Metro: I-5 project on schedule, construction to continue throughout 2026

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s enhancements project on Interstate 5 through the Santa Clarita Valley is still on schedule to wrap up by March of next year. 

In a Zoom meeting open to the public Wednesday evening, project staff outlined overall progress on the North County Enhancements Project, what work still needs to be completed and how closures over the upcoming spring and summer months will affect specific bridges and ramps. 

The project covers the freeway roughly between Castaic and the Newhall Pass and began in 2021, with the goal of adding truck lanes, carpool lanes and auxiliary lanes between some on- and off-ramps to prepare the I-5 for anticipated population growth in the Santa Clarita Valley over the next few decades.  

Santa Clarita is expected to add 25,000 new residents by 2035, according to Metro.   

Metro has four bridges, or sections of the I-5 that pass over smaller streets and natural areas, left on its slate that’ll be worked on throughout 2026 as they’re prepared for future carpool lanes: the Weldon Canyon Road overcrossing bridge, the Gavin Canyon undercrossing bridge – the part of the I-5 that passes over The Old Road between Calgrove Boulevard and Weldon Canyon Road – the Magic Mountain Parkway bridge and the Rye Canyon Road bridge.

Helyn Oshrin, contractor communications manager for the Irvine-based construction company OHLA USA, said the following roads will be closed intermittently during overnight hours: 

• The Old Road will be closed during overnight hours for work on the Gavin Canyon undercrossing bridge intermittently throughout the summer of 2026 between Calgrove Boulevard and Weldon Canyon Road between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weeknights, and Saturdays as needed.

• Magic Mountain Parkway will be closed intermittently throughout the summer as the Magic Mountain Parkway bridge is expanded, between The Old Road and Tourney Road, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weeknights and Saturdays as needed.

• Rye Canyon Road will be closed intermittently throughout the summer for Rye Canyon Road bridge work between Avenue Stanford and The Old Road, from 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weeknights and as necessary on Saturdays.

Metro has completed the bulk of the work on the bridges at Calgrove Boulevard, Castaic Creek and the Santa Clara River overhead crossing – though the Santa Clara River overhead crossing will require worksite traffic control for bicyclists and pedestrians through the summer.  

When it comes to long-term ramp closures, Metro has so far completed three of the eight included in the enhancements project. Metro crews have been doing runway repairs, concrete and asphalt paving, electric work and some guardrail installation.  

Saroya Sandiford, community relations manager at Metro, said upcoming ramp closures include: 

• The southbound Hasley Canyon Road on-ramp will be closed continuously, or 24 hours a day, between Tuesday, March 10 ,and April this year. Drivers are instructed to go north on The Old Road before taking the southbound Hasley Canyon Road hook on-ramp.

• The northbound Hasley Canyon Road on-ramp will be closed continuously beginning in the spring this year. Drivers are instructed to go north on The Old Road before transferring to the eastbound Lake Hughes Road to the northbound Lake Hughes on-ramp.

Other ramps expected to have long-term closures include the southbound Hasley Canyon Road/Sedona Way on-ramp, the northbound Calgrove Boulevard on-ramp and the southbound Valencia Boulevard on-ramp.  

As for new walls, Metro has finished 37 of the 43 retaining walls included in the project. Northbound retaining walls between Magic Mountain Parkway and Biscailuz Drive, the northbound truck route, and southbound retaining walls at the Weldon Canyon Road overcrossing are on the docket for construction through 2026. 

The last soundwall segments to be completed run between Calgrove Boulevard and Magic Mountain Parkway. 

Construction on the Castaic soundwall, on the southbound I-5 near Hasley Canyon Road, is happening along the outside shoulder and The Old Road. That work is expected to continue through March this year. Around that time, the Calgrove Boulevard soundwall, on the northbound I-5 at Calgrove Boulevard, is expected to be completed this spring. 

The Valencia Boulevard soundwall, on the southbound I-5 between Magic Mountain Parkway and Valencia Boulevard, is expected to wrap up by the end of this summer. 

Metro’s next North County Enhancements Project community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, beginning at 6 p.m. The Zoom link can be found at us02web.zoom.us/j/81700494519.  

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