would escalate efforts to keep the highway aligned through the city. No formal vote or action item on the matter appears in the transcript; the discussion ended with an admonition to "stomp it to the ground," indicating intent to pursue opposition rather than a completed decision.

Background: U.S. 395 serves as a major arterial route for the city and surrounding areas. At the meeting, officials said some planning work on the realignment is on hold but described the prospect as an urgent concern for local economic health.

Next steps noted at the meeting: city staff and council members will follow up with planning and county contacts to determine what aggressive actions are necessary and which funding or planning processes are implicated. The transcript did not specify a timeline or named county filings.