Highway 190 work slows traffic

Motorists going up or down the hill east of Porterville are finding it takes a little longer these days.

The delays are caused by pavement work on Highway 190 from approximately just west of Worth Road to just west of Pleasant Oak Drive, said Tami Conrado with Caltrans.

The work on that five-mile stretch of roadway that winds around the southern shore of Success Lake and nearly into Springville is expected to last a couple more months, then break and start up again in the spring when temperatures rise again.

“This project will extend through the end of October, weather permitting, then will go into winter suspension due to cooler temperatures which do not allow for suitable paving conditions,” said Conrado. She said it is likely the work will resume in April or May and continue for another three or four months.

The work is causing delays of 5 to 15 minutes as traffic is escorted through the construction areas.

“Due to the location of the project, the contractor must perform one-way reversible traffic control throughout the majority of the project, however wait times for commuters should not exceed 15 minutes at any given time,” she said.

The approximate $6 million pavement rehabilitation project is being funded through the State Highway Operation and Protection Program which are State funds allocated for use on projects related to state highway safety and rehabilitation. In addition to repaving, work includes culverts and improving the shoulders.

Work is being done from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.