Are we facing 'Car-maggedon' on Highway 119?

Could Taft Highway have its own version of "Car-mageddon?"


That's what some observers fear could happen later this month when work begins on a project to widen a 3.8 mile stretch of the heavily used Highway 119 through Valley and Dustin acres.

Southern California motorists last summer faced what one member of the board of supervisors labeled "Car-mageddon" when a section of the 405 Freeway – the busiest thoroughfare in the nation – was scheduled for an overnight closure to dismantle part of an overpass.

The warnings were so dire, though, it scared motorists away and the project went on without a hitch because most people avoided the trouble spot.

That may be the best course of action when the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) starts closing portions of Taft Highway (119) on Aug. 20. Work was originally scheduled to begin Monday but general contractor Griffith Construction of Bakersfield won't be ready to go until two weeks later.

Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. for shoulder widening, grinding, overlay and striping operations along both lanes. The project is scheduled for completion sometime in October, Caltrans says.

Some of the usual heavy commuter traffic will occur before and after the time lane closures will be in effect, but still, the project figures to create maddening backlogs.

"One-way reversing traffic control with flaggers will be utilized," a Caltrans news release said.

Lane closures will be in effect during daylight hours but highway shoulders may continue to be closed for 24 hours, Caltrans said, and advised motorists to "use an alternate route whenever possible."

Residents in the Valley and Dustin Acres areas may know the lay of the land well enough to work around construction zones, but for Taft residents a better way to Bakersfield may be what some refer to as "the back way."

From the traffic signal at Kmart, head east on Gardner Field Road for four miles and turn left on South Lake Road at the green "To Bakersfield" sign. Stay on South Lake until it intersects with Millux Road at a bumpy railroad crossing. There's another "To Bakersfield sign." Turn right on Millux, which will dead end at Old River Road. Turn left on Old River for four miles where it will intersect with Taft Highway.

Some commuters coming from Bakersfield to Taft might choose Highway 58 (Stockdale Road) to Buttonwillow and then take Elk Hills Road, which connects with Taft Highway just north of Midway Road.