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The eastern Kern County community of Mojave has long identified itself as a crossroads, the place where rail, road and air transportation all meet.
The town of 3,800 residents grew up around the intersection of two highway routes. The north-south State Route 14 leads from the Antelope Valley towns of Lancaster and Palmdale, and beyond that the Los Angeles basin, into the Sierra Mountains and recreational destinations such as Lone Pine and Bishop.

The east-west State Route 58 provides a major transportation corridor between Barstow and Bakersfield.

While still surrounded by these two thoroughfares, Mojave finds itself facing new crossroads - survival of its business district with the opening of a new bypass that redirects State Route 58 traffic around the outskirts of town instead of through downtown.

Trucks heading east and west no longer automatically rumble past the gas stations and restaurants of Sierra Highway, and the former section of State Route 58 between the 14 and the bypass is virtually deserted.

Opened for use on Sept. 9, the $72 million bypass consists of 10 miles of new four-lane freeway, beginning on existing State Route 58 five miles northwest of Mojave and reconnecting to the existing highway five miles east of the town.

Three exits off the bypass are numbered from west to east, 165, 167 and 172. Exit 165 connects to the familiar business route that once was westbound State Route 58-State Route 14.

Exit 167 connects to State Route 14, while exit 172 is at the eastern end of the Highway 58 business route.

"There've been a lot of businesses in town affected," said Denise Peters, president of the Mojave Chamber of Commerce. "All of the hotels and restaurants have noticed significant change."

Most business owners have taken a "wait and see" approach, she said, before deciding what to do with their businesses.

At Mike's Roadhouse Cafe on Sierra Highway, business dropped about 40% with the opening of the bypass, said waitress Jill Dedic.

"It's hurt business quite a bit all over town," she said.

However, regulars are returning as they learn about the route changes, and new signs along the bypass may help, she said.

Business also slowed at Jerry's Restaurant, at the former junction of state routes 14 and 58.

"People are still lost and confused," said waitress Catherine Wyatt, who has worked at the corner restaurant for more than five years. "I've seen it when it's a lot better."

Peters also owns Kayo's Trailer Park, a few blocks off Sierra Highway, which has seen a slight downturn in business.

The park has 89 spaces to accommodate recreational vehicles, about 25 of which are filled by permanent residents. The bulk of the park's business comes from "snowbirds" traveling south from the colder climates of the Pacific Northwest to spend the winter in the Southwest.

"The permanent (residents) are our bread and butter, but overnighters keep us able to do improvements," Peters said.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, business was about the same as last year, she said, but December and January are the park's busiest months.

The trailer park is popular with visitors because it provides easy access to the highway, as well as clean showers and utilities, and is close to town, Peters said. The next closest park is Sierra Trails, off State Route 14 north of Mojave.

Because it has been around for so long - the park was first opened in the 1940s - many of Peters' customers will seek it out, despite the changed route.

"The majority of our business is repeat (visitors)," Peters said.

However, because she was unsure of when the bypass would open, she did not change the directions in the park's listing in the camping guides where she advertises.

"I'm fielding a lot of calls of 'Where are you?,' " Peters said.

Like many of Peters' customers, the truckers who have long frequented the Giant Truck Stop on State Route 14 are still finding their way there, said manager Don Wrinkle.

The truck stop, in the same location at the north end of town since 1962, hasn't seen much of a decrease in traffic since the bypass opened. However, Wrinkle has heard a lot of grumbling from his customers.

"None of them like it," he said. "It's a real mess."

"I've answered a lot of questions about how to get to 58."

Truck driver Dick Kerber, fueling up at the truck stop on a recent morning, said the bypass has made it easier for him, without having to stop at the light at the former junction with State Route 14.

"I know definitely there are those who have been affected by the bypass economically," said state Assemblyman Bill Maze, whose 34th district includes Mojave. "It definitely affects the local economy."

Businesses affected by the bypass may qualify for a low-interest loan program offered through the U.S. Department of Commerce and the state Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency.

The Sudden Severe Economic Dislocation Loan Program grants loans of $25,000 to $500,000 for up to 20-year terms at interest rates lower than the market rate, Maze said.

The program is intended to provide capital to create and retain jobs in areas affected by economic problems which contribute to job loss in California. It is designed to be used in conjunction with private lending and investment sources to complete projects which would not normally qualify for conventional funding. Loan proceeds may be used for land and buildings (excluding construction), machinery and equipment and working capital.

