California Southland drivers face nightmare traffic after mudslides on major highways

Los Angeles Times

The only other major highway from North to South anywhere near the coast is highway 101. So, while Interstate 5 was closed most people like Trucks and cars from as far north as Vancouver and Seattle all likely had to reroute mostly over to Highway 101 along the coast that is still open. The only other major highway that traverses most of California north to south is Highway 395 East of the Sierras because I'm not certain of this but the Highway up from Bakersfield to Lancaster and Mojave over Tehachapi over the hills there is likely still closed from mud. They had to get at least 30 tractors on Interstate 5 to open it within 24 to 36 hours after the mud slide and river of mud. Because then the water left and the mud dried up mostly and then that sets up really hard and takes a whole lot of time with a shovel and pick to get through it. So, getting cars and trucks out now likely will mean renting cranes and putting chains through the open windows of trucks and cars and ripping them out of the dirt. If the roofs aren't visible some might stay in place a lot longer. However, I did find out that Interstate 5 is open again as of last night (Friday). However, this doesn't mean there won't be some dirt and small rocks at times on the journey so be sure to stay far back from trucks and cars while going through the  worst parts so you don't get a rock or something through the windshield. This is just being cautious having seen similar kinds of things after cleanups before. Also, dust might be bad too because once mud slides dry up they only leave dust and dirt once the cleanup machines have gone through a bunch of times.

Southland drivers face nightmare traffic after mudslides on major highways

Los Angeles Times

- ‎2 hours ago‎

Big rigs sit stranded on highway 58 as clean-up operations are underway in the Tehachapi area. Big rigs sit stranded on highway 58 as clean-up operations are underway in the Tehachapi area.

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Southland drivers face nightmare traffic after mudslides on major highways

Big-rigs sit stranded on California 58 as cleanup operations are underway in the Tehachapi area.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Veronica Rocha and Brittny MejiaContact Reporters

Commutes in northern Los Angeles County and eastern Kern County were a nightmare for drivers who tried to navigate the roads Friday after mudslides prompted the closures of two major highways and nearby roads.
Drivers making their way to Northern California were struggling to find a route, running into closed roads.
Four mudslides swallowed nearly 200 vehicles on California 58 east of Tehachapi in Kern County, according to the California Department of Transportation.
In a harrowing video, driver Jose Antonio Vargas films the moment a sea of mud overtakes vehicles on the 58. Vargas, in Spanish, frantically calls: "Someone call 911! Someone call 911! Help! The cars are being inundated!"

Drivers became trapped and were forced to abandon their vehicles.
The highway will be closed between Mojave and Tehachapi for several days. Caltrans suggests drivers take California 14 to California 178 to get into Bakersfield.

In northern Los Angeles County, all southbound lanes of Interstate 5 were closed between Parker and Grapevine roads, Caltrans said. The northbound lanes were reopened after 12:30 p.m., and the southbound lanes will be closed until 5 p.m., the California Highway Patrol said.
For drivers stuck on the 5, CHP suggested taking California 41 or 46 to the 101 Freeway to California 126 to get to their destination.
For three friends heading from Orange County to Three Rivers in Sequoia, the drive had been more of a struggle than they had expected.
The trio left around 10 p.m. Thursday, but when they reached Tehachapi Road, CHP stopped them and gave them an alternative route. By then, it was too dark and they tried to find a hotel.

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But with all the hotels booked, the three were forced to stay in their car outside a Denny's restaurant.
"It was like camping, but not camping," Son Nguyen, 24, joked.
Other people who were supposed to come with them made the drive back home, unsure of how long the roads would be closed for.
"We just decided to stay up here and try in the morning," Leeann Nguyen said. "We need this break."
The three were planning to stay in Sequoia until Sunday to celebrate a birthday.
After pulling over on the side of a street Friday morning, because Backus Road in Mojave was closed, they tracked down an alternate route that they hoped would be open.
"I hope we get there," said Kristina Nguyen. "We're not going to drive two hours away and then two hours home."
A handful of others pulled off on Mohave Tropico Road as they too tried to figure out a route through.
Jobe Carbajal, headed from Los Angeles to the Best in the West Jett Rally in Buttonwillow, ended up spending the night in his truck in Lancaster, surrounded by other trucks and cars.
"We weren't prepared for that," Carbajal said. "It was uncomfortable."
For drivers who ignored the road closure signs on Backus Road, a few miles farther down they were met by another sign and a CHP officer directing them back the way they came.
CHP Officer Steve Nielsen pointed drivers to the California 14, as Tehachapi Willow Springs Road was closed and part of the road washed away.
Crews were working to reopen Tehachapi Willow Springs Road, he said.
"We're dealing with a lot of people right now," he said. "We're stretched thin."
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has more information on closures here. For details on closures affecting the 58, visit Caltrans' Twitter.
For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.
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Southland drivers face nightmare traffic after mudslides on major highways