Yesterday, the southbound I-5 was reduced to one lane from the Pacific Highway on-ramp to the Park Blvd crossing which started at 8 pm and lasted until 5 am today. According to a recent tweet by SD Caltrans, this lane reduction is a precursor to the massive 56-hour I-5 closure scheduled through downtown San Diego starting Friday, September 8 at 9 pm.
SB I-5 will be reduced to one lane from the Pacific Hwy on-ramp to the Park Blvd overcrossing tonight starting at 8pm to 5am Friday.
— Caltrans San Diego (@SDCaltrans) August 31, 2023
The lane reduction is needed for the upcoming 56-hour I-5 closure through downtown SD starting Fri, Sept. 8 at 9pm.
https://t.co/jllTC62orh pic.twitter.com/AFiDlaUrLs
Caltrans has planned these major 56-hour weekend closures in September to repair the bridge deck over State Route 163 (SR-163) in both directions of the I-5. Crews will work diligently on separate weekends to minimize impact on commuters and local traffic, as reported by Caltrans in a press release yesterday.
During the southbound I-5 closure, which begins on Friday, September 8 at 9 pm, through-traffic is advised to take southbound Interstate 805 (I-805) before being redirected eastbound on Interstate 8 (I-8) to avoid substantial delays. Local southbound I-5 traffic will be limited but accessible from certain on-ramps, with the Fifth Avenue on-ramp closed to limit the strain on the single lane through the construction zone. Northbound I-5 will face similarly intense closures starting Friday, September 29 at 9 pm, with two lanes detoured to SR-15 and remaining traffic directed to eastbound State Route 94 (SR-94) via 19th Street, SR-163, and one local northbound I-5 lane.
In an effort to ease the chaos, messaging signs will be installed to guide travelers seeking alternate routes and to notify of closures. Caltrans District Director Gustavo Dallarda stated, "This proactive emergency work will ensure the structural integrity of the I-5 bridge through downtown for years to come." Dallarda encourages San Diego residents to use alternate routes like SR-163, I-805, and SR-15 during these closures. Construction noise and lighting disruptions are expected, and the project is anticipated to conclude by the end of October.
Stay informed on real-time traffic updates and potential schedule changes by visiting http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.
