{"id":11904,"date":"2025-10-18T22:00:15","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T22:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/11904\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T22:00:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T22:00:15","slug":"i-5-closes-saturday-for-camp-pendleton-live-fire-exercise-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/11904\/","title":{"rendered":"I-5 closes Saturday for Camp Pendleton live-fire exercise"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"An<\/a>The vice presidential motorcade enters the closed I-5 onramp at Harbor Boulevard in Oceanside on Saturday Oct. 18, 2025 ahead of events at Camp Pendleton. (Photo courtesy of OnScene.TV)<\/p>\n

A section of Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton was closed Saturday while the military conducts a demonstration<\/a> involving live ammunition discharged over the freeway.<\/p>\n

Politicians on both sides of the aisle blasted the exercise and the closure.<\/p>\n

Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were set to attend Saturday\u2019s 250th anniversary celebration for the Marine Corps, which was dubbed \u201cFrom Sea to Shore: A Review of Amphibious Strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

The freeway initially closed from Harbor Drive to Basilone Road, with the time set from approximately 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., causing a major inconvenience to Southland motorists who lost the main artery connecting south Orange County to San Diego County.<\/p>\n

Authorities relented briefly, when Caltrans reopened a section of I-5 near the base to ease traffic ahead of the military display, but the freeway closed again from Harbor to Basilone from roughly 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

Caltrans said drivers should expect delays on I-5 and other state routes throughout Southern California before, during and after the event. Motorists were advised to consult Caltrans\u2019 QuickMap<\/a> for updated traffic information.<\/p>\n

Passenger rail service on the adjacent rail line will also be disrupted for a time Saturday afternoon. More details were available at Pacificsurfliner.com<\/a> and Metrolinktrains.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gov. Gavin Newsom, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump and a possible presidential candidate in 2028, criticized the planned display.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe president is putting his ego over responsibility with this disregard for public safety. Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn\u2019t just wrong \u2013 it\u2019s dangerous,\u201d Newsom said Saturday. \u201cUsing our military to intimidate people you disagree with isn\u2019t strength \u2013 it\u2019s reckless, it\u2019s disrespectful, and it\u2019s beneath the office he holds. Law and order? This is chaos and confusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Federal officials said that in advance of the training event and demonstration \u2013\u00a0which were also to include Navy Secretary John Phelan and Marine Commandant Gen. Eric Smith \u2013 a detailed risk assessment was conducted at the base and all participants were to be briefed, while medical, fire and emergency responders and equipment would be on site.<\/p>\n

As originally announced, the demonstration was described as an integrated Navy and Marine Corps operations across air, land and sea, base officials said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe force training activities planned ensure our readiness to defend the Homeland and protect our nation\u2019s interests abroad against emergent and unprecedented challenges today and in the years ahead,\u201d a spokesperson with Camp Pendleton said in a statement. \u201cAll training events will occur on approved training ranges and comport with established safety protocols.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marine officials said all air, surface and ground movements are scripted and rehearsed in accordance with standard operating procedures and established safety checklists.<\/p>\n

Plans for the live-fire demonstration had prompted criticism from Newsom as early as Wednesday, when he called the event \u201can absurd show of force, and totally uncalled for during a government shutdown when members of the military cannot even get a paycheck.\u201d<\/p>\n

The exercise was also criticized by Rep. Mike Levin<\/a>, D-Carlsbad.<\/p>\n

San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, a Republican, also weighed in, saying there is \u201czero reason\u201d to close the freeway and blaming Newsom.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Marines at Camp Pendleton have been firing live rounds and training beneath I-5 for over 50 years \u2013 without closing the freeway. There is zero reason for this sudden shutdown,\u201d Desmond posted on X. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just an inconvenience \u2013 it\u2019s going to cause medical emergencies to be delayed, workers to miss shifts, and families to have their plans and events ruined.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt sure looks like Gavin Newsom is trying to use the U.S. Marine Corps\u2019 250th anniversary to create chaos and score political points,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Desmond also said the shutdown \u201cshows exactly what\u2019s wrong with politics. No accountability, no planning \u2013 just finger-pointing while everyday people sit in traffic, miss work, and watch their plans fall apart.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Los Angeles Magazine, the White House initially \u201cintended to shut down part of the 5 Freeway between Los Angeles and San Diego\u201d but later dropped those plans after receiving complaints from local officials and residents.<\/p>\n

U.S Marines officials later said \u201cNo public highways or transportation routes\u201d would be closed.<\/p>\n

Officials in Newsom\u2019s office said they were notified Thursday that \u201cthe U.S. Marine Corps confirmed their exercise would be conducted on its training ranges, as it routinely does, but not over the freeway. That afternoon, the federal government also directed cancellation of train services, which run parallel to the I-5, on Saturday between Orange County-San Diego County.<\/p>\n

\u201cLate on Friday, the state then received notice from event organizers asking for CalTrans signage to be posted along the I-5 freeway that would read: `Overhead fire in progress.\u2019 Also on Friday, state officials near Camp Pendleton observed live munitions being fired near the freeway, an apparent practice run. Early Saturday morning, after the state inquired once again for details, the federal government informed the state that live fire activities have now been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. [Saturday].<\/p>\n

\u201cDue to extreme life safety risk and distraction to drivers, including sudden unexpected and loud explosions, a section of I-5 will be closed for a period on Saturday. This decision comes at the recommendation of traffic safety experts at the California Highway Patrol. [The] I-5\u00a0\u00a0is Southern California\u2019s economic backbone, supporting over 80,000 travelers and moving $94 million in freight everyday between San Diego and Orange Counties. Just north of Oceanside, more than 65,000 vehicles cross county lines daily \u2013 half those trips for work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Previously announced road closures include:<\/p>\n

Del Mar Bridge closed to foot traffic Saturday.<\/p>\n

Las Pulgas Road north of the intersection of Stuart Mesa Road closed until 6 a.m. Sunday.<\/p>\n

The following gates will be closed:<\/p>\n

Las Pulgas Gate closed until 6 a.m. Sunday<\/p>\n

Del Mar Gate closed to all inbound traffic on Saturday. Only outbound traffic will be permitted.<\/p>\n

Other closures in effect include Stuart Mesa Road from Fire Base Gloria to Las Pulgas Road; Las Pulgas Road from Fire Station 6 to Stuart Mesa Road; Basilone Road, from San Mateo Road to Meadowlark Drive is closed due to damage, and Roblar Road (Case Springs Road), from Montigo to Buffalo is closed.<\/p>\n

Following the demonstration, Marines, sailors and families will gather at Del Mar Beach for the Beach Bash, an event with food vendors, music, static displays and family activities.<\/p>\n

I-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, half of them for work. <\/p>\n

Officials estimate $8.2 million in daily visitor spending could be lost due to the closure, along with delays for thousands of truck shipments relying on uninterrupted access.<\/p>\n

Updated at 1:55 p.m. Oct. 18, 2025<\/p>\n

City News Service contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

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