Ridgecrest-Area US-395 Travelers: Little Lake to Cinder Road Paving Scheduled October 26–29

RIDGECREST / INDIAN WELLS VALLEY — October 22, 2026. Drivers from Ridgecrest who travel north along U.S. Highway 395 toward Coso Junction and Inyo County should expect possible work-zone delays next week. Caltrans District 9’s fresh schedule identifies pavement repair between Little Lake and Cinder Road south of Coso Junction.

Work window and affected road

The state lists intermittent lane closures as workers lay new pavement from Monday, October 26, through Thursday, October 29, 6 a.m.–8 p.m. Drivers may experience brief delays. This work is on US-395 near Little Lake and Coso Junction, not within downtown Ridgecrest. The announcement does not identify a complete shutdown of the highway.

For residents and travelers in the Indian Wells Valley, accuracy about the location matters. The stretch forms part of a north-south route connecting the desert with Eastern Sierra destinations; a headline suggesting ‘Ridgecrest streets closed’ would not describe the Caltrans notice correctly.

Two precautions for longer drives

First, check current state highway traffic conditions immediately before setting out, because temporary paving controls may move between segments as crews progress. Second, review the weather forecast separately: recent October storms can affect desert roads, washes and pavement conditions even after a particular construction shift is canceled or completed.

What this notice does not confirm

There is no verified local report in the Caltrans bulletin of a collision, flooding-related failure, a mandatory detour or an emergency closure at this specific work location. This is a scheduled pavement project. Drivers should not share a construction calendar as if it were an active emergency bulletin.

Caltrans also lists other independent work next week in Inyo County near Independence, Lone Pine and Bishop; consult the correct community paper for those details.

Where this information comes from

The precise work zone and scheduled dates are from the Caltrans District 9 traffic bulletin dated October 22, 2026, covering the week of October 26–30. The bulletin is a plan, not a real-time closure notice. Road conditions, start times and closures may change due to storms, incidents and equipment. Before leaving, check Caltrans QuickMap or the state highway condition line 1-800-427-7623. Slow for workers and respect all temporary signs.

Local editor’s note: This report does not claim eyewitness verification or a current full road closure. Corrections with documentation can be sent to california58com@gmail.com.

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