Traffic locations expected to be impacted for approximately five years by the I-5 North County Enhancements Project were revealed during a Santa Clarita City Council meeting in June. 

The I-5 North County Enhancements Project, which plans to expand lanes on the I-5 Freeway in the Santa Clarita Valley to reduce traffic congestion, is expected to impact local traffic between July 2021 and October 2026. 

“This project will expand the 5 Freeway lanes both northbound and southbound between Route 14 and Calgrove and it will also add about 14 and a half miles of HOV lane from Route 14 to Parker Road,” said Paul Sullian, an organizer with the  I-5 North County Enhancements Project, during the meeting.

The Metro Construction Board and Caltrans District 7 plan to enact several I-5 enhancements from the Newhall Pass to just south of Parker Road in Castaic to reduce traffic congestion.

 Expected projected enhancements include:

• The addition of high occupancy vehicle (carpool) lanes in each direction along the I-5
• An extension of the northbound truck lane from Gavin Canyon undercrossing to Calgrove Boulevard off-ramp
• The addition of a southbound truck lane from Calgrove Boulevard on-ramp to SR-14
• Additional outside lanes extending between an on-ramp and a subsequent off-ramp
• An addition of four new sound walls

“We are currently in a blackout period reviewing the contracting bids and we’re preparing for the award of the contract. We expect that to take place sometime during the month of June,” Sullivan said. “At that point, we will then get a notice to proceed to the contract that is selected and that will officially start the clock on the schedule to begin work.”

 I-5 North County Enhancements Project organizers are anticipating a groundbreaking ceremony in July and a construction kick-off meeting sometime between July and August, according to Sullivan.

When construction begins, stages of production are as follows: 

Stage 1:

July 2021 – November 2023

• Focuses on median construction along the I-5
• Impacted locations include:
  • Ramps: Calgrove Blvd., Pico Canyon, Valencia Blvd., Weldon Canyon
  • Crossings: Rye Canyon, Castaic Creek, Coltrane Avenue, The Old Road
  • Sound Walls: Valencia Blvd., Calgrove Blvd., Halsey Canyon
• The Weldon Canyon Bridge over the 5 Freeway is expected to be replaced amid the expansion. A dedicated span of 12-hours is being allotted to complete the overnight project that is projected to close the 5 Freeway in both directions. Specific dates are unknown as of June 21. Ample public notice is expected before the project begins, according to Sullivan.

Stage 2:

September 2021 – September 2026

• Focuses on I-5 widening, while overlapping with stage 1 of the project
• Impacted locations include: 
  • Ramps: San Fernando, Pico Canyon, McBean Parkway, Valencia Blvd., Magic Mountain Parkway
  • Crossings: Calgrove, Magic Mountain Parkway, Rye Canyon, Castaic Creek, Santa Clara River
  • Sound Walls: Calgrove Blvd.,  McBean Parkway, Valencia Blvd.

Stage 3:

August 2025 – October 2026

• Considered the “closeout” of the project
• No impacted traffic locations have been identified as of June 21

See Related: I-5 Freeway Expansion Under Consideration For Santa Clarita Valley

Any time that traffic is expected to be impacted, the public should be notified both through hard copy distribution and through digital distribution, according to officials with the project.

“It should speed things up,” said Victor Lindenheim in March, Executive Director at Golden State Gateway Coalition, a non-profit formed in 2002 advocating for freeway enhancements. “The project adds capacity, separates trucks from cars, and makes for a safer and better commute.”

Santa Clarita, currently the third-largest city in L.A. County, is projected to have a population increase of more than 25,000 people by 2035, according to the City of Santa Clarita’s website.

The new lanes are expected to provide a much faster and smoother driving experience in the area for locals and travelers, officials said. These improvements are part of Metro’s multi-phase program aiming to improve Los Angeles over the next 30 years. 

To hear more details about the construction from Sullivan, click here. 

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.