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Contact: Sintia Kawaski-Yee, 559-565-3131
SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. (October 13, 2017) Work on the Generals Highway Construction Project in Sequoia National Park is progressing. This project began in mid-June and is underway for two construction seasons. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is reconstructing a segment of the Generals Highway between Amphitheater Point Overlook and Crystal Cave Road (Deer Ridge to Eleven Range).
Changes to previously published schedule: Starting Monday, October 16, two hour delays will occur Monday-Friday between the hours of 8am and 4pm. Traffic passes through the construction zone at 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm. Uphill traffic passes first, followed by downhill traffic. Plan to arrive about 10 minutes before each pass through period. Please plan all travel through the construction zone around these pass through hours.
UPDATED DELAY SCHEDULE
Night Closures- Monday-Thursday: 9 pm to 5am
The road will be closed from Amphitheater Point Overlook to Crystal Cave Road (Deer Ridge to Eleven Range) from 9 pm to 5 am, with only one pass-through each direction at 11:30 pm.
Monday-Friday: 8 am to 4 pm (1-hour delays)
Starting Monday, October 16, two hour delays will occur Monday-Friday between the hours of 8am and 4pm. Traffic passes through the construction zone at 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm. Uphill traffic passes first, followed by downhill traffic. Plan to arrive about 10 minutes before each pass through period. Please plan all travel through the construction zone around these pass through hours.
Weekends (Possible 20-minute delays)
No delays when both lanes are open. When highway is limited to one lane, expect delays up to 20 minutes. Traffic lights control traffic, uphill traffic first.
Note: Vehicles 22 feet or longer are prohibited between Hospital Rock and Giant Forest Museum in Sequoia National Park. During construction, the FHWA has closed one lane of the highway by use of K rail. This causes the highway to be narrowed, and unable to safely accommodate vehicles over 22 feet. The highway closure has been extended to the nearest turn around locations for vehicles of that size to the south at Hospital Rock and north at Giant Forest Museum. Hwy 180, the northern entrance to these parks, is the preferred route for these longer vehicles.
Project Details
To date, reconstruction has been completed between the south park entrance (at Hwy 198) and Deer Ridge. The portion of the Generals Highway Construction Project in 2017 will be completed in 2 phases:
- Phase 1 consists of approximately 1 mile of the Generals Highway from Deer Ridge to Eleven Range Overlook (between Amphitheater Point Overlook and Crystal Cave Road). The work is extensive: reconstruct the road to widen narrow sections, construct new or rehabilitate existing retaining walls, improve drainage, construct new pullouts, and make other improvements.
- Phase 2 includes repaving Wolverton Road from its intersection with the Generals Highway to the Wolverton Picnic Area and Trailhead parking lot. The entire project will require two construction seasons (2017 and 2018) to complete.
The intent of the Generals Highway Construction Project is to correct structural and drainage deficiencies that could lead to major road failure and that jeopardize the integrity of the road and safety of visitors. In addition, the proposed improvements are intended to provide a pleasant driving experience, improve traffic flow, facilitate maintenance operations, and reduce maintenance costs.
For the latest information and construction updates, visit www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/road-construction.
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About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
These two parks, which lie-side-by-side in the southern Sierra Nevada in Central California, preserve prime examples of nature’s size, beauty, and diversity. Over 1.8 million visitors from across the U.S. and the world visit these parks to see the world’s largest trees (by volume), grand mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, the highest point in the lower 48 states, and more. Learn more at http://www.nps.gov/seki or 559-565-3341.
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Last updated: October 15, 2017