Maze's Mojave field office has brochures on the program for area businesses. Information and applications are also available from the Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency program manager, Carlos Nakata, at 1102 Q St., Suite 6000, Sacramento, CA 95814 or by phone at (916) 323-2688.

Caltrans also has a compensation program for businesses affected by the route change, said Gloria Rodriguez, Caltrans District 6 public information officer.

At least one business has submitted a claim so far, she said, but details of all claims and any payments made are confidential.

Each claim is reviewed and investigated on an individual basis. Businesses interested in submitting claims may call Rodriguez at (559) 444-2409 for more information.

Lynette Harleston's truck stop is one business directly affected by the bypass, and she filed a claim for compensation with Caltrans. However, she recently learned that her claim has been denied, and now she must retain an attorney to appeal the decision.

Harleston owns the Price Saver Truck Stop on the old section of State Route 58, just east of the former junction with State Route 14 at the southern end of the Mojave business district.

"This end of 58, there is absolutely hardly any traffic now," she said.

Harleston is getting by, thanks to loyal customers who go out of their way to bring her their business.

However, the passer-by, impulse business she used to depend on is no longer making its way past her pumps.

"They don't see us, they don't stop," she said. "If you have to go out your way to do something, you're not going to do it."

Signs on the highway aren't enough to make up the difference, she said. Harleston has billboards on State Routes 99 and 58.

"I'm not just sitting here hoping someone will stumble across me," she said.

Harleston believes that businesses would have a better chance at receiving compensation from Caltrans if there were more claims filed, to demonstrate the extent of the economic impact.

"Nobody knew in town that they could file claims," she said. "I know (about the claim process), because I've been on the phone with them, calling and calling.

"They took away my livelihood."

Because the bypass is still new, there are no official studies or records of the economic impact on local businesses as yet.

"We like it better the way it used to be," said longtime Mojave resident Cathy Hansen. "But it's not bad now, if we didn't have the other to compare it to."

Hansen helped organize a "Rescue Mojave Rally" in October to provide a forum for community members to air their grievances and work together to find solutions.

One means of attracting travelers that came out of that meeting is the use of highway signs not only showing the generic symbols for gas, food and lodging, but also listing specific businesses within those categories by their logos, to let travelers know the town and services are there.

These logo signs are erected by Caltrans but require fees from the businesses - $450 initially, then $350 annually.

Signs along the route in general is one area supporters feel they can make a difference in mitigating the diversion of traffic.

While the county has little to do with Caltrans projects, District 2 Kern County Supervisor Don Maben has been working for increased and more detailed signs along the new route.

"We're trying to get more information available in signs so (travelers) know what's available," said James Welling, Maben's field representative.

While business for those along the route took a marked dip when the bypass first opened, it appears to be rebounding for many as truckers and travelers learn the new route.

Newly installed highway signs have also helped redirect some of the highway traffic to the business district.

"Now with the (highway) signs, things are picking up a little bit," Peters said. "I think once people get used to it, they'll find their way."

Sometimes lost in the discussion of the new bypass is the fact that traffic on State Route 14 has not been diverted at all.

"People forget we still have Highway 14," Peters said.

The highway, called Sierra Highway through town, is lined on one side with restaurants, gas stations and hotels. While the volume on this stretch has decreased with the diversion of east-west traffic, the north-south travelers remain.

Aside from the loss of travelers' business, residents have voiced great concern about the freeway design, particularly the interchange with the bypass and State Route 14. The exit requires vehicles making a left turn to come to a full stop, then cross the highway to a narrow median and stop again before entering the highway. There is little room for the lengthy tractor-trailer trucks that frequent the highway to fit in the median before turning.

Westbound traffic transitioning to the southbound 14, as well as eastbound traffic turning north, are forced to make the left turns.

Some have questioned why Caltrans did not use a cloverleaf design, with curving off-ramps that would deposit travelers on the highway without coming to a complete stop.

However, Caltrans no longer uses the cloverleaf design for anything other than on-ramps. The department determined that they were too dangerous for off-ramps, because the design's steep curve required vehicles to slow down too quickly, Rodriguez said.

"We try to utilize the best design we can," she said.

"I think it is poorly designed," Maze said. His office is trying to work with Caltrans on ways to help mitigate the problem.

