Emergency repairs to Interstate 5 causing backups on several roadways

By Claire Morgan

Updated September 2, 2018 7:32 AM

Emergency construction has closed two lanes of northbound Interstate 5 and caused backups all the way to Interstate 80.

The 59-hour round of closures was planned after 26 cars were damaged by a large pothole during morning commute hours Thursday.

The California Department of Transportation said drivers can expect a 20-minute traffic delay after driving through work zones through the weekend.

Saw cutting continues on NB I-5 emergency repair work in ⁦@TheCityofSac⁩ near Richards Blvd on 3, 4 and auxiliary lanes. Pouring new concrete Sunday morning. Expect 20-minute delay through work zone. pic.twitter.com/dsggBEWX4f
— Caltrans District 3 (@CaltransDist3) September 1, 2018

The California Highway Patrol responded to the incident just before 6 a.m. when concrete from the 2-foot-wide pothole was reported in the roadway, causing flats, shredding a tire of at least one car and damaging tires, front bumpers and undercarriages of dozens of other vehicles, CHP spokesman Jim Young said.

The slow lane has been closed for safety since the incident.

As an alternate route, Caltrans advises motorists to take the Capital City Freeway west over the Sacramento River to eastbound Interstate 80 in West Sacramento to reconnect with Interstate 5 just before San Juan Road.

This story was originally published September 1, 2018 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Emergency repairs to Interstate 5 causing backups on several roadways."

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