Newhall Pass interchange
Encyclopedia
The Newhall Pass Interchange (officially Clarence Wayne Dean Memorial Interchange) is a highway interchange at Newhall Pass, north of Sylmar in Southern California
, United States
. It connects Interstate 5 (Golden State Freeway) with State Route 14 (Antelope Valley Freeway), and includes truck bypass
roadways (that can also be used by cars). The main I-5 truck bypass is the original four-lane freeway, built as U.S. Route 99.
The 5-14 split, as the interchange is commonly referred to as by locals, is the northern most of five freeway interchanges on Interstate 5 within a 10 mile stretch. From south to north, the freeways that interchange with Interstate 5 include: California State Highway 170 in North Hollywood, California State Highway 118 in Panorama City, Interstate 405
in Sylmar, Interstate 210
also in Sylmar and ultimately the 14 freeway.
overpass occurred as a result of the February 9, 1971 Sylmar earthquake. This collapse resulted in the additional collapse of the intersecting southbound State Route 14
to southbound I-5 overpass (as this connector bridge was directly beneath the 5/14 overpass). Both bridges fell directly onto the southbound I-5 truck bypass. The interchange was rebuilt in 1973, with additional steel rebar reinforcement.
caused the southbound State Route 14 to northbound I-5 connector to collapse. It also caused the south 14 to south I-5 overpass to collapse directly onto the main I-5 freeway and the southbound I-5 truck bypass, nearly exactly as had happened in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. The latter collapse caused the death of Los Angeles Police Department
motorcycle officer Clarence Wayne Dean, who fell from a broken-off edge when he was unable to stop in time. The interchange was later dedicated the Clarence Wayne Dean Memorial Interchange in his honor. The collapse also closed the Metrolink
's Antelope Valley Line, which began operation to Lancaster
soon after. The interchange was partially reopened on July 8, and completed in 1995 with additional reinforcing on the overpass support columns.
roadway under the eight mainlanes of I-5 where it travels adjacent to the northbound truck bypass lanes. The tunnel is a 550 ft (167 m) long reinforced concrete box girder, built in 1975. It was last inspected in April 2007, and no problems were found.
Thirty commercial vehicles and one passenger vehicle were involved in the traffic collision. A resulting fire
soon spread from vehicle to vehicle, eventually encompassing the entire tunnel with flames shooting nearly 100 feet (30 m) outside the tunnel and burning at around 1400 °F (760 °C).. Three people died - including a 38-year-old male truck driver and his 6-year-old male passenger - and ten people were injured, none critically.
As a result of the accident and ensuing fire, all lanes of I-5 between Calgrove Boulevard and State Route 14 were closed. In addition, the southbound onramps between State Route 126 and Calgrove Boulevard were closed along with the northbound approaches from State Route 14 and Interstate 210
.
Firefighters finished removing debris from the tunnel at 7 a.m. on October 14. Inspectors found heavy damage to the tunnel walls under the north portal. They also found a lot of spalling and exposed rebar
, both of which can cause a loss of vertical support. However, the tunnel roof (or bridge) was found to be sound. Caltrans worked through the weekend of October 13 and 14 to clear out and install five shoring supports inside the tunnel. At 4:20 p.m. on October 14, Caltrans opened up the two northbound truck bypass lanes to all traffic.
On Monday, October 15, the southbound mainline lanes of I-5 were reopened at 1:00 am. The northbound mainlane lanes were reopened two hours later. The speed limit on the southbound lanes was lowered to 55 mph (90 km/h) to help with the flow due to heavier congestion than normal. Emergency funding for the repairs was authorized for the damaged tunnel. Contractor C. C. Myers
was placed on site with materials and workers to perform any needed repairs. During the repairs the southbound I-5 truck lanes remained closed, while southbound trucks through the interchange were diverted onto the auto lanes.
The southbound I-5 truck lanes were reopened on Thursday, November 15, 2007. Security Paving of Oxnard performed the remaining repairs and made safety improvements to the tunnel which included the following:
In addition, the speed limit on the tunnel was lowered back to 45 mph (70 km/h).
As of July 2008, Caltrans has begun preliminary construction work. The project will cost $156.6 million and is scheduled for completion in 2012.
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It connects Interstate 5 (Golden State Freeway) with State Route 14 (Antelope Valley Freeway), and includes truck bypass
Truck bypass
A truck bypass is a roadway that provides physical separation of trucks from passenger vehicles at a freeway interchange in order to eliminate weaving between passenger cars traveling at higher speeds and trucks traveling at lower speeds...
roadways (that can also be used by cars). The main I-5 truck bypass is the original four-lane freeway, built as U.S. Route 99.
The 5-14 split, as the interchange is commonly referred to as by locals, is the northern most of five freeway interchanges on Interstate 5 within a 10 mile stretch. From south to north, the freeways that interchange with Interstate 5 include: California State Highway 170 in North Hollywood, California State Highway 118 in Panorama City, Interstate 405
Interstate 405 (California)
Interstate 405 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass of Interstate 5, running along the western areas of the Greater Los Angeles Area from Irvine in the south to near San Fernando in the north...
in Sylmar, Interstate 210
Interstate 210 (California)
Interstate 210 and State Route 210 together form a contiguous highway, called the Foothill Freeway, in the Greater Los Angeles area of the U.S. state of California. The western portion of the route is an auxiliary Interstate Highway, while the eastern portion is a state highway...
also in Sylmar and ultimately the 14 freeway.
