Major widening of US 395 from Victorville to Hesperia set to begin; early brush-clearing work starts ahead of $41.85M Phase 2
Construction on Phase 2 of the US 395 Freight Mobility and Safety Project will begin in early 2026, widening seven miles between Victorville and Hesperia to four lanes and adding safety and freight improvements for roughly 30,000 daily drivers.
- Project scope: Phase 2 will add one lane each direction, raised medians, turn pockets and eight‑foot shoulders along about seven miles from SR‑18/Palmdale Road to I‑15.
- Cost and funding: Estimated at $41.85 million, with Measure I local sales tax dollars identified as a funding source.
- Timeline and early work: Early 2026 construction start with initial brush and debris removal; public groundbreaking set Feb. 20 at Hesperia Park and Ride.
- Freight and safety focus: Project targets a corridor carrying ~30,000 vehicles/day with roughly 17% trucks and is a federal Critical Urban Freight Corridor.
Project overview
Phase 2 of the US 395 Freight Mobility and Safety Project is a regional effort led by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA project page) in partnership with Caltrans. The work will widen the busiest remaining two‑lane section between SR‑18/Palmdale Road in Victorville and the I‑15 interchange near Hesperia and Oak Hills, improving capacity and safety for commuters and freight.
Project details: what Phase 2 will change
Under the Phase 2 design, crews will:
- Add a travel lane in each direction to convert the corridor from two lanes to four.
- Install raised medians to reduce cross‑traffic and left‑turn crashes.
- Construct turn pockets at key intersections and widen shoulders to eight feet for improved truck clearance and bicycle/pedestrian safety.
- Integrate transit considerations and enhance local connections as noted on the SBCTA project page.
Why the upgrade matters for freight and local drivers
US 395 is a primary freight route connecting the Inland Empire and Central Valley; the corridor handles roughly 30,000 vehicles per day, with trucks comprising ~17% of traffic. SBCTA describes Phase 2 as a step to improve goods movement, reduce congestion and lower crash risk along this critical route.
Funding, oversight and local accountability
Cost: The project is estimated at $41.85 million. Local Measure I sales tax dollars are identified as a funding source and SBCTA officials have highlighted Measure I’s role in delivering the work.
Oversight: SBCTA is the lead agency with Caltrans partnering on design review and construction oversight. Project materials and funding notes are posted on the SBCTA project page.
“Measure I voter dollars are funding critical infrastructure,” noted SBCTA leadership as a key accountability point for local taxpayers.
Timeline and early activities
Public announcements put the formal groundbreaking at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20 at the Hesperia Park and Ride, 12071 Joshua St., with SBCTA, Caltrans and the California Trucking Association participating. Early construction work starting in early 2026 will include brush and debris removal along the highway shoulders to prepare staging areas and work zones (VVNG report).
Public sources do not list a firm Phase 2 completion date; SBCTA’s publicly posted timeline ties Phase 2 into the broader program schedule (SBCTA project page).
What still needs watching: open questions
As the project moves forward, residents and taxpayers will likely follow several issues closely:
- Budget control: Will the $41.85 million estimate hold, and how will SBCTA report change orders or funding shifts?
- Schedule clarity: When will Phase 2 be complete, and how will lane closures be scheduled and communicated?
- Traffic management: How will crews balance daytime freight movement and peak commuter demand during construction?
- Local impacts: What protections for neighborhoods, runoff, and air quality will be enforced during heavy construction?
SBCTA and Caltrans are the responsible agencies for providing these updates; official documentation resides on the SBCTA project page.
Safety and economic benefits under scrutiny
Proponents emphasize safety gains from raised medians and additional lanes, which can reduce head‑on and left‑turn collisions. Economically, improved freight flow may shorten haul times, lower vehicle idling and reduce operating costs for carriers serving local businesses. The California Trucking Association’s involvement at the groundbreaking signals industry support for congestion‑reducing measures (VVNG report).
Groundbreaking event and community engagement
The Feb. 20 groundbreaking at Hesperia Park and Ride (12071 Joshua St.) gives the public a chance to hear directly from agency leaders, ask about traffic mitigation and learn how Measure I funds are being used. Community attendance is encouraged as a transparency measure while work moves from brush clearing into full construction (VVNG report).
Implications for Hesperia, California
Economic impact
Faster freight movement could lower costs for local businesses, making Hesperia more attractive to logistics firms and employers tied to Inland Empire and Central Valley supply chains. Short‑term construction will create jobs in grading, paving and traffic control; longer‑term benefits aim at improved commerce without new taxes beyond Measure I (SBCTA project page).
Political consequences
Measure I accountability will be a test for local leaders; voters expect clear reporting on costs, schedules and outcomes. Officials backing the project will point to state partnership and industry support as evidence of prudent local investment (VVNG report).
Social effects
Safety upgrades are designed to reduce serious collisions, especially those involving heavy trucks; however, short‑term noise and traffic disruptions will affect nearby neighborhoods and commuters. Regular public notices about lane closures and detours will be important.
Practical applications for daily life
- Commuters: Plan for staged work zones and temporary shoulder closures during early brush‑clearing and later paving phases.
- Truckers and freight operators: Monitor SBCTA announcements for changes to access or allowed travel hours to avoid shipment delays.
- Local businesses: Track official notices for potential temporary routing or delivery window changes during construction (SBCTA project page).
Sources and further reading
- SBCTA project page, US 395 Freight Mobility and Safety Project
- VVNG coverage: Construction to begin on second phase of US 395 improvements between Victorville and Hesperia
- Background on Victor Valley growth and logistics context
Reporting notes: SBCTA is the lead agency. Public details and statements above are drawn from SBCTA’s official materials and local reporting by VVNG. No additional independent progress reports beyond the early 2026 start announcement were available at publication.
