Busy Year On Mountain Highways For Cal Trans

Big Bear, Ca, November 29, 2011, 12:00pm - Cal Trans was busy this past year, making repairs on highways leading to and from the Big Bear Valley, repairing and cleaning culverts, and completing the Big Bear Bridge Project.  Over the past year, Cal Trans and associated contractors have reopened Highway 330, completed and opened the new Big Bear Bridge, repaved Highway 18, the back grade, and have dealt with and cleaned up a large fuel spill on Highway 38.  In between these larger projects maintenance crews also conducted crack sealing, pot hole repair, replaced and added guardrails to various portions of Highways, and have prepared for the winter months.  Cal Trans is currently bringing in seasonal workers for the winter months, and a total of 63 people will be overseeing chain control/ snow clearance within the mountain areas.  “Were ready to go,” said Cal Trans Public Information Officer, Terri Kasinga “We have all of the supplies ready to go, and have already used some of it.”   Next year, more maintenance projects have been tentatively scheduled, with larger scale projects such as adding two lanes to certain areas in the Big Bear Valley projected 10 to 15 years out.  Cal Trans reminds motorists to drive with care, slow in the cone zone, and to carry chains when traveling in the mountains in the winter months.

Highway 330 Temporarily Closed Due to Auto Accident

Big Bear, Ca, October 4, 2011, 12:00pm - Highway 330 is currently closed due to an accident involving a Sisco food truck, and a Ford Edge earlier today.  According to the California Highway Patrol approximately 40-60 gallons of fuel was spilled onto the roadway, and is currently being cleaned up.  One of the people involved in the accident has been airlifted at this time, and another was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.  CHP told KBHR that the road may remain closed for the next few hours.  Utilize Highway 18 through the Crestline area as an alternative.

Highway 330 Permanently Opens Up!

BREAKING NEWS: Highway 330 Set To Open Friday Evening

Big Bear, Ca, June 15, 2011, 3:00pm - Great news for motorists who have been waiting for Highway 330 to open!  According to Terri Kasinga, Public Information Officer with CalTrans, Highway 330 is set to open permanently to two-way traffic after the recognition ceremony on Friday, June 17^th.  Kasinga told KBHR that flagging will still occur while repairs are being finalized, and a full closure may occur after the road is open, however, it would only be short term.  Repair crews have worked since last December to replace several portions of the roadway that were washed away during heavy winter storms.  “I’m amazed at the speed and quality of the work here.  Thinking back, the damage to the roadway in December was enormous,” stated Assemblyman Paul Cook. “Now, just six months later, we’re cutting the ribbon for the permanent reopening of 330, just in time for the Fourth of July weekend.  This is great news for the local economies in the San Bernardino Mountain region.”  The June opening beat early assessments, which estimated an October reopening. However, due to favorable weather conditions, and expedited contract work, repairs were able to move forward at an extraordinary pace.  Motorists will be able to access Highway 330 after the ceremony, which is set to end at 4:00pm on June 17^th.

Highway 330 Open Memorial Day Weekend!

Big Bear, Ca, May 27, 2011, 12:00pm - Great news for motorists this Memorial Day Weekend, Highway 330 is open to two-way traffic today through Monday, May 30^th!   Motorists will be able to travel up or down Highway 330, any time between now and Monday night at 11:59pm when the route will go back to commute hours on Tuesday, May 31.  The commute hours will continue to be Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. until further notice.  Motorists are advised that as work continues to restore the route there will be times when the commute hours will be suspended.  The Department will continue to keep the public informed on the progress of the project and notify you of any changes as warranted.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

