A section of Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton was closed on Saturday, October 18, due to a White House-directed military event involving live ammunition being fired over the freeway. The closure, which affects the stretch from Harbor Drive to Basilone Road, is in place from approximately noon until the event concludes.
Officials stated that the closure was necessary for public safety. “Due to safety concerns, a section of Interstate 5 will be closed today, Saturday, October 18, due to a White House-directed military event at Camp Pendleton involving live ammunition being discharged over the freeway. For public safety, a section of Interstate 5 today from Harbor Drive to Basilone Road will be closed between approximately noon until the end of the event.”
The closure is expected to cause delays on I-5 and other state routes throughout Southern California before, during, and after the event. Motorists are advised to check real-time traffic updates at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.
Passenger rail service adjacent to the freeway will also experience disruptions. Travelers seeking information on Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink service changes are encouraged to visit pacificsurfliner.com/alerts or metrolinktrains.com.
For detours, northbound travelers in San Diego County should begin at State Route 15 in southeast San Diego. Those west of SR-15 on the I-5 corridor are advised to use alternate routes such as SR-94, SR-52, SR-56, or SR-78 to connect to I-15 north. Travelers from San Diego heading to Los Angeles County should use I-15 north to State Route 91 west. Southbound travelers from Los Angeles to San Diego should use SR-91 east to I-15 south.
For travel between San Diego and Orange County, drivers are advised to take I-15 north to SR-91 west and then SR-55 south. Southbound travelers from Orange County to San Diego should use SR-55 north to SR-91 east to I-15 south. Those traveling to and from Riverside County are advised to use I-15 and SR-91.
