US 395 Widening Between Victorville and Hesperia Moves Into Phase 2; Brush Clearing Begins Early 2026
High Desert, California (High Desert News Online) – Phase 2 of the US 395 Freight Mobility and Safety Project, a $41.85 million SBCTA–Caltrans effort, will widen seven miles of Highway 395 between Victorville and Hesperia, starting early 2026 with brush clearing and full construction through winter 2029.
Key takeaways
- Scope: Widen ~seven miles from SR‑18/Palmdale Road in Victorville to I‑15 in Hesperia/Oak Hills, adding one lane each direction, raised medians, turning lanes and eight‑foot shoulders. Source: SBCTA project page
- Cost & timeline: Project budget $41.85 million; early brush-clearing and site prep begin early 2026, with Phase 2 expected complete by winter 2029. Source: VVNG and SBCTA
- Traffic: US 395 carries roughly 30,000 vehicles daily, ~17% freight trucks; corridor is a federal Critical Urban Freight Corridor.
- Public event: Groundbreaking at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at the Hesperia Park and Ride (12071 Joshua St.). Source: VVNG
Project overview and planned improvements
Phase 2 will convert a two‑lane stretch of US 395 into a four‑lane roadway across the seven‑mile corridor between SR‑18/Palmdale Road and I‑15. Planned improvements include:
- Adding one lane in each direction
- Raised medians and new turning lanes
- Widened shoulders to eight feet to accommodate trucks and emergency vehicles
- Incorporation of bicycle and pedestrian features and transit integration where feasible
SBCTA describes US 395 as a key freight route for the Inland Empire and Central Valley; the Phase 2 segment has traffic volumes nearly double those farther south and four times some north sections, creating a bottleneck for goods movement and local travel. Source: SBCTA project page
Early work: brush removal and site prep
Officials say the first visible activities will be clearing brush and debris from road shoulders to prepare for grading, utility relocations and later paving. Contractors will begin those site‑prep actions in early 2026. Caltrans will partner with SBCTA during Phase 2. Source: VVNG and SBCTA
Phase 1 background
Phase 1 widened a different segment — from Chamberlaine Way in Adelanto to State Route 18 — adding lanes, medians and shoulders. Those earlier improvements provided the template and traffic estimates that informed Phase 2 planning. Source: SBCTA project page
Funding, governance and local officials’ remarks
Lead agencies: The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is leading the project with Caltrans involvement. SBCTA Board President Rick Denison said the start of Phase 2 is “another important step to improve freight movement through San Bernardino County while making the corridor safer for residents.”
The project budget is listed at $41.85 million on SBCTA materials. Measure I — the county’s half‑cent transportation sales tax — helps fund regional projects; however, detailed funding breakdowns, contract awards and contingency budgets for Phase 2 were not posted on the SBCTA project page at the time of reporting. SBCTA materials note that fact sheets and further information are “coming soon.” Source: SBCTA project page
Timeline, traffic and schedule questions
Construction will continue through a multi‑year schedule, with Phase 2 expected to be complete by winter 2029. Officials have not yet posted a full construction phasing plan or detailed traffic control schedules for commuters and truckers, leaving open questions about lane closures, detours and work hours. SBCTA emphasizes upcoming public meetings and outreach as part of the rollout. Sources: VVNG and SBCTA
Broader context: freight, growth and local projects
The Victor Valley has seen growing logistics activity and warehouse development that rely on highways like US 395. Local industrial growth increases truck traffic and pressures two‑lane segments. Source: Livability
Victorville’s FY2026 budget includes a $3.6 million allocation for Mojave Drive improvements, which intersect the US 395 corridor and could affect traffic patterns during construction — an example of overlapping projects residents and truckers should track. Source: Victorville FY2026 budget
Remaining questions for accountability and planning
- Funding transparency: While the $41.85 million cost is public, detailed funding sources, contract awards and contingency budgets were not posted; SBCTA indicates more materials are coming.
- Traffic control and staging: No full plan yet for lane closures, detours and work‑hour restrictions during peak truck times — critical for residents and businesses.
- Environmental and safety measures: Raised medians and wider shoulders are noted, but specific impact studies, noise mitigation plans and timelines for active construction phases were not detailed online.
Implications for The High Desert
Economic: The widening aims to ease a freight bottleneck affecting warehouses, trucking firms and agricultural shipments. With ~30,000 vehicles daily and ~17% trucks, smoother flow could reduce delivery times and wear on local streets used as detours, supporting logistics investment in Hesperia and Victorville. Sources: SBCTA and Livability
Social & daily life: Expect periods of noise, equipment staging and possible detours; emergency services and school routes will need clear, updated plans from SBCTA and Caltrans. Once completed, the wider road and medians should help reduce crash risk and improve commutes.
Political: The project is a visible use of Measure I funds; officials will be judged on timely delivery, cost control and clear communication about traffic impacts.
Practical applications
Drivers, truckers and businesses should track updates from SBCTA and Caltrans for contractor schedules, posted detours and public outreach meetings. The public groundbreaking on Feb. 20 at 11 a.m.</strong. at the Hesperia Park and Ride (12071 Joshua St.) will include SBCTA, Caltrans, California Trucking Association leaders and elected officials; the public is invited to attend and ask questions. Source: VVNG and SBCTA
Reporting sources and links
- SBCTA project page, US 395 Freight Mobility and Safety Project
- VVNG: Construction to begin on second phase of US 395 improvements between Victorville and Hesperia
- Victor Valley / regional development context (Livability)
- Victorville FY2026 budget (Mojave Drive improvements)
“The start of Phase 2 is another important step to improve freight movement through San Bernardino County while making the corridor safer for residents.” — SBCTA Board President Rick Denison
Stay informed: For project updates, construction notices and public outreach dates, check the SBCTA project page and local reporting by VVNG.
