A primary access route to a popular Southern California mountain town is closed and isn’t slated to reopen for more than a month. A key portion of Highway 330, which runs from the eastern reaches of San Bernardino in the Inland Empire up to Big Bear Lake , is entirely shut down in both directions as road crews repair key infrastructure damaged during a recent wildfire.
According to Caltrans, the 6-mile stretch of Highway 330 isn’t expected to reopen until sometime in December — and even then, it will likely only operate as a single-lane road for much of that distance. The weekslong closure is needed to repair guardrails and damaged asphalt resulting from the Line Fire, which sparked in early September and raced across more than 20,000 acres in a matter of days. At its height, the fire threatened some 36,000 structures in areas like Running Springs and Big Bear.
A spokesperson for Caltrans told the San Bernardino Sun that “substantial strides” had been made in the repair work, which also included the removal of damaged trees and reconstruction of needed drainage. A partial reopening for the closed portion of Highway 330 is targeted for Dec. 9. In the meantime, Caltrans says that “motorists are advised to use an alternate route” up the mountain to Big Bear. The closure of the highway has changed driving habits for Southern California motorists eager for a weekend mountain getaway, as Highway 330 is by far the most visible and heavily trafficked route up to Big Bear Lake and its many attractions. Thankfully, the town was spared during the fall wildfire scare, and local officials said in an email to SFGATE that “while the closure may impact the most direct route to Big Bear, travelers can rest assured that the beloved mountain town remains open and accessible.”…