NPS Starts Multiyear Rehabilitation of 42 Miles of Mojave Preserve Roads

The National Park Service (NPS), working in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is scheduled to begin a major road rehabilitation and safety project in Mojave National Preserve, California, on November 16, 2026. The multiyear effort covers approximately 42 miles of Kelso-Cima Road and South Kelbaker Road, two of the preserve’s primary travel corridors. Construction is expected to continue through 2029. The announcement describes planned construction and public impacts, but does not identify a contractor, contract value, solicitation, or other current competition details.

The project addresses deteriorating pavement, limited drainage, and roads that are increasingly vulnerable to extreme temperatures and seasonal flooding. Planned work includes widening shoulders, adjusting road alignments, improving sightlines and challenging curves, and completing drainage improvements. The agencies also identify protection of natural and cultural resources as part of the project’s scope. These elements point to a substantial, phased transportation-infrastructure undertaking in a sensitive public-land setting, where construction sequencing and resource safeguards will be important alongside roadway performance and safety.

The project is funded in part through the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, established under legislation signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in 2020. The NPS says the investment will help address longstanding maintenance needs, improve driver safety, and strengthen the reliability of the two corridors. The source does not state the total project budget or how funding is allocated among work packages. As a result, contractors should not infer an available procurement from the announced start date or funding source; any related or follow-on opportunities would need to be confirmed through official agency procurement channels.

The NPS scheduled a virtual public meeting for November 9 at 4 p.m. Pacific Time to explain anticipated construction phases, road closures, and potential travel impacts and to answer questions. The meeting is described as a public information session, not a procurement event or solicitation. Construction will take place in phases and require road closures, which may cause significant additional travel time for motorists. For firms tracking the project, the public briefing may provide context on sequencing and site conditions, while the most actionable procurement approach is to monitor NPS and FHWA notices for any separately announced contracting activity.

• Project partners: The National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration are coordinating the work.
• Project area: Approximately 42 miles of Kelso-Cima Road and South Kelbaker Road in Mojave National Preserve, California.
• Schedule: Construction is scheduled to start November 16, 2026, with completion expected in 2029.
• Planned roadway work: Shoulder widening, alignment adjustments, sightline and challenging-curve improvements, and drainage work.
• Resilience drivers: The roads have deteriorating pavement, limited drainage, and exposure to extreme temperatures and seasonal flooding.
• Resource considerations: The announced scope includes measures to protect natural and cultural resources.
• Funding: The project is funded in part through the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund; no total value is provided.
• Public meeting: A virtual information meeting is scheduled for November 9 at 4 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss phasing, closures, and travel impacts; it is not identified as a solicitation event.
• Procurement posture: No contractor, contract value, or open solicitation is identified. Highway and drainage firms should verify any opportunities through official agency procurement channels rather than treat construction commencement as a new award or competition signal.
• Travel impacts: Phased work will require closures and may significantly increase travel time; travelers are directed to check current road conditions and project updates.