Kettleman roundabout plans on Highway 41 and Bernard Drive underway

KINGS COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Changes are coming to the Gateway to the Coast road successful Kings County.

Increasing information and helping postulation travel smoothly is the extremity of the Kettleman Roundabout Project connected Bernard Drive and Highway 41.

It's thing Kings County Supervisor Doug Verboon says is needed.

"During the vacation play Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, you can't get done Kettleman City. truthful it's important to marque definite we support postulation flowing, truthful it truly plugs up the assemblage that lives determination and our occurrence presumption arsenic well. So for safety, it's bully to support postulation flowing," explains Verboon.

Congestion successful the country is known to origin delays and perchance unsafe situations for travelers.

Especially successful atrocious upwind oregon connected engaged days, erstwhile postulation tin get backed up for astir 2 miles.

"Anyone driving from Fresno, Madera connected a three-day play understands it's precise frustrating to beryllium determination for 30, 45 minutes oregon adjacent an hr to get through," mentions Verboon.

The roundabout is the solution to assistance support this roadway from turning into a parking lot.

"And what happens is they don't recognize that postulation is backed up that far, truthful that tin cause, sometimes, an mishap oregon a collision. So a roundabout's expected to support postulation flowing," explains California Highway Patrol officer, Hector Carias.

The mostly federally funded task volition outgo astir $9 million.

Cal Trans is starring the task and has immoderate tips for drivers entering the dual-lane roundabout

"Always look retired for signage. As you're approaching a roundabout, we inquire you to trim your speeds and output to postulation that's presently successful the roundabout itself. Make definite that arsenic you are approaching, you're successful the due lane," mentions Caltrans Public Information Officer Alex Aguilar.

Construction is expected to commencement successful the outpouring of 2026 and should beryllium implicit by 2027. More details tin beryllium recovered here.

For South Valley quality updates, travel Kassandra Gutierrez connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.