At a Glance
- Gas line explosion near the 5 Freeway in Castaic shut down the entire route.
- Northbound traffic was diverted to CA-126 and SR-138.
- A shelter-in-place order covered multiple Castaic neighborhoods.
- Why it matters: The incident disrupted regional traffic and posed safety risks for residents and commuters.
On Saturday, a gas line explosion near the 5 Freeway in Castaic forced authorities to close the entire stretch of the highway and issue a shelter-in-place order for surrounding areas.
Explosion Near 5 Freeway
Authorities responded at 4:17 p.m. after reports of a sulfur-smelling blast that sounded like a jet engine. The exact location of the explosion remains unclear, but it was close to Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place.
- West of I-5
- South of North Red Oak Court
- North of Park Vista Drive
- East of Meadow Grass Drive, Victoria Road, and Mandolin Canyon Road
Road Closures and Diversions
The California Highway Patrol declared the 5 Freeway shut down indefinitely and issued a SIGALERT. All lanes on the northbound I-5 were closed with traffic diverted to SR-126, while southbound lanes were diverted to SR-138.
| Direction | Closed Lanes | Diversion |
|---|---|---|
| NB I-5 | All lanes | SR-126 |
| SB I-5 | All lanes | SR-138 |
The closure remains in effect until further notice due to the safety hazard posed by the gas line explosion.
Key Takeaways
- Gas line explosion shut down the 5 Freeway in Castaic.
- Traffic diverted to CA-126 (northbound) and SR-138 (southbound).
- Shelter-in-place order covers several Castaic neighborhoods.
The incident highlights the importance of rapid emergency response and the ongoing risk of gas line failures in the region.
