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CHP Responds to Hit-and-Run on SR 58, I-5 Maintenance Issues Near Bakersfield
Advisories posted July 11 point to separate incidents on State Route 58 and Interstate 5 while the city depends on three state routes for most through traffic.
How we reported this
California Highway Patrol traffic advisories updated July 11 listed a hit-and-run crash near Fairfax Road and State Route 58 and a separate maintenance assist request for northbound Interstate 5 at Fort Tejon Road.
Bakersfield sits among the largest U.S. cities without a direct Interstate connection, so most regional traffic funnels onto State Routes 99, 58 and 178 while Interstate 5 passes several miles west of the city limits. The July 11 incidents occurred on routes that carry the bulk of that traffic.
Highway Network and Road Conditions
State Routes 99, 58 and 178 form the primary freeway network inside the city. Commuter data from CommuteKern show the average driver loses 19 hours a year to congestion and spends $531 annually on wasted fuel and time. The same records indicate 53 percent of major roads and highways in the Bakersfield area rate poor or mediocre, with 26 percent rated poor outright.
Freight moves on two Class I railroads, Union Pacific and BNSF, whose tracks run through the city but do not relieve pressure on the highway system. Meadows Field Airport sits eight miles north of downtown and handles passenger flights, while the Amtrak San Joaquin terminal downtown provides intercity rail service.
Public Transit Options
Golden Empire Transit operates the only public bus service in the Greater Bakersfield area, running 18 routes that connect to the Downtown Transit Center and the Valley Plaza Transit Center. No other fixed-route operator serves the city.
Motorists and transit riders can monitor the California Highway Patrol Bakersfield communications center for updates on active incidents. Regular checks of the listed routes remain the most direct way to stay informed of any additional advisories issued this week.