Lane Closures Planned on SB I-15 Due to Storm Damage

CAJON PASS, Calif. (VVNG.com)- The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is informing the traveling public that a section of southbound Interstate 15 (I-15) collapsed yesterday evening during an epic storm event.

A dry creek bed that runs along the southbound side of the interstate overflowed and washed away the rock slope protection below the roadbed. It then eroded the lower slope and caused the shoulder and number 5 lane to collapse for a 200 foot section of the route. Currently, only two lanes remain open to motorists between State Route 138 (SR 138) and Cleghorn Road.

Caltrans District 8 Director, John Bulinski, signed a Director’s Order in the early morning hours to begin emergency repairs to I-15. A $3 million project was awarded to Skanska, Inc. and the contractor is currently mobilizing equipment and staff.

Caltrans Construction engineers and Maintenance crews have devised a plan to restripe lanes on southbound I-15 to allow four lanes of traffic to motorists while the repairs take place.

Beginning tonight, February 18, at 9:00 p.m. the southbound I-15 will be reduced to one lane from SR 138 to Cleghorn Rd. to allow a striping contractor to complete the necessary work to provide the four lanes of traffic. One lane will remain available throughout tonight into tomorrow until the restriping is completed. Weather conditions may delay the restriping efforts and Caltrans will alert the public once the lanes reopen tomorrow via Twitter @caltrans8.

Once the four lanes are open Skanska will work behind k-rail to repair the fallen roadbed and damaged slope. This will allow a longer period of time to make permanent, rather than temporary repairs, with concrete instead of asphalt.

THE LANES IN THIS SECTION OF I-15 WILL BE REDUCED IN SIZE FROM THE NORMAL WIDTH. MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO REDUCE THEIR SPEED THROUGH THE WORK ZONE AND DRIVE FOR THOSE CONDITIONS. BE ALERT AND DO NOT CHANGE LANES THORUGH THE RESTRIPED PORTION OF I-15. TRUCKS MUST ONLY USE THE RIGHT LANE FOR TRAVEL.

SR 138 west and east of I-15 remain closed due to flooding and debris flow. Caltrans crews are currently cleaning SR 138 on the west side and hope to reopen that section by tomorrow morning. SR 138 east of I-15 will remain closed to Summit Valley Rd. until further notice so the contractor can move material from a current construction site to I-15 for backfill.