State Route 46 was built back in the 1920's and was a fully paved two-lane highway by 1930. It has become the main route to the coast from Kern County.
But the heavy traffic on the narrow road has earned the nickname of "Blood alley." Cal-Trans has been working on the project for years, and commuters are happy something is finally being done.
"It wasn't called blood alley for no reason. The nickname. Now that it's safer there are less head-on collisions," says Mele Poncedeleone - Highway 46 traveler.
The three completed sections are now 2 lanes in each direction with cement barriers or large areas separating east and west traffic. The newest stretch runs from the San Luis Obispo County line to Brown Material Road.
"It was scary when you were passing on the two lanes a big diesel and to get back into your lane. It has a lot of dip, or had a lot of dips. But now it's a lot safer," says Frank Lugo.
Two more projects planned to start in three years will widen the road to 4 lanes through Kern County.
