I-15 Reopens in Both Directions Amid Spreading California Wildfire
California Department of TransportationAfter being shut for 36 hours because of the Bluecut wildfire that has been engulfing part of the area around San Bernadino, Interstate 15 southbound reopened at 10:45 A.M. on Aug. 18. The interstate opened in the northbound direction through the Cajon Pass on the night of Aug. 17. Caltrans announced that I-215, whose intersection with I-15 marked the start of the 18-mile closure, re-opened in the same direction. However, as guardrail and other repairs continued, I-15 southbound remained closed.
More than 5,000 trucks a day use that stretch of I-15 from I-1215 in Devore to Ranchero Road in Hesperia that had caused “big detours” of up to 100 miles, California Trucking Association CEO Shawn Yadon said.
“That is the only major access route for commuters and trucks,” Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kansinga agreed.
Traffic flows on northbound I15 in the Cajon Pass, no ETA on southbound. #BluecutFire still 25,626 acres @MyDesert pic.twitter.com/sRoxGnqlV2
— Colin Atagi (@TDSColinAtagi) August 18, 2016
Baltazar Construction placing k-rail on I-15 NB #BlueCutFire #Cajonpass #Caltrans8 pic.twitter.com/pqrAhrMhRT — Caltrans District 8 (@Caltrans8) August 17, 2016
Photo credits to Officer J. Smith from the San Bernardino Area CHP office. Stay safe! pic.twitter.com/ZL87jmtVVg — CHP Inland Division (@CHPInland) August 17, 2016
Good evening, at 10:15pm, the 215/15 NB connector will re-open. Shortly there after, the I-15 NB will be fully open through the Cajon Pass. — CHP Inland Division (@CHPInland) August 18, 2016
