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Officials hustle to reopen freeway |
| Name: |
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AV Press |
| Date Posted: |
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Oct 16, 07 - 4:25 PM |
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Antelope Valley |
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Officials hustle to reopen freeway
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Monday, October 15, 2007.
Valley Press staff and wire services
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The Antelope Valley's 60,000-plus commuters may face worse-than-usual traffic congestion today as state officials hustle to reopen Interstate 5 in Santa Clarita after a deadly weekend big-rig pileup that damaged a freeway tunnel.
Seeking to head off what might be fearsome workday traffic jams, authorities reopened two northbound Interstate 5 truck lanes Sunday afternoon and were trying to get southbound Interstate 5 lanes open this morning. Authorities also announced that two more Metrolink trains will run from Santa Clarita today and that trains coming out of the Antelope Valley will get extra passenger cars.
"We're doing everything we can ... and we'll continue to reevaluate our alternate traffic routes," California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Warren Stanley said Sunday.
Officials hoped to reopen the southbound lanes today with detours around the tunnel area, said Doug Failing, Transportation Department district director. Other northbound lanes could reopen Tuesday.
The problem is a freeway tunnel-overpass that was damaged by heat from Friday night's fiery crash, which involved more than 30 vehicles. The fire was so hot that chunks of concrete flaked off parts of the 550-foot-long structure, exposing steel reinforcing rods, Caltrans officials said. At least three people, including an infant, died in the crash. No names have yet been released.
All lanes of the Antelope Valley Freeway, including trucks lanes that connect to Interstate 5, were open Sunday afternoon through the Newhall Pass interchange, where the freeway joins with Interstate 5 south of the wreck.
Antelope Valley Freeway traffic was relatively light Sunday, but officials feared that weekday traffic which normally uses Interstate 5 could clog the Antelope Valley Freeway today through Santa Clarita. Heavier-than-normal traffic was also expected over Angeles Forest and Angeles Crest highways, which connect the Antelope Valley to La Cañada-Flintridge and Pasadena.
Except for the two northbound truck lanes reopened Sunday afternoon, Interstate 5 was closed to southbound traffic at Calgrove Boulevard and to northbound traffic at the Antelope Valley Freeway.
Southbound motorists were directed down The Old Road, which becomes San Fernando Road, to Sepulveda Boulevard in Sylmar, Caltrans officials said.
Southbound Sunday afternoon traffic was backed up to McBean Parkway, California Highway Patrol officials reported.
Metrolink officials announced that southbound trains 202, 204 and 206 - the 5:10 a.m., 5:50 a.m. and 6:23 a.m. departures from Lancaster - will have one or two cars added today.
In addition, southbound trains 210X and 212X will be added in Santa Clarita, departing from the Via Princessa station at 9:15 and 11 a.m.
Antelope Valley Transit and Santa Clarita Transit monthly bus passes will be temporarily accepted on Metrolink trains during the emergency period, Metrolink officials said.
In addition, Santa Clarita Transit is opening emergency overflow parking for Metrolink passengers at Hart Park; Saugus Speedway; Six Flags Magic Mountain lots A1, A2 and A3; and Sixth Street and San Fernando Road. Shuttle bus service will be provided from all locations, Metrolink said.
Meanwhile, motorists traveling from Los Angeles to northern California were advised Sunday to take Interstate 5 and transition to the northbound Antelope Valley Freeway, then take either Highway 138 or Highway 58 to connect back to the northbound Interstate 5 in Kern County, according to Caltrans.
People heading to the San Francisco Bay area were advised to take U.S. Highway 101 through Santa Barbara and Salinas.
California Highway Patrol officials also suggested Southern California motorists take Interstate 15 north over the Cajon Pass, and then use either Highway 138 or a combination of U.S. 395 and Highway 58 to rejoin Interstate 5. |
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