California

[Quillz]

It's raining pretty heavy in SoCal. I'm in the valley and my backyard is flooded.

[ClassicHasClass]

KTLA reported that the 5 in Sun Valley was under some amount of water for awhile.

[FredAkbar]

Glancing at Google Maps, it looks like are some flood-related highway closures around Cajon Pass and the High Desert, such as CA-2 through Wrightwood, and CA-138 between Piñon Hills and I-15.

[ClassicHasClass]

Yeah, Wrightwood got nailed. Lots of washouts.

[pderocco]

Also, Redrock Randsburg Rd is closed. These will probably be short term, not requiring too much cleanup.

I just noticed on CalTrans QuickMap that CA-38 above Seven Oaks is no longer listed as closed. I don't know when it opened, but that's good news. I thought that might be for the winter.

[Max Rockatansky]

Also, Redrock Randsburg Rd is closed. These will probably be short term, not requiring too much cleanup.

I just noticed on CalTrans QuickMap that CA-38 above Seven Oaks is no longer listed as closed. I don't know when it opened, but that's good news. I thought that might be for the winter.

That had a washout earlier in the year and recently reopened.

[cl94]

Caltrans officially announced that all of the seasonal passes are closed for the winter, not that they haven't been closed for 10+ days already.

[Quillz]

CA-27 was closed again during the storm, is back open. Since there is another storm forecasted for New Year's, I assume it will once again be closed and open.

There is also a lack of consistency. QuickMap shows the route open, yet it never seems to be. And then sometimes it's only a single lane that's open, so contraflow? VMS also just says "Topanga closed" when it's open to the actual town and from there you can take some side roads to reach other locations. The lack of consistent information is very odd.

[Plutonic Panda]

The animal crossing in Agoura Hills is facing cost over runs and delays:

https://ktla.com/news/california/worlds-largest-wildlife-crossing-in-california-delayed-cost-climbs/

[Quillz]

I live pretty close to that, it's made a lot of progress. But I guess delays are to be expected.

I'm still a bit confused where it's going to go, though. The north side makes sense as that's part of the open wilderness, but the south side has a street and houses right there, so it seems like it would still lead to some issues. But I guess it's more about keeping animal life off the freeways.

[Plutonic Panda]

I think there are future phases that are going to connect it to the sides of each mountain. I'm not sure if those are funded or not yet.

[jander]

Ok, 2 random questions.

1. Has there ever been a serious consideration for making I-5 3 lanes in each direction between Tracy and the Grapevine? Why or why not?

2. Why do trucks have to use this special lane here ?  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LF1uuarkF4ejXQut6

[gonealookin]

Why do trucks have to use this special lane here ?  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LF1uuarkF4ejXQut6

That's a pretty common truck bypass lane when two freeways merge into one.  In that case, without the bypass, trucks southbound on SR 99 would have cars from southbound I-5 coming in from their right side and criss-crossing to get cars and trucks in their appropriate lanes would be necessary.  There are quite a few examples of that in California.

[Max Rockatansky]

Ok, 2 random questions.

1. Has there ever been a serious consideration for making I-5 3 lanes in each direction between Tracy and the Grapevine? Why or why not?

No not really.  Don't count on it happening with all the VMT stuff anytime soon.

[FredAkbar]

Why do trucks have to use this special lane here ?  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LF1uuarkF4ejXQut6

That's a pretty common truck bypass lane when two freeways merge into one.  In that case, without the bypass, trucks southbound on SR 99 would have cars from southbound I-5 coming in from their right side and criss-crossing to get cars and trucks in their appropriate lanes would be necessary.  There are quite a few examples of that in California.

There's one at the north end (so to speak) too, where I-580W meets I-205. That one is signed much less aggressively though, just a small "bypass" sign, not an overhead sign commanding trucks to use it. I guess it's implied.

[gonealookin]

Why do trucks have to use this special lane here ?  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LF1uuarkF4ejXQut6

That's a pretty common truck bypass lane when two freeways merge into one.  In that case, without the bypass, trucks southbound on SR 99 would have cars from southbound I-5 coming in from their right side and criss-crossing to get cars and trucks in their appropriate lanes would be necessary.  There are quite a few examples of that in California.

There's one at the north end (so to speak) too, where I-580W meets I-205. That one is signed much less aggressively though, just a small "bypass" sign, not an overhead sign commanding trucks to use it. I guess it's implied.

Others that come to mind immediately are the I-15/I-215 merge on the north side of San Bernardino, and the big one at the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley where I-210 merges into I-5 and then SR 14 exits a short distance later.

The idea is to have trucks merging with other trucks without the nuisance of cars, whose drivers are probably more unpredictable.

One of the most unnerving situations in driving is being to the right of an 18-wheeler.  It's tough for the trucker to maintain visual contact with a smaller vehicle over there.  It most often happens in merge situations; I'm entering the freeway at an on-ramp and the trucker is in the second lane from the right.  The preferred solution is that I slow down a bit, get behind the trucker and change to the lane following the truck, and then either pass the truck by going one lane further to the left or wait for the trucker to move back over to the right lane.  These separate truck bypass lanes at places where freeways with their heavy truck traffic merge help a lot with the safety.

[JustDrive]

The southern 5/405 merge also has those truck bypass lanes, as does the 5/805 split in Sorrento Valley. And if I'm being honest, 5/205 should have them

[pderocco]

The southern 5/405 merge also has those truck bypass lanes, as does the 5/805 split in Sorrento Valley. And if I'm being honest, 5/205 should have them

The outer lanes in Sorrento Valley aren't specifically for trucks, they're misnamed a "local bypass", providing access to CA-56 and Carmel Mountain Rd, while the inner lanes provide access to Carmel Valley Rd. So trucks use both.

[ClassicHasClass]

One of the most unnerving situations in driving is being to the right of an 18-wheeler. 

They don't have "< PASSING SIDE | SUICIDE >" on half their trailers for nothing.

[gonealookin]

The new Fanny Bridge in Tahoe City finally opened on February 10:

https://www.sierrasun.com/news/ribbon-cutting-ceremony-celebrated-official-opening-of-the-new-fanny-bridge-in-tahoe-city/

[Plutonic Panda]

LA's Metro released their new 15 year short range plan which includes 50 billion dollars for highways and streets.

https://thesource.metro.net/metros-short-range-plan-details-220-billion-of-mobility-improvements-over-the-next-15-years/

[cahwyguy]

LA's Metro released their new 15 year short range plan which includes 50 billion dollars for highways and streets.

https://thesource.metro.net/metros-short-range-plan-details-220-billion-of-mobility-improvements-over-the-next-15-years/

Just a note that this was released in November 2025.

[Rothman]

LA's Metro released their new 15 year short range plan which includes 50 billion dollars for highways and streets.

https://thesource.metro.net/metros-short-range-plan-details-220-billion-of-mobility-improvements-over-the-next-15-years/

Just a note that this was released in November 2025.

Sounds like we're well within that 15-year period, then.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Phase 2 of the U.S. 395 Widening project is having a groundbreaking ceremony on February 20th (this Friday)!

[pderocco]

Phase 2 of the U.S. 395 Widening project is having a groundbreaking ceremony on February 20th (this Friday)!

Bupkis on the CalTrans site.