Friant-Kern Canal Middle Reach Capacity Correction Project

The California Department of Transportation is issuing an encroachment permit for the construction of a cast-in-place concrete triple box siphon, or culvert, to be installed beneath Highway 190 as part of the Friant-Kern Canal Middle Reach Capacity Correction Project. This work is designed to improve water conveyance capacity while ensuring structural integrity and minimizing environmental impacts within Caltrans jurisdiction. The existing roadway above the siphon will be reconstructed to match previously established grades, maintaining alignment and safety standards. The project is being conducted under the environmental review framework established by the lead agency, with Caltrans acting as a responsible agency limited to reviewing and permitting effects within its authority. The project is managed by the Friant Water Authority, with primary point of contact Douglas Deflitch, Chief Operating Officer, and Associate Environmental Planner Shane Gunn as the environmental lead. The initiative is forecasted under a public posting dated July 2, 2026, and is physically located within California, though specific city and zip details are not provided. The work is part of broader efforts to correct capacity issues in the Friant-Kern Canal system and ensure reliable water delivery infrastructure, with all activities tied to compliance with environmental documentation previously prepared and approved by the lead agency.