Sep, 6 2025
Weekday drivers on the southwest side of Bakersfield are in for a long stretch of delays. A full-scale pavement rehabilitation is underway on Ming Avenue between Buena Vista Road and Gosford Road, a busy retail and commuter corridor. The city started work Tuesday, September 2, 2025, and expects to keep construction going through Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Crews will be active Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., which means daytime lane reductions and periodic closures will be the norm for the next several months.
What’s happening and when
This isn’t a quick patch job. The plan calls for removing aging asphalt and repaving the roadway end to end, then bringing the corridor up to current standards. Work is organized in phases so crews can mill, pave, stripe, and complete concrete and utility adjustments while keeping at least some traffic moving. Still, drivers should expect narrowed lanes, shifting traffic patterns, and short-term closures of individual segments and intersections as the work moves block by block.
Daytime construction windows are set for 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Those hours cover the heart of the commute and the lunch rush, which is why the city is warning about “significant traffic disruptions.” If you travel this corridor to reach shopping centers, medical offices, or schools, plan extra time or consider alternate east–west routes like Stockdale Highway, White Lane, or Panama Lane, depending on your destination. Detours aren’t one-size-fits-all, so check the day’s lane setup before you head out.
The timeline could shift. Asphalt and striping work depends on temperature and dry pavement, so rain, cooler snaps, or supply hiccups can push tasks back. The city says activities may be postponed and rescheduled without notice if weather or other unexpected issues pop up. That’s typical for a corridor-wide rebuild and not a sign of trouble.
While the repaving is the headline, the project includes a list of upgrades that aim to boost safety, extend pavement life, and bring sidewalks and intersections into compliance with modern accessibility rules. Expect fresh thermoplastic lane markings for better night visibility, targeted use of green methyl methacrylate (MMA) surfacing at specific conflict points, new sidewalk access ramps at corners, and concrete work at medians and drains.
What drivers should expect and why it matters
Travel will slow. When crews mill off the old surface, lanes shrink. When they pave, you may be shifted onto fresh lifts or temporary surfaces. When they stripe, certain turns may close for an hour at a time. Flaggers, cones, and changing signs will guide you, but the best strategy is to cut your speed, leave extra space, and watch for sudden stops. If you rely on Ming for daily errands, consider shifting those trips to mid-morning or mid-afternoon windows, when work patterns are clearer and rush-hour pressure eases.
The new markings are more than a cosmetic refresh. Thermoplastic tends to last longer and reflect better than paint, which helps at night and during glare-prone conditions. The green MMA surfacing is a high-friction, high-visibility treatment widely used to highlight conflict areas—think driveways, major turn pockets, or zones where drivers and cyclists tend to mix. The city has not detailed the exact locations for the green treatments on this project, but the goal is straightforward: make priority areas impossible to miss and safer to navigate.
ADA accessibility upgrades are built into the schedule. Many older corners have ramps that are too steep, misaligned, or missing the tactile warning panels required under current rules. Crews will reconstruct ramps at intersections to match modern standards. That helps wheelchair users first and foremost, but it also makes life easier for seniors, parents pushing strollers, and anyone rolling luggage or carts.
Utility adjustments may not look dramatic, but they matter for ride quality and maintenance access. As new pavement lifts change the finished roadway height, crews will raise or lower manholes and water valve covers so they sit flush with the surface instead of creating bumps or dips. Done right, you won’t notice the structures at all—and utility crews can still get in for future repairs without tearing up new asphalt.
Median nose work and drainage cuts target a frequent pain point on busy arterials: standing water and awkward turning geometry. Sharpening a median nose can improve sight lines and reduce fender benders at turn pockets. Fresh drainage cuts help channel runoff during storms, reducing puddles that spray windshields and degrade pavement. Bakersfield’s hot summers and occasional heavy downpours are tough on asphalt; better drainage is a quiet way to add years to a street’s life.
Another line item, monument encasements, involves adjusting the concrete or protective structures around survey markers and other fixed points so they match the new grades. It’s behind-the-scenes work that keeps the city’s mapping and property references intact after the road height changes.
Access to driveways and side streets will stay open as often as possible, but short-term closures are inevitable when crews pave right past an entrance or pour fresh concrete at a corner. Look for posted signs and traffic-control staff directing you around live work zones. If you manage deliveries, rideshares, or service calls in the area, build in a cushion and warn drivers that they may need to approach from the far side of an intersection.
Noise and dust will ebb and flow. Milling machines grind up old asphalt and can be loud. Pavers and rollers add diesel rumble. Water trucks and dust control measures will help, but businesses along the corridor should expect construction ambience during active hours. On the upside, most of the noisiest work is scheduled for daytime, and each block moves on once the surface and striping are in.
If you’re wondering why this corridor got the nod, look at its role. Ming connects neighborhoods to shopping hubs and crosses major north–south routes like Buena Vista and Gosford. A clean, even surface reduces crashes tied to rutting or potholes, clearer markings cut down on last-second lane changes, and ADA-compliant corners make the street usable for everyone. Rehab now also costs far less than waiting for a full reconstruction later.
Here are the essentials at a glance:
- Where: Ming Avenue, Buena Vista Road to Gosford Road
- When: Sept. 2 to Nov. 26, 2025 (subject to change)
- Work hours: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- What’s included: asphalt removal and repaving; thermoplastic and green MMA markings; ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps; adjustments to manholes and water valves; median nose and drainage improvements; monument encasement adjustments
- Traffic: lane reductions, shifting lane alignments, short-term closures
- Travel tips: add extra time, consider alternate routes, obey flaggers and signs
If you can’t avoid the area, patience and predictability help. Keep turns to a minimum, use the same lane end to end when you can, and avoid last-minute merges. Watch for workers on foot and slow-moving equipment entering from side streets and median openings. The faster everyone follows the temporary markings and instructions, the faster crews can finish each segment and move on.
As the schedule evolves, expect day-to-day changes without much warning—especially near intersections where several tasks converge. Freshly placed asphalt needs time to cool and cure before striping, and weather can push that timing around. If you work or live along the corridor, keeping an eye on morning setups will give you the best read on how to get in and out smoothly that day.
When all phases wrap up, drivers should see a smoother ride, brighter lane lines, cleaner drainage, and corners that work better for everyone. Until then, a little planning goes a long way on one of Southwest Bakersfield’s busiest east–west lifelines.