1971 collapse
A total collapse of the southbound Interstate 5 to northbound State Route 14California State Route 14
State Route 14 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California, largely in the Mojave Desert. The southern portion of the highway is signed as the Antelope Valley Freeway. The route connects Interstate 5, or Golden State Freeway, near Santa Clarita and with U.S. Route 395 near...
overpass occurred as a result of the February 9, 1971 Sylmar earthquake. This collapse resulted in the additional collapse of the intersecting southbound State Route 14
California State Route 14
State Route 14 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California, largely in the Mojave Desert. The southern portion of the highway is signed as the Antelope Valley Freeway. The route connects Interstate 5, or Golden State Freeway, near Santa Clarita and with U.S. Route 395 near...
to southbound I-5 overpass (as this connector bridge was directly beneath the 5/14 overpass). Both bridges fell directly onto the southbound I-5 truck bypass. The interchange was rebuilt in 1973, with additional steel rebar reinforcement.
1994 collapse
The January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquakeNorthridge earthquake
The Northridge earthquake was a massive earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 04:31 Pacific Standard Time in Reseda, a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, lasting for about 10–20 seconds...
caused the southbound State Route 14 to northbound I-5 connector to collapse. It also caused the south 14 to south I-5 overpass to collapse directly onto the main I-5 freeway and the southbound I-5 truck bypass, nearly exactly as had happened in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. The latter collapse caused the death of Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
motorcycle officer Clarence Wayne Dean, who fell from a broken-off edge when he was unable to stop in time. The interchange was later dedicated the Clarence Wayne Dean Memorial Interchange in his honor. The collapse also closed the Metrolink
Metrolink (Southern California)
Metrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
's Antelope Valley Line, which began operation to Lancaster
Lancaster (Metrolink station)
The Lancaster Metrolink Station is a Metrolink rail station in the city of Lancaster, California, United States. It is served by Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line from Los Angeles Union Station to Lancaster. 21 Metrolink trains serve the station each weekday, 12 serve on Saturdays and 6 serve on...
soon after. The interchange was partially reopened on July 8, and completed in 1995 with additional reinforcing on the overpass support columns.
2007 tunnel fire
Around 11 p.m. PDT on October 12, 2007, two trucks collided in the northernmost of two two-lane tunnels that take the southbound truck bypassTruck bypass
A truck bypass is a roadway that provides physical separation of trucks from passenger vehicles at a freeway interchange in order to eliminate weaving between passenger cars traveling at higher speeds and trucks traveling at lower speeds...
roadway under the eight mainlanes of I-5 where it travels adjacent to the northbound truck bypass lanes. The tunnel is a 550 ft (167 m) long reinforced concrete box girder, built in 1975. It was last inspected in April 2007, and no problems were found.
Thirty commercial vehicles and one passenger vehicle were involved in the traffic collision. A resulting fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
soon spread from vehicle to vehicle, eventually encompassing the entire tunnel with flames shooting nearly 100 feet (30 m) outside the tunnel and burning at around 1400 °F (760 °C).. Three people died - including a 38-year-old male truck driver and his 6-year-old male passenger - and ten people were injured, none critically.
As a result of the accident and ensuing fire, all lanes of I-5 between Calgrove Boulevard and State Route 14 were closed. In addition, the southbound onramps between State Route 126 and Calgrove Boulevard were closed along with the northbound approaches from State Route 14 and Interstate 210
Interstate 210 (California)
Interstate 210 and State Route 210 together form a contiguous highway, called the Foothill Freeway, in the Greater Los Angeles area of the U.S. state of California. The western portion of the route is an auxiliary Interstate Highway, while the eastern portion is a state highway...
.
Firefighters finished removing debris from the tunnel at 7 a.m. on October 14. Inspectors found heavy damage to the tunnel walls under the north portal. They also found a lot of spalling and exposed rebar
Rebar
A rebar , also known as reinforcing steel, reinforcement steel, rerod, or a deformed bar, is a common steel bar, and is commonly used as a tensioning device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures holding the concrete in compression...
, both of which can cause a loss of vertical support. However, the tunnel roof (or bridge) was found to be sound. Caltrans worked through the weekend of October 13 and 14 to clear out and install five shoring supports inside the tunnel. At 4:20 p.m. on October 14, Caltrans opened up the two northbound truck bypass lanes to all traffic.
On Monday, October 15, the southbound mainline lanes of I-5 were reopened at 1:00 am. The northbound mainlane lanes were reopened two hours later. The speed limit on the southbound lanes was lowered to 55 mph (90 km/h) to help with the flow due to heavier congestion than normal. Emergency funding for the repairs was authorized for the damaged tunnel. Contractor C. C. Myers
C. C. Myers
C.C. Myers, Inc. is a Rancho Cordova, California based construction company specializing in building highways and bridges. Started in 1977 by Clinton C. Myers, the company has since converted to an Employee Owned, or ESOP company.-History:...
was placed on site with materials and workers to perform any needed repairs. During the repairs the southbound I-5 truck lanes remained closed, while southbound trucks through the interchange were diverted onto the auto lanes.
The southbound I-5 truck lanes were reopened on Thursday, November 15, 2007. Security Paving of Oxnard performed the remaining repairs and made safety improvements to the tunnel which included the following:
- New pavement for the tunnel walls and the roadway.
- Improved tunnel lighting for both sides of the tunnel. This lighting is set to adjust depending on the weather conditions outside the tunnel.
In addition, the speed limit on the tunnel was lowered back to 45 mph (70 km/h).
HOV Direct Connector Project
Caltrans is currently constructing an elevated HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) direct connector ramp to link the recently-completed I-5 HOV lanes to the existing CA-14 HOV lanes. This direct connector will allow motorists a freeway-to-freeway transfer without exiting the carpool lane.As of July 2008, Caltrans has begun preliminary construction work. The project will cost $156.6 million and is scheduled for completion in 2012.