The California Highway Patrol has announced that a section of Interstate 5 in San Diego, stretching from Harbor Drive to Basilone Road in Oceanside, will be closed on Saturday from approximately 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This closure is due to a military event at Camp Pendleton involving the federal government discharging live ammunition over the freeway.
Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the situation in a news release, emphasizing the importance of public safety during the live fire demonstration at Camp Pendleton. The federal government confirmed early Saturday with state and local authorities that the event would take place.
In his statement, Gov. Newsom condemned the decision, saying, “The President is putting his ego over responsibility with this disregard for public safety. Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn’t just wrong—it’s dangerous. Using our military to intimidate people you disagree with isn’t strength; it’s reckless, it’s disrespectful, and it’s beneath the office he holds. Law and order? This is chaos and confusion.”
He further noted, “In California, we are proud to honor our military and the sacrifices they continue to make for our country. As we all recognize the 250th anniversary of the Armed Forces, let us remember the guiding principles upon which our founding fathers built this great nation and hold dearly those inherent rights that we all share.”
The state was recently informed that the White House planned a major event at Camp Pendleton between Friday, October 17, and Saturday, October 18, involving the firing of live artillery rounds over the I-5 freeway. Gov. Newsom described this as an “absurd show of force.”
On Thursday, October 16, the U.S. Marine Corps confirmed that its exercise would be conducted on its training ranges, as is routine, and stated that no firing would occur over the freeway. That same afternoon, the federal government directed the cancellation of train services running parallel to I-5 between Orange and San Diego counties on Saturday.
Late Friday, state officials received a request from event organizers to post Caltrans signage along the I-5 freeway warning: “Overhead fire in progress.” Additionally, on Friday, officials near Camp Pendleton observed live munitions being fired near the freeway in what appeared to be a practice run.
Early Saturday morning, after further inquiries from the state, federal officials informed the state that live fire activities were scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Due to extreme life-safety risks and potential distractions to drivers—including sudden, unexpected, and loud explosions—a section of I-5 will be closed for a period on Saturday, October 18. This closure follows recommendations from traffic safety experts at the California Highway Patrol.
Interstate 5 is a critical economic corridor for Southern California, carrying more than 80,000 travelers and moving $94 million in freight daily between San Diego and Orange counties. Just north of Oceanside, over 65,000 vehicles cross county lines each day, with half of those trips being work-related.
Officials estimate that the closure could result in a loss of $8.2 million in daily visitor spending, along with delays for thousands of truck shipments that rely on uninterrupted access.
Drivers should expect significant delays on I-5 and other regional routes before, during, and after the event. Travelers are encouraged to check real-time traffic conditions at quickmap.dot.ca.gov before heading through the area.
City News contributed to this report.
https://timesofsandiego.com/military/2025/10/18/i-5-to-close-saturday-for-camp-pendleton-live-fire-exercise/
About the Author
