California State Route 58 - Future

Future

California has long sought federal funds for an extension of Interstate 40 west of Barstow; any such extension would use the general path of Route 58, if not existing highway, as far west at least as Bakersfield, whose rapid growth has made it a significant generator of traffic in its own right. The desired highway is being built piecemeal as Caltrans has funds available, at least between Mojave and Barstow. A Bakersfield Beltway is also proposed. Two at-grade intersections within 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) of each other around mile 76, roughly halfway between Bakersfield and Mojave, would have to be either closed or upgraded to interchanges for the whole of Route 58 to be up to Interstate standards, and the at-grade junction of Route 58 and US 395 in Kramer Junction is further complicated by the nearby Union Pacific Railroad Tehachapi line (a busy single track over which BNSF also operates) which Route 58 also crosses at grade 2+1⁄2 miles (4.0 km) to the west.

The San Luis Obispo Planning Commission is considering a permit application for the California Valley Solar Ranch and has released a Draft Environmental Impact Report with a public comment period closure date November 1, 2010. Among the points raised in the DEIR is the aesthetic impact on the viewshed which would be particularly troublesome if large industrial scale arrays of solar panels are placed north of Route 58 in the section of road just east of Soda Lake Road.

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