Newhall Pass interchange

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Newhall Pass Interchange
Clarence Wayne Dean Memorial Interchange
Maintained by Caltrans
System: Southern California freeways
State highways in California (list - pre-1964)
County routes in California (list)
History - Unconstructed - Deleted - Freeway - Scenic

The Newhall Pass Interchange (officially Clarence Wayne Dean Memorial Interchange) is a highway interchange at Newhall Pass, north of San Fernando in Southern California, United States. It connects Interstate 5 (Golden State Freeway) with State Route 14 (Antelope Valley Freeway), and includes truck bypass roadways (that can also be used by cars). The main I-5 truck bypass is the original four-lane freeway, built as U.S. Route 99.[1]

Contents

[edit] Incidents

[edit] 1971 collapse

A total collapse of the southbound Interstate 5 to northbound State Route 14 overpass occurred as a result of the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. This collapse resulted in the additional collapse of the intersecting southbound State Route 14 to southbound Interstate 5 overpass (as this connector bridge was directly beneath the 5/14 overpass). Both bridges fell directly onto the southbound Interstate 5 truck bypass. The interchange was rebuilt in 1972, with additional steel "rebar" reinforcement.

[edit] 1994 collapse

The January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake caused the southbound State Route 14 to southbound Interstate 5 overpass to collapse directly onto the southbound Interstate 5 truck bypass, nearly exactly as had happened in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. The collapse caused the death of Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officer Clarence Wayne Dean, who fell from a broken-off edge when he was unable to stop in time. [2] The interchange would later be dedicated the Clarence Wayne Dean Memorial Interchange in his honor. The collapse also closed the Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line, which began operation to Lancaster soon after.[3] The interchange was partially reopened on July 8 [4],and completed in 1995 with additional reinforcing on the overpass support columns.

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[edit] 2007 tunnel fire

Around 11 p.m. PDT on October 12, 2007, two trucks collided in the northernmost of two two-lane tunnels that take the southbound truck bypass roadway under the eight mainlanes of Interstate 5 where it travels adjacent to the northbound truck bypass lanes. The tunnel is a 550 ft. long reinforced concrete boxed girder, built in 1975. It was last inspected in April 2007, and no problems were found.[5]

Thirty commercial vehicles and one passenger vehicle were involved in the traffic collision. A resulting fire soon spread from vehicle to vehicle, eventually encompassing the entire tunnel with flames shooting nearly 100 feet outside the tunnel and burning at around 1,400 degrees F.[6]. Three people died, including a 38-year-old male truck driver and his 6-year-old male passenger, and ten people were injured, none critically. [7].

As a result of the accident and ensuing fire, all lanes of Interstate 5 between Calgrove Boulevard and State Route 14 were closed. In addition, the southbound onramps between State Route 126 and Calgrove Boulevard were closed[8] along with the northbound approaches from State Route 14 and Interstate 210.[9]

Firefighters finished removing debris from the tunnel at 7 a.m. on October 14, 2007. Inspectors found heavy damage to the tunnel walls under the north portal. They also found a lot of spalling and exposed rebar, both of which can cause a loss of vertical support. However, the tunnel roof (or bridge) was found to be sound.[10] Caltrans worked through the weekend of October 13 and 14, 2007 to clear out and install five shoring supports inside the tunnel. At 4:20 p.m. on October 14, 2007 Caltrans opened up the two northbound truck bypass lanes to all traffic.

On Monday, October 15, 2007, the southbound mainline lanes of Interstate 5 were reopened at 1:00 am. The northbound mainlane lanes were reopened two hours later. The speed limit on the southbound lanes was lowered to 55 miles-per-hour to help with the flow due to heavier congestion than normal.[11] Emergency funding for the repairs was authorized for the damaged tunnel.[12]Contractor C. C. Myers was placed on site with materials and workers to perform any needed repairs. During the repairs, the southbound I-5 truck lanes remained closed, while southbound trucks through the interchange were diverted onto the auto lanes.

The southbound I-5 truck lanes were reopened on Thursday, November 15, 2007. Security Paving of Oxnard performed the remaining repairs and made safety improvements to the tunnel which included the following:

  • New pavement for the tunnel walls and the roadway.
  • Improved tunnel lighting for both sides of the tunnel. This lighting is set to adjust depending on the weather conditions outside the tunnel.

Also, in addition to herein, the speed limit on the tunnel was lowered back to 45 mph until after exiting the tunnel.[13]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Caltrans photos of the interchange, 1956 and 1963
  2. ^ Dean, Clarence W[dead link]
  3. ^ U.S. Department of Transportation, Effects of Catastrophic Events on Transportation System Management and Operations: Northridge Earthquake- January 17, 1994, April 22, 2002
  4. ^ Los Angeles Daily News, Metrolink Fares Set to Increase, July 13, 1994
  5. ^ Caltrans District 7 News Release, October 13, 2007[dead link]
  6. ^ Associated Press[dead link]
  7. ^ LA Times[dead link]
  8. ^ KABC news[dead link]
  9. ^ Caltrans road conditions
  10. ^ Caltrans District 7 News Release, October 14, 2007[dead link]
  11. ^ LA Times[dead link]
  12. ^ Caltrans District 7 News Release, October 14, 2007[dead link]
  13. ^ KNBC.com-Channel 4 News

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 34°20′06″N, 118°30′30″W