Four southbound lanes are now open on Interstate 15 through the Cajon Pass, which sustained significant damage from Friday’s heavy rain.
Caltrans officials tweeted about 7 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, that four lanes were open between Highway 138 and Cleghorn Road, but with “reduced lane width.” Officials urged motorists to drive with caution through the Cajon Pass.
A 200-foot section of the southbound freeway’s No. 5 lane collapsed Friday night due to an overflowed creek weakening the road’s base, according to a Caltrans news release. A big-rig and a San Bernardino County fire engine were taken out during the collapse.
Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga said the fire engine acted as a dam to prevent the road from being further eroded. If it hadn’t been a fire truck or similarly large vehicle, Kasinga said, the road would probably have sustained more extensive damage.
Southbound traffic on the 15 was funneled into two lanes because of the road collapse, but two more lanes reopened Sunday morning.
Traffic appeared to be flowing smoothly, according to the Caltrans Quickmap.
Early Saturday, Caltrans authorized $3 million in emergency repairs. Authorities have not said how long they expect it to take to fix the road and reopen the fifth lane, but Kasinga said contractors are working around the clock.
Meanwhile, Highway 138 east of the 15 will remain closed until further notice, Kasinga said. An active construction project in that area was halted because the same contractors are working on rehabilitating the storm-damaged portion of the 15.
Kasinga said workers are moving material from the 138 project to the 15 to rebuild the embankment.
PREVIOUSLY:
Firefighters escape engine before it falls off 15 Freeway in Cajon Pass
How Caltrans will keep traffic flowing as I-15 is repaired
Now that downpour has stopped, it’s time to rebuild
Storm reveals weak spots in region’s road network
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