Highway 330 closure continues to cut off a main road to Big Bear
Nearly 5 miles of Highway 330, which leads to the Big Bear resort community, is closed until December.
The closure, which began Sept. 24, results from September’s 20,000-acre Line fire in San Bernardino County, which damaged guardrails designed to prevent cars from going over the ledge.
Highway 330, which is the most-traveled route to Big Bear Lake and is accessible from the 210 Freeway in Highland, will remain completely closed in both directions from Highland Avenue in Highland to Live Oak Drive, which isnear Running Springs in an unincorporated area of San Bernardino County, a Caltrans news release states.
Edgar Angulo puts a safety sticker on a guardrail Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, along the nearly 5 miles of Highway 330 that are closed because of damage by the Line fire near Running Springs. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Maneri Traffic Control installed new guardrails along Highway 330, seen Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. The area was damaged by the Line fire near Running Springs in the San Bernardino National Forest. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Maneri Traffic Control worker Michael Contreras installs new guardrails Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, along Highway 330, which was damaged by the Line fire near Running Springs. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Maneri Traffic Control worker Michael Contreras carries a new guardrail Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, while installing them along Highway 330 which was damaged by the Line fire near Running Springs in the San Bernardino National Forest. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A stretch of Highway 330 in San Bernardino County, seen Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, is closes as workers install guardrails after the originals were damaged by the Line fire near Running Springs. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
New guardrails, seen Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, have been installed along Highway 330 after they were damaged by the Line fire near Running Springs in San Bernardino County. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Maneri Traffic Control worker Edgar Angulo uses his fingers to guide co-worker Michael Contreras to straighten a support as they install new guardrails Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, on Highway 330 near Running Springs. They were damaged by the Line fire. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A guardrail is seen Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, on Highway 330. New one are being installed after they were damaged by the Line fire in September. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Maneri Traffic Control installed new guardrails, seen Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, along Highway 330 after they were damaged by the Line fire near Running Springs in the San Bernardino National Forest. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Workers install new guardrails Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, along Highway 330 near Running Springs after they were damaged by the Line fire in the San Bernardino National Forest. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
New guardrails, seen Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, have been installed along Highway 330 after they were damaged by the Line fire near Running Springs in San Bernardino County. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Maneri Traffic Control workers, from left, Michael Contreras, Matthew Sanchez and Miles Palomino, install new guardrails along Highway 330 Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, after they were damaged by the Line fire near Running Springs in San Bernardino County. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Edgar Angulo puts a safety sticker on a guardrail Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, along the nearly 5 miles of Highway 330 that are closed because of damage by the Line fire near Running Springs. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
On Sept. 21, contractors began repairing 4.8 miles of damaged guardrails, reconstructing burned pavement and signs, removing boulders and debris and replacing drainage systems.
The $9.8 million emergency project is expected to end in early December, with the road reopening the week of Dec. 9, a Caltrans news release states.
“Crews have been making substantial strides in completing safety repairs,” Caltrans spokesperson Eric Dionne said.
He added that when the roadway first reopens, it would be in just one direction. Officials don’t know how long this arrangement would last, Dionne said.
Big Bear Lake City officials advise travelers from the south to use Highway 38 from Redlands and those coming from the north to take Highway 18 from the Lucerne Valley to reach the area.
While the 330 remains closed until crews determine it is safe, businesses have not been affected, officials said.
“It hasn’t impacted tourism in Big Bear Lake,” Travis Scott, the CEO of Visit Big Bear, said. “More than anything it’s just a small inconvenience for visitors who are used to traveling up and down the mountain using that route.”