Road work will slow travel in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks this summer/NPS graphic

Visitors to Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks in California this summer will find going slow at times as road work along the Generals Highway brings out orange cones and flaggers.

The work, along 16 miles of the Generals Highway that ties the two parks together, will take place the next two years during the summer construction seasons. This year, the expected work consists of drainage improvements and culvert replacements. Work is to begin July 8.

The work is to start at the Generals Highway and Highway 180 junction in Kings Canyon National Park, progressing south along the Generals Highway through Sequoia National Forest, and concluding at Little Baldy Saddle in the northern area of Sequoia National Park. This project will also include repaving the Wolverton Road from the intersection with the Generals Highway to the Wolverton trailhead parking lot, as well as pulverizing and repaving the 16 miles of roadway mentioned above.

All national park and U.S. Forest Service areas along the construction zone will remain open throughout construction. This includes resorts, campgrounds, and organization camps.

Delay Schedule

Delays are expected to be minimal and range up to 30 minutes for the beginning of the 2019 construction season. Delays up to one hour and night closures can be expected as work progresses; the public will be notified as those changes take place.

As work progresses, there may be more than one delay along the 16-mile construction zone, but the combined duration of these delays will not exceed the expected delay times listed in the work schedule. If delay times of up to 30 minutes are specified, it may be three separate 10-minute stops, or just one 30-minute stop.

Work is scheduled Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Up to 30-minute delays. Flaggers will control traffic. Northbound traffic passes first, followed by southbound traffic. No delays expected on weekends and holidays.

For the latest updates on the Generals Highway construction project and delay schedule, visit the parks' construction website.

History of the Generals Highway Construction Project

The Generals Highway was completed in 1935 and is the primary artery through Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. The Generals Highway was a narrow and winding road not designed or constructed for travel by contemporary vehicles. In 1993 the design and reconstruction of the entire 28-mile Generals Highway began and was completed at the end of 2018.