Travelers planning to use the 5 Freeway on Saturday will need to seek alternative routes as a section of the highway will be temporarily closed for a military event at Camp Pendleton. As reported by CBS Los Angeles, the closure is due to an "Amphibious Capabilities Demonstration" in celebration of the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th anniversary. The affected stretch, from Harbor Drive to Basilone Road, will be closed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., impacting an estimated 80,000 daily drivers.
The California Highway Patrol warned of "extreme life safety risk and distraction to drivers" citing the planned discharge of live ammunition over the freeway around 1:30 p.m., as pointed out by ABC7. This decision comes despite the Marine Corps initially assuring that "no public highways or transportation routes will be closed." Train services, such as the Amtrak Surfliner, are also set to pause operations during this period, further complicating travel plans for Southern California residents.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance, a Marine Corps veteran with strong ties to San Diego, is slated to attend the festivities. According to a statement obtained by KTLA, the event " will feature integrated Navy and Marine Corps operations across air, land and sea" and is vital for the Marine Corps' demonstration of its capabilities. Local leaders, however, have expressed concern over the event's impact on the public. Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the decision, calling the event "a profound absurd show of force," underscoring the potential risk posed to Californians.
The freeway closure coincides with the nationwide "No Kings" protests, adding to the potential for disruption. As an additional consequence, Gov. Newsom's office highlighted that the transit delay could result in "an $8.2 million loss in daily visitor spending," underscoring the economic implications of the event. Nonetheless, state officials are preparing to manage the impact, with advanced signage warning travelers of the "Overhead fire in progress," according to information from the governor's office reported by KTLA. While the closure is intended to ensure public safety, it is clear that its effects will ripple much farther than the asphalt and rails along California's coastline.
