How to avoid today’s Interstate 5 closure through Camp Pendleton, Southern California
Interstate 5 from San Clemente to Oceanside has long been one of California’s traffic chokepoints, with no nearby alternative routes to and from Los Angeles and San Diego.
As a result, traffic could be severely delayed on Saturday as the U.S. military plans to fire live ammunition on Interstate 5 in Southern California. A 17-mile stretch of highway along the northern coast of San Diego County, just south of the Orange County border, was temporarily closed Saturday.
What do we know about the closure?
The lockdown started at 11 a.m. and lasted until 3 p.m. According to the California Department of Transportation, the military activity involving live fire on the highway was directed by the White House.
The closure affects a section of Interstate 5 along Marine Corps Base Pendleton, one of the military’s busiest installations.
The closure severed a major link between the southern coastal edge of Orange County and the northern beach cities of San Diego County. Motorists will be forced to travel around the mountainous Camp Pendleton — a 125,000-acre site — using Interstate 15 as the main alternative route.
Without traffic, the 22-mile, 23-minute drive from Oceanside to San Clemente could become a 138-mile, 2-hour, 20-minute drive if trying to avoid the Orange County Turnpike, forcing motorists to detour around Camp Pendleton. (Interstate 5, which runs through the base, often sees backups even on weekends).
Where is it?
The closure is from Basilone Drive south of San Clemente to Harbor Drive north of Oceanside.
Rail service is also expected to be disrupted, affecting Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink service.
What are the alternatives?
From San Diego County to Orange and Los Angeles Counties: Use Interstate 15 north instead of Interstate 5 through Temecula and Lake Elsinore, then west on Route 91 to Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles County to San Diego County: Take Highway 91 east through Corona, then take Interstate 15 south.
From Orange County to San Diego County: Take Route 55 north to Route 91 east, then take Interstate 15 south.
From San Diego County to Orange County: Take Interstate 15 north to Route 91 west, then take Route 55 south.
