Big Bear Lake, CA, July 26, 2010, 3:07pm – As of last night, as part of the ongoing Big Bear Bridge Project, in order to aid in the construction efforts, a detour has been established directing traffic through Fawnskin on Hwy 38 beginning at the dam. The California Department of Transportation and Flatiron Construction, Inc. has constructed the detour on State Route 18 just east of the Big Bear Dam as of 10pm last night and continuing through Friday, July 30th at 10:00 a.m. The temporary detour is necessary to enhance the contractor’s ability to meet the major project milestone of opening the new bridge by December 15th. It is important to note that Hwy 18, better known as the front grade, will remain open to both inbound and outbound traffic with the implementation of the detour through Fawnskin. Residents and visitors will not be able to use Little Artic Circle to enter or exit the Valley but access t o all communities in the Big Bear area will be available with the use of the detour. Motorists are encouraged to drive cautiously through the construction zone, or as Caltrans warns, Slow for the Cone Zone.