Caltrans officials will continue to study traffic patterns and make changes if warranted, as with any other freeway system, Rodriguez said.

Maze also criticizes the transportation department for oversight of the project, which was directed from the Caltrans District 6 office in Fresno. The assemblyman would like to see the area governed, instead, by the Caltrans District 8 office, headquartered in San Bernardino County. The large and geographically different territory of District 6 may make it difficult to properly understand the issues facing the east Kern County territory, he said.

While complaints about the roadway's design may be heard in conversations around town, Caltrans officials reported no complaints to their office.

"We haven't received any complaints since it opened," said Gloria Samaniego, Caltrans District 6 public information officer.

Although many in the community have voiced concern over the danger of the State Route 14 and State Route 58 intersection in particular, as well as the bypass as a whole, so far the stretch does not seem to have an unusually high number of collisions.

According to the California Highway Patrol's Mojave station, there have been seven traffic crashes on the new stretch of freeway since it opened, with 14 injuries and one death.

However, four of those seven crashes occurred while the area was still a construction zone, where the road narrowed from two lanes to one, said Officer Tim Singer.

"That (number of incidents) may not be unusual for a construction zone," he said.

Of the remaining three incidents, two were solo-vehicle roll-overs.

"There doesn't seem to be any evidence that there are defects in the highway I can see from those statistics," Singer said.

As for the interchange at Exit 167, the junction with the bypass and State Route 14, there have been four collisions since the opening, three without any injuries, Singer said.

"That doesn't seem to be unusual for the volume of traffic," he said.

"I think it's a very safe, well-designed freeway."

While the bypass means change for the community, it also means opportunity, not only for economic development along the new freeway frontage roads, but also as a stimulus for improvement within the existing town.

"We have to get something going in town to get people to come here," Hansen said.

The frontage afforded by the new freeway will eventually provide additional economic opportunity for the town, with services spread out beyond the current boundaries.

"Mojave has a unique opportunity here," Peters said. "We have rail, air and trucking. This is going to be Mojave's next major industry."

"It could really put a lot of people to work here," she said. In the next two to five years, "Mojave could see a big boom."

Despite the upheaval wreaked by the change, Mojave's supporters see bright possibility for the town at the crossroads.

"For people who love personal freedom, we're in the middle of everything," Hansen said. "For people who love airplanes, we're in the middle of everything. For people who love to ride motorcycles in the desert, we're in the middle of everything.

"We just have to make it a little more attractive for people to come here and spend their money."

Denise Owens, co-owner of Esther's Flowers, shares the belief that Mojave can become more than a pit-stop for fuel and a quick bite to eat for travelers through town.

Her own business, on Sierra Highway now but moving a few blocks away to K Street in the near future, has not been directly affected by the bypass. But she does have ideas about how the bypass and Mojave's position as a crossroads could be used to the town's advantage.

"We're not in the middle of nowhere; we're in the middle of everything," she said.

Signs along the new route that show how far it is to the next available services may help direct some traffic into town and encourage travelers to stop there, instead of waiting for the next availability.

Sprucing up the downtown area and making it tourist-friendly with shops and boutiques could also encourage visitors to stay awhile, Owens said.

"I think we need to start thinking about our little town to bring people into this area," she said. "I think that we have a lot of potential."

Mojave's own rich history in mining, transportation and aviation may be used to help draw visitors and entice those still driving through to stop.

Volunteers have organized the Mojave Transportation Museum to collect and display this history, beginning with Native Americans who traveled through the area to trade with other tribes. Mojave officially became a town with the establishment of a railhead in 1876, which drew the famous 20-mule teams hauling borax.

The nearby hills were the site of several prosperous gold mines in the 1800s and again in the 1930s, with some of the richest mines in California.

Aviation came to the area in 1943, when the Marine Corps built a training base for its combat pilots. The air station eventually became the Mojave Airport, now home to the Civilian Flight Test Center and numerous cutting-edge aerospace companies, as well as the National Test Pilot School, the only civilian test pilot school in the country. Aviation buffs flock to the airport to ogle exotic aircraft and photograph the sea of out-of-work airliners parked there.

The airport is well on its way to yet another transformation, this time as the nation's first inland spaceport. As such, it will provide a crossroads for 21st century pioneers in the form of space tourists.

"There's an awful lot of people who still travel this road," especially on the weekends, Owens said.

"There's a lot to attract people to this area."

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