State Route 330 Re-Open Update

San Bernardino, CA, May 3, 2011, 8:00am – At the San Bernardino City and County Conference on April 28^th, Dr. Ray Wolfe, District 8 Director for Caltrans, announced that progress to date on the emergency repairs on State Route 330 are well ahead of schedule.  Given this, Dr. Wolfe stated “we are targeting opening the highway to traffic before the 4^th of July holiday absent some unforeseen issue.”  Additionally he added “we are also attempting to perform enough work to hopefully open the highway for the Memorial Day weekend- even if we return to limited use after the holiday weekend. Without the focused efforts of everyone engaged in this work, the reality of traffic restoration on the highway would be months in the future,” stated Dr. Wolfe.  He continued to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the project’s partners including Skanska and SEMA Construction, the US Forest Service, California Highway Patrol and the Federal Highway Administration.  Caltrans is optimistic but cautions the public that a great deal of work remains to be completed and with that lies potential risks that could force these dates to change.  Currently, State Route 330 is open to one-way commuter passenger vehicles from Monday to Friday for down bound traffic between 6am to 8am and up bound traffic from 4pm to 6pm.  State Route 330 was originally projected to take over two years to repair.  That time frame was narrowed down to 11 months.  Commuters and local merchants in Big Bear welcome the news that Caltrans is now projecting this route will be permanently opened by the July 4^th holiday with the potential to re-open for Memorial Day weekend.

Highway 330 Will Not Open This Weekend

Big Bear Lake, CA, April 22, 2011, noon - Highway 330 will not be open to traffic this weekend, according to Cal Trans. Big Bear News has been told by Cal Trans officials that there have been incorrect reports in local media about Highway 330 opening this weekend. Cal Trans wants to make sure the traveling public is aware that 330 will not be open this weekend, and any reports that claim Highway 330 will be open are false.

Commuter Traffic on Highway 330 Begins April 4th

Big Bear, Ca,  April 3, 2011, 4:15pm - Motorists who travel daily up and down the mountain for work will be pleased to know that Cal Trans is opening up Highway 330 for commuter traffic.  Commuter traffic on the 330 will start on Monday April 5^th, and will be conducted Monday through Fridays until Highway 330 is ready to be fully opened.  Commuter traffic will be able to go down bound only between the hours of 6am and 8am and up bound only from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.  The CHP will be onsite enforcing the commuter traffic times.  Only passenger vehicles will be permitted to travel up or down Highway 330 during these commuter times, therefore over sized vehicles such as tractor-trailers, recreational vehicles, buses, and vehicles towing trailers will continue to use alternate routes.  According to Cal Trans, there may be dates where commuter traffic on highway 330 will not take place due to construction efforts.  In these cases, KBHR will notify you in advance when those closures will take place.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Highway 330 To Open Up To Commuter Traffic

Big Bear, March 29, 2011, 1:25pm - Motorists, who travel daily up and down the mountain for work, will be happy to know that Cal Trans will be opening up Highway 330 to one-way commuter traffic beginning Monday April 4^th.  Traffic will be open for downbound traffic from 6:00am to 8:00am Monday through Friday, and from 4:00pm to 6:00pm for upbound traffic only.  The California Highway Patrol will be on site enforcing the designated time frames as well as enforcing the rules of the road.  CalTrans reminds motorists to be mindful that construction will be on going and drivers are required to slow down and obey all posted signs.  Only passenger vehicles will be available, therefore over sized vehicles such as tractor-trailers, recreational vehicles, buses, and vehicles towing trailers will continue to have to use an alternate route.  Complete closures will be needed periodically throughout the course of the project, and alerts will be issued prior to these closures.  KBHR will keep you informed on when these closures will take place.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

CalTrans To Open 330 To Commuter Traffic In Near Future: Dates Not Yet Released

Big Bear, Ca, March 15, 2011, 2:15pm - The heavy rains that Southern California, particularly the San Bernardino Mountains, received in December of last year caused major damage to Highway 330.  Highway 330 was closed during the storms and has since to reopen due to major slip outs along the route.  The most significant damage occurred in three separate locations which Caltrans and contractors Skanska and Sema Construction have been working on.  CalTrans has announced that in the near future Highway 330 will open to one way commuter traffic Monday through Friday.  The road will open from 6:00am to 8:00am to downbound only traffic, and from 4:00pm to 6:00pm for upbound only traffic.  CalTrans has not yet announced when this will go into effect.  CalTrans hopes to have the road completely open by October 1^st, 2011. 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

 

 

Next Page »