SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — CalTrans San Diego says a large stretch of southbound I-5 has reopened ahead of schedule as workers made significant progress on a bridge repair project.
Before the weekend, drivers were warned to avoid I-5 at I-8 through the downtown and Balboa Park areas. The southbound lanes were originally supposed to reopen at 5 a.m. Monday as CalTrans crews repaired the bride deck over State Route 163.
The closure impacted traffic going towards the airport.
All lanes open on southbound I-5. Thank you San Diego!! pic.twitter.com/P2E7nKKRxU
— Caltrans San Diego (@SDCaltrans) September 10, 2023
Below, you'll find a City News Service story about the I-5 closure.
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A major stretch of southbound Interstate 5 will close Friday evening and remain blocked through the weekend to make way for a bridge repair project, prompting warnings for motorists to avoid the area and for people traveling to the airport to plan ahead and leave early.
The southbound freeway will be closed at Interstate 8 through the downtown and Balboa Park areas beginning at 9 p.m. Friday and continuing through 5 a.m. Monday so Caltrans crews can repair the bridge deck over State Route 163.
Southbound motorists will be diverted onto the eastbound 8 Freeway, then south on either SR-163 or Interstate 805, depending on the driver's destination.
At least one lane of southbound I-5 will remain accessible from on- ramps south of I-8 for limited local and airport traffic, according to Caltrans San Diego.
Drivers headed to San Diego International Airport were advised to take SR-163 south and follow signs to the airport.
Click here for an enlarged version of the map
The airport authority advised travelers to allow more than two hours before their flight departs to account for potential traffic congestion and delays and to take the airport's free all-electric shuttle from the Old Town Transit Center, or use the MTS 992 bus from the Santa Fe Transit Station.
Caltrans workers will also use the freeway closure as an opportunity to clean, maintain and inspect hard-to-reach areas, the agency said.
Caltrans will be performing a similar closure on the northbound side of I-5 at the end of the month. The northbound I-5 closure will begin at state Route 15 at 9 p.m. Sept. 29 and end at 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1. Two lanes of traffic will be detoured to SR-15 and remaining northbound I-5 traffic will be directed to eastbound state Route 94.
Messaging signs will be in place to encourage alternate travel and advise of closures.
"This proactive work will ensure the structural integrity of the I-5 bridge through downtown for years to come," Caltrans District Director Gustavo Dallarda said. "During these two closure weekends, please avoid using I-5 through downtown and travel on alternate routes like SR-163, I-805 and SR-15."
Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.
