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Contact: Public Affairs
BARSTOW, Calif. – Mojave National Preserve, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, invites the public to comment on the draft environmental assessment of a project that will address the deteriorating conditions of Kelso-Cima and South Kelbaker roads.
The proposed project by the National Park Service will repair 41 miles of roads to reduce accidents and vehicle damage in the park. In addition to restoring the road surface, the project includes new scenic pullouts, expanded parking areas, wider driving lanes and improved shoulders. The NPS would also install features along both roads to reduce wildlife mortalities, especially for the federally listed endangered desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii).
The draft assessment and proposal is available for review at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/MOJA_KelsoCima. Written comments may be submitted online. Select “Open for Comment” on the left menu bar and then “Environmental Assessment.
Comments will be accepted from April 9 to May 8 on the park planning website, or they may be mailed to:
Mojave National Preserve,
ATTN: Kelso-Cima/South Kelbaker Road EA
2701 Barstow Rd., Barstow, CA, 92311
The mailed comments must be postmarked by May 8, 2025.
The park will host a virtual public meeting on April 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. (PST) on Microsoft Teams. During the meeting, park staff will provide information about the project and answer questions on how to submit public comment electronically or via mail.
More information about the meeting, including an informational newsletter and a link to the meeting, can be found on the project website.
The 1.6-million-acre park was established by the California Desert Protection Act in 1994 to protect fragile desert ecosystems.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Last updated: April 16, 2025