The California Highway Patrol has announced that a section of Interstate 5 (I-5) in San Diego, stretching from Harbor Drive to Basilone Road in Oceanside, will be closed from approximately 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. This closure is due to a military event at Camp Pendleton involving the federal government discharging live ammunition over the freeway.
Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement in a news release emphasizing public safety during the live fire demonstration at Camp Pendleton. The federal government confirmed early Saturday that the event would proceed after consultations with state and local authorities.
In his statement, Gov. Newsom criticized 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 continued,
“In California, we are proud to honor our military and the sacrifices they continue to make for our country. As we 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 firing live artillery rounds over the I-5 freeway. Gov. Newsom described the planned activity as an “absurd show of force.”
On Thursday, October 16, the U.S. Marine Corps confirmed that their exercise would take place on their training ranges, as routinely conducted, but not over the freeway. Later that day, the federal government directed the cancellation of train services running parallel to I-5 between Orange and San Diego counties for Saturday.
Late on Friday, event organizers requested that Caltrans install signage along I-5, warning motorists with the message: “Overhead fire in progress.” Additionally, state 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, the federal government informed state officials that live fire activities were scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Due to extreme life-safety risks and potential distractions to drivers—including sudden, unexpected, and loud explosions—a portion of I-5 will be closed during the event. The closure is based on recommendations from traffic safety experts at the California Highway Patrol.
I-5 is a critical economic corridor for Southern California, carrying more than 80,000 travelers daily and moving $94 million in freight between San Diego and Orange counties. Just north of Oceanside, over 65,000 vehicles cross county lines each day, with half of them commuting for work.
Officials estimate that the closure could result in $8.2 million in lost daily visitor spending, in addition to delays impacting thousands of truck shipments relying on uninterrupted freeway access.
Drivers should expect significant delays on I-5 and other regional routes before, during, and after the closure. Travelers are encouraged to check real-time traffic conditions at quickmap.dot.ca.gov before passing through the affected area.
City News contributed to this report.
https://timesofsandiego.com/military/2025/10/18/i-5-closing-saturday-camp-pendleton-military-exercise-live-ammunition/
