I-5 Traffic Delays between Northern and Southern CA?

[stagemomto3]

We're heading down to DL next week, and I saw on the Caltrans site that there are a couple zones of one lane traffic on I-5, both directions around Buttonwillow. For anyone who has driven this route recently, how are the delays? Would you recommend going on 99 instead? We're from the East Bay, so usually head out to 5 via 580, but could continue to 99 without too much of a hassle.

 

[Miss SD]

I drove that route last Friday (Bay Area to Burbank), saw the warnings, but didn't take the suggested detour (Hwy 46?), which I guess was supposed to divert you to 99. We had a couple of short delays when the traffic went to one lane, but nothing too bad. I have no idea what it's like on the weekend. Maybe 99 is your best bet, if it's not too much trouble to get there.

 

[NStramler]

We're heading down to DL next week, and I saw on the Caltrans site that there are a couple zones of one lane traffic on I-5, both directions around Buttonwillow. For anyone who has driven this route recently, how are the delays? Would you recommend going on 99 instead? We're from the East Bay, so usually head out to 5 via 580, but could continue to 99 without too much of a hassle.

I live in Bakersfield and the news shows that back up quite often. Some weekends the traffic is backed up for 10 miles or so on the weekends. When we come home from Northern Ca, we take the detour over to 99 to be on the safe side. Lucky for us we did this the last time because it was a 10 mile backup!

 

[GrandBob]

Wow, 10 miles? Wow.

We went to Vegas a few weekends ago, and cut across on Lerdo Highway rather than 46. I usually do that because it's a little shorter. But Lerdo Highway is within 10 miles of 58, so I guess we were lucky. Going to Vegas again in a couple of weekends. Do you recommend cutting over on 46 rather than Lerdo Highway?

-Bob

 

[NStramler]

Wow, 10 miles? Wow.

We went to Vegas a few weekends ago, and cut across on Lerdo Highway rather than 46. I usually do that because it's a little shorter. But Lerdo Highway is within 10 miles of 58, so I guess we were lucky. Going to Vegas again in a couple of weekends. Do you recommend cutting over on 46 rather than Lerdo Highway?

-Bob

I would go ahead and cut across on 46 just to be on the safe side. It has been a real mess out there lately... Have fun in Vegas!

 

[Aurora1959]

Thanks for posting this, we were planning a trip south so I thought to investigate because of the post.

Here are the details in case anyone is curious:

[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
TRAFFIC IS REDUCED TO 1 LANE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS 24 HRS A DAY 7 DAYS
A WEEK THRU 10/20/11 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION - MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO DELAYS
OF UP TO 3 HOURS - ALTERNATE ROUTES ARE SUGGESTED

TO NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC FROM 1.6 MI NORTH OF THE JCT OF SR 43
/AT THE KERN RIVER UTILITY RD/ TO 0.7 MI NORTH OF THE JCT OF SR 58
(KERN CO)

TO SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC FROM 2 MI NORTH OF THE JCT OF SR 58
/AT THE BUTTONWILLOW REST AREA/ TO THE JCT OF SR 58 (KERN CO)

TO SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC FROM 7 MI SOUTH OF THE JCT OF SR 58 /AT STATION RD/
TO 2.7 MI SOUTH OF THE JCT OF SR 119 /AT BUENA VISTA CANAL RD/ (KERN CO)