A notorious stretch of California State Route 41 will close for five days in June as part of an ongoing Caltrans improvement project. Crews will be connecting a safer elevated flyover ramp to address the precarious intersection at Highway 46/State Route 41, which is so dangerous that it contributed to the highway’s reported nickname of “Blood Alley.” Keep reading for everything you should know.
When and where will Caltrans close State Route 41?
From June 9-13, 2025, Caltrans will fully close State Route 41 for a 20-mile stretch in Central California. The closure will start at the interchange of Highways 41 and 46 near Cholame and end at the junction with State Route 33 in Reef Station.
Why is Caltrans closing State Route 41?
The closure is necessary to complete major construction at the new Highway 46/State Route 41 interchange. This junction, also known as the James Dean Memorial Junction, is notorious for risky left turns and a dangerous at-grade intersection which has caused fatal accidents. Crews will work to connect the new interchange and build a modern, elevated flyover ramp.
What is the official detour?
Caltrans will reroute westbound traffic via Highway 41 to State Route 33 north, then Highway 46 west, before reconnecting with Highway 41. Eastbound traffic will use the same route in reverse.
Travelers may encounter delays of up to 90 minutes, but the project was scheduled to avoid the Memorial Day and Fourth of July peak travel periods.
Project background
The Highway 41 closure is part of Caltrans’ 20-year-running State Route 46 Corridor Improvement Project, which aims to improve safety and mobility on a key transit corridor between U.S. Highway 101 and Interstate 5. The project will transform the current two-lane highway into a four-lane expressway, among other improvements.
🌐 Visit the Caltrans website to learn more about the State Route 46 Corridor Improvement Project.