Heavy rains caused a 200 foot section of southbound I-15 at Cajon Pass to collapse on Friday, and the costly repairs are expected to cause serious delays for those traveling between Las Vegas and California.
Friday’s road collapse happened south of Highway 138. Both a semi and a San Bernardino County Fire Department engine were swallowed up by the collapse, but no one was in the vehicles and no injuries were reported.
Caltrans explained how the road collapse occurred in a news release: “A dry creek bed that runs along the southbound side of the interstate overflowed and washed away the rock slope protection below the roadbed. It then eroded the lower slope and caused the shoulder and number 5 lane to collapse for a 200-foot section of the route.”
There are currently four lanes open on I-15 southbound between Highway 138 and Leghorn Road. The lanes have been restriped and are narrower. Trucks are only allowed in the right lane.
Crews are working 24 hours a day to make repairs to I-15. Caltrans says that the $3 million project will take two to four weeks.
Caltrans says that drivers should expect delays of between 30 and 90 minutes while traveling on Cajon Pass until repairs are complete.
You can watch the freeway collapse under the fire truck in the video below.
Four lanes open on 15 Freeway through Cajon Pass between Highway 138 and Cleghorn https://t.co/QTMoQxxqgB pic.twitter.com/JAtUoapXwW
— Angelo Stieber (@AStieberM) February 20, 2017
Fire engine that fell off Southbound I-15 during rescue of big rig. Section of freeway taken out from erosion. pic.twitter.com/qoT88TLrUP
— Leticia Juarez (@ABC7Leticia) February 18, 2017
Sources:
Fox 11
Las Vegas Now
VV Daily Press