A news conference and groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 9, 2017, spotlighted the beginning of the construction phase of the Interstate 5 (Golden State Freeway) Roadway Rehabilitation Project in northern Los Angeles County.
The $171 million project will replace and repair aging concrete pavement on nearly 16 miles of I-5 in and near the city of Santa Clarita, the third largest city in Los Angeles County. On average, more than 200,000 vehicles a day use this section of the freeway.
Local and state officials hailed the construction on the heavily traveled I-5, which is a backbone of the state highway system.
“This section of Interstate 5 has pavement that is more than 50 years old and no longer adequate for current and future traffic loads,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “This project is an essential investment to improve transportation infrastructure. I-5 is the major north-south trucking corridor that facilitates the movement of goods and people by providing a connection between the Central Valley and the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.”
The event was held adjacent to I-5 at Lyons Avenue on a site overlooking the busy freeway.
The improvements will provide a smoother roadway with a 40-year design life, which will reduce the need for future lane closures for maintenance. As a result of this project, drivers will experience fewer delays in the future while enjoying an improved ride.
The estimated completion of the project will be in Summer 2019. The improvements will be made on 15.8 miles of I-5 from a half-mile south of State Route 14 (the Antelope Valley Freeway) to 1.7 miles north of Lake Hughes Road.
Concrete pavement will be replaced in the outside lanes (#3 and #4 lanes). In the inside lanes (#1 and #2 lanes), broken concrete slabs will also be replaced and the lanes will receive profile grinding to ensure a smooth surface for vehicles. The guard rail will be modernized and other upgrades will be made.
In July 2017, the contractor, Atkinson Construction, began placing temporary lane markings and concrete barriers on the southbound side of I-5 for the first stage of the project. Stage 1 work will be conducted on the southbound and northbound sides of the freeway, mainly between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weeknights.
On most nights, at least two freeway lanes will be kept open for traffic in the work zone, except from midnight to 4 a.m. when at least one lane normally will be open for traffic. Closure of all freeway lanes is expected to occur infrequently during the project.
The project is funded by state and federal funds through the State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP).
Caltrans reminds drivers to “Be Work Zone Alert” and “Slow for the Cone Zone.”
The $171 million project will replace and repair aging concrete pavement on nearly 16 miles of I-5 in and near the city of Santa Clarita, the third largest city in Los Angeles County. On average, more than 200,000 vehicles a day use this section of the freeway.
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| A groundbreaking event celebrated the start of construction on the I-5 project. |
“This section of Interstate 5 has pavement that is more than 50 years old and no longer adequate for current and future traffic loads,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “This project is an essential investment to improve transportation infrastructure. I-5 is the major north-south trucking corridor that facilitates the movement of goods and people by providing a connection between the Central Valley and the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.”
The event was held adjacent to I-5 at Lyons Avenue on a site overlooking the busy freeway.
The improvements will provide a smoother roadway with a 40-year design life, which will reduce the need for future lane closures for maintenance. As a result of this project, drivers will experience fewer delays in the future while enjoying an improved ride.
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| Trucks make up a significant portion of the vehicles on I-5 in the Santa Clarita Valley. |
The estimated completion of the project will be in Summer 2019. The improvements will be made on 15.8 miles of I-5 from a half-mile south of State Route 14 (the Antelope Valley Freeway) to 1.7 miles north of Lake Hughes Road.
Concrete pavement will be replaced in the outside lanes (#3 and #4 lanes). In the inside lanes (#1 and #2 lanes), broken concrete slabs will also be replaced and the lanes will receive profile grinding to ensure a smooth surface for vehicles. The guard rail will be modernized and other upgrades will be made.
In July 2017, the contractor, Atkinson Construction, began placing temporary lane markings and concrete barriers on the southbound side of I-5 for the first stage of the project. Stage 1 work will be conducted on the southbound and northbound sides of the freeway, mainly between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weeknights.
On most nights, at least two freeway lanes will be kept open for traffic in the work zone, except from midnight to 4 a.m. when at least one lane normally will be open for traffic. Closure of all freeway lanes is expected to occur infrequently during the project.
The project is funded by state and federal funds through the State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP).
Caltrans reminds drivers to “Be Work Zone Alert” and “Slow for the Cone Zone.”
