I-5 North County Enhancements Project Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1)  Why is the I-5 North County Enhancement Project needed? 

Santa Clarita is now the third-largest city by population in LA County and is expected to increase its population by more than 25,000 people by 2035. To prepare for this increase and relieve congestion in the Santa Clarita Valley, Metro and Caltrans District 7, will be making operational and safety enhancements along the Interstate 5. 

2) What are the enhancements? 

The enhancements include: 

• Addition of one High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/carpool lane in each direction along 14-miles of I-5, from SR-14 interchange to south of Parker Road in Castaic. 

• Extension of the northbound truck lane to Calgrove Bl 

• Addition of a southbound truck lane to SR-14 

• Addition of soundwalls at four locations 

• Replacement of Weldon Canyon Rd Bridge 

• Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) improvements between the I-405 and I-210 interchanges 

• Addition of auxiliary lanes (additional outside lanes extending between an on-ramp and a subsequent off-ramp). 

3) What are the project limits? 

The project extends along Interstate 5 from south of the SR-14 and I-5 interchange to just south of Parker Rd in Castaic. 

4) What is the current status of the I-5 North County Interchange Project? 

Construction began in Fall 2021 and is anticipated to be completed in 2026. 

Construction updates will be available at  https://www.metro.net/projects/i-5-enhancements/. 

5) Will this project relieve the point of congestion on I-5 at the SR-14 interchange where four lanes reduce to three lanes? 

This project will add one HOV lane in each direction along I-5 through the SR-14 interchange. These new HOV lanes will connect with the existing I-5 HOV lanes that end just south of the interchange. Drivers travelling in the existing HOV lane will be able to continue their trip in the new HOV lane, uninterrupted past this point of congestion and into the Santa Clarita Valley. The current configuration includes four general purpose lanes that reduce to three general purpose lanes. The final configuration will include the new extended HOV lane plus three general purpose lanes. This project will not add any new general- purpose lanes. 

6) Will the HOV/carpool lanes become toll lanes? 

This project will construct 14-miles of carpool lanes. Metro does not intent to study toll lanes at this time. 

7) Will the new lanes be HOV/carpool lanes 24-hours a day? 

The new HOV/carpool lanes will be reserved for high occupancy vehicles at all hours of the day, every day of the week. 

8) What is the ITS? 

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are the control and information systems that use integrated communications and data processing technologies. These systems include count stations, closed-circuit television (CCTV), and ramp metering and are used to: 

• monitor and improve the mobility of people and goods 

• increase safety, reduce traffic congestion, and manage incidents effectively 

• meet transport policy goals and objectives – such as demand management 

9) Will the project widen the freeway? 

This project is adding one HOV/carpool lane in each direction and extending truck lanes. While the alignment does contain wide shoulders and medians that facilitate the addition of these lanes there will be widenings at various segments. However, this project does not add general-purpose lanes or impact private properties. 

10) Where are the soundwalls located? 

There are four soundwall segments as part of the I-5 North County Enhancement Project. 

Along I-5 southbound: 

• North of Hasley Canyon Rd 

• Between Magic Mountain Pkwy and Valencia Bl 

Along I-5 northbound: 

• South of McBean Pkwy 

• North of Calgrove Bl 

11) Can I request a sound wall for my neighborhood? 

For this project and under the scope of this contractor, soundwall selection has gone through an extensive process that included technical studies, noise monitoring, noise modeling, and evaluations of feasibility of effective noise reduction, and reasonability from a cost perspective. As a result, four soundwall segments along the project alignment were determined acoustically feasible and reasonable based on traffic noise criteria set by State (Caltrans) and Federal Highway Administration guidelines and only those were incorporated into the scope and funding of this project. 

12) When will construction of soundwalls begin? 

Construction of soundwalls began in 2022. 

13) Where can I find information about closures and construction impacts? 

For information about closures and traffic impacts please visit the project's webpage at metro.net/i-5- enhancements. You can sign up for project newsletter to receive construction notices. Full freeway closures and ramp closures will be reflected on Waze and Google Maps. 

14) When is the demolition of Weldon Canyon Rd bridge expected? 

The demolition of Weldon Canyon Rd bridge was completed in November of 2023. 

15) Will the project ever close two consecutive on-ramps or off-ramps at the same time? 

In order to reduce traffic impacts due to construction, our contractor will avoid closing two consecutive ramps at the same time. 

16) How do you plan to notify drivers of upcoming closures? 

In order to notify drivers of upcoming closures, the project's contractor will install a combination of static signs and digital changeable message boards. Messaging will alert drivers of upcoming freeway impacts such as ramp closures or other construction activities. Drivers will be alerted to exit ahead of a closure, providing advanced notification to guide drivers to the nearest detour. 

17) What is the contractor's plan to address noise during nighttime work? 

The project complies with local noise ordinances and the contractor does not have waivers to such ordinances. The contractor is required to maintain and follow a noise mitigation plan and mitigate noise as required. Noise mitigations will include modification to equipment, placement of sound blankets, and reevaluation of staging and scheduling of work.