Dirt falling onto Highway 178 prompts brief lane closure

A traffic alert reported dirt falling onto eastbound Highway 178 near milepost 16 in Kern County on Wednesday, prompting a brief lane closure near the powerhouse.

The alert said at 10:23 a.m. that about 6 inches of dirt had fallen into the roadway and responders were standing by for Caltrans. At 10:37 a.m., an update said the eastbound lane would close momentarily near the powerhouse.

The alert did not say how long the closure would last or whether the lane had reopened.