Highway 46 East widening project continues, traffic switch planned
Photos of new eastbound lanes on Highway 46 East in Cholame.
Full opening of westbound lanes, completion of the Cholame segment are expected by February
– Construction on the Highway 46 East widening project in the Cholame area will continue next week with a planned traffic switch to the new eastbound lanes on Monday, Jan. 13, and Tuesday, Jan. 14.
To facilitate the transition, traffic will be stopped periodically for up to 10 minutes between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on both days. Once completed, traffic will be redirected to the newly constructed eastbound lanes between the Shandon Roadside Rest Area and Davis Road near the Highway 46 East/State Route 41 interchange.
Two-way traffic on the new westbound lanes will cease following the switch. However, one westbound lane will remain closed for the next three weeks. The full opening of the westbound lanes and the completion of the Cholame segment are expected by February.
Businesses near the Highway 46 East corridor remain open during construction.
The $116 million project is being carried out by Atkinson Construction of Irvine and is on track to be completed in February 2025.
Atkinson Construction is also managing the Highway 46/State Route 41 interchange project, which includes further widening of Highway 46 from west of Davis Road to west of Antelope Road. This phase is scheduled for completion in spring 2026.
This work follows four completed phases of Highway 46 East widening from Paso Robles to the Highway 46/State Route 41 interchange. These include:
- The $47 million widening from McMillan Canyon Road to Lucy Brown Road, completed in 2019.
- The $38 million widening from Almond Drive to McMillan Canyon Road, completed in 2016.
- The widening from Geneseo Road to east of Almond Drive, completed in 2014.
- The widening from Airport Road to Geneseo Road, completed in 2010.
Motorists are urged to drive cautiously in all construction zones.
For updates and road information, visit Caltrans District 5 on social media:
- X: @CaltransD5
- Facebook: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5)
- Instagram: Caltrans_D5
