Mammoth Scenic Loop Road to be Closed for Reconstruction

Mammoth Scenic Loop Road to be Closed for Reconstruction
US Forest Service
Inyo National Forest
Contacts: Nancy Upham (760) 873-2427

Bishop, CA (June 18, 2010)...Starting Wednesday June 23, the Mammoth Scenic Loop Road will be closed to through traffic for reconstruction. The reconstruction project will take place in two phases with the road not being fully open from US 395 to Highway 203 until November of this year.

During the first phase, starting June 23, the Scenic Loop Road will be closed from its intersection with Highway 203 to the Inyo Craters Road. This phase will last sometime into August. During this phase people wishing to visit the Inyo Craters will have to access the Inyo Craters Road from US 395. During the second phase, starting around the end of August, the Scenic Loop Road will be closed from the Inyo Craters Road to US 395, with access to the Inyo Craters being from Highway 203.

During this reconstruction project recreationists on trails or roads that intersect the closed part of the Scenic Loop Road will not be able to go on to or cross the Scenic Loop Road. Likewise there will be no access to that general part of the forest that is accessed by the Scenic Loop Road while it is closed for the reconstruction.

During this reconstruction project the Scenic Loop Road will be widened and slightly realigned, and 5 foot wide bike lanes will be added to each side of the road. The road will also be widened near the snow play area to enhance the safety and recreation experience for both residents and visitors.

This approximately $5 million dollar project is being funded by the Federal Highway Administration, with some funding also coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA. The project was recently awarded to Qualcon Construction of Minden, Nevada and they have already begun survey work for the project.

Drivers or recreationists who find themselves in the vicinity of the Scenic Loop Road should use caution as heavy equipment will be working on the site and driving to and from the site. For more information about this project or the road closure please stop by the Mammoth Welcome Center or call 760-924-5500, extension 0.