Keller Peak Road receives much needed upgrade

It feels as though you’re in the Sierra Nevada, said Chris SooHoo.

The forest transportation engineer was referring to the surroundings and view from a yellow post site, used for camping, off Keller Peak Road in the San Bernardino National Forest.

The Keller Peak Road project was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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Large pine trees, granite rock outcrops and ridge-lined views for miles provided the inspiration for the comment by SooHoo. He pointed out a woodpecker gripping the bark of a tree and a hummingbird that darted in an out of shrubs. More inspiration.

The environment does encourage the feeling of being in the backcountry. But, that last yellow post site appears on the side of Keller Peak Road, which is accessed from State Route 330 in the Mountaintop Ranger District of the forest. The road puts visitors in that remote-type setting and it’s not too far from the megalopolis of Southern California. That is one of the reasons it’s a very popular destination. And there’s more to the significance of the road.

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“Keller Peak Road is the only access road up to Keller Peak in the Running Springs area and provides entry to Shady Cove 

Group Campground, Children's Forest trailhead, Keller Peak lookout, a multi-agency communication site and dispersed campsites,” said Josh Direen, the forest engineer.

To improve access, a repair project is underway for the six-mile road and is scheduled through late September. According to Trevor Davis, a superintendent with AMA Diversified Construction Group, who is the contractor doing the work: the road’s potholes are being filled; broken asphalt is being removed and replaced; cracks will be sealed, and; the entire road will receive a top coat of asphalt cement and chip seal. In addition, new metal culverts or flumes were installed and others were repaired.

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“This project will decrease the road's deferred maintenance, improve weather resiliency and improve water quality in public drinking water sources downstream,” Direen said.

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The upgrades have been possible through funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is legislation that was passed in 2021. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the law provides about $5.5 billion for lands and resources entrusted to the Forest Service, including many of the landscapes and watersheds managed together with federal, tribal, state, private and other partners. The new funding allows for improving wildland fire management and repair infrastructure, both nature-based and constructed, across the national forests and grasslands.

Davis described the Keller Peak Road area as beautiful and expressed that he has enjoyed working with the Forest Service. His employer is based in Petaluma, Calif., just north of San Francisco. The company does general contract work in buildings, road repair and underground work; they have also worked in Golden Gate Park. Davis remarked he is glad that his company is part of the road upgrades here that will benefit the public.

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“We have a lot of people that are sad right now that it’s shut down, but … the people I’ve talked to … at the same time have said, ‘Thank you for improving it’.”

Davis also has a subcontractor, Vance Corporation based in Beaumont, Calif., implementing the hot asphalt concrete work on the road. Lee Martinez, superintendent with Vance, operated a backhoe to spread and flatten fresh asphalt concrete within a remove and replace area. He explained that 12 Vance employees were on site for the road work. The company hires its operators from the Local 12 union and laborers from the Local 783 union; both organizations are in the Inland Empire.

“We try to use locals anytime we can obviously,” Davis said. “It helps the community we’re working in. Plus, that usually keeps that job cost down – bidding locally instead of bringing people in from out of town.”

SooHoo is one of three Forest Service engineers at the project site. His coworker is Bo Zhang, a transportation engineer. Trien Le, also a transportation engineer, but with the Cleveland National Forest, is the lead for the trio and said they serve as inspectors. Le explained that they communicate to the primary contractor aspects of the work that needs attention or correction.

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The Keller Peak Fire Lookout Tower sits at the end of Keller Peak Road. Volunteers staff the tower during fire season. The public is allowed to visit the tower, where the volunteers provide operational and historical information.

Informing the contractor in a timely manner is very important, said Le. Corrective actions are much easier while the work is being implemented than if they had to be performed afterwards. He also stated this project’s contractor has been very cooperative and responsive.

Le expressed appreciation for the impact of the road improvement. Receiving funding for the project is a huge deal for the forest, he said; and he pointed out that after the work is completed, visitors in regular-height vehicles, such as sedans, will be able to drive the road with confidence.

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SooHoo, who is active with canyoneering and repelling, and had admired the area’s beauty, explained there are rock climbing opportunities nearby.

By the end of September, when the road work is scheduled to be completed, visitors will also be able to appreciate the sights and sounds of the backcountry – even if it’s just from their car window.