Road Conditions: Interstate 5 and other main roads in the Mountain Communities are open

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Feb. 11, 2019 at 10:30 a.m.)—Hudson Ranch Road is open, according to Kern County Roads Department.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Feb. 11, 2019 at 7:30 a.m.)—Hudson Ranch Road was closed at 11 p.m. from Hwy. 166 to Pine Mountain Club. Highway 33 was closed at about 1:30 a.m. between Ojai and Lockwood Valley Road due to snow and ice conditions.

LEBEC, CA (Monday, Feb. 11, 2019 at 2:30 a.m.)—The Grapevine is now open on both directions.

LEBEC, CA (Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at 10:23 p.m.)—Interstate 5 over the Grapevine is still closed at Laval Road on the north side and at Parker Road on the south side. CHP is attempting to escort motorists OFF the mountain during this sub-freezing weather.

LEBEC, CA (Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at 10:10 p.m.)—CHP is having to stop northbound vehicles over the Grapevine because the roadway is icy approaching the summit between Gorman and Lebec.

LEBEC, CA (Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at 9:14 p.m.)—CHP is escorting vehicles northbound on Interstate 5 from Frazier Mountain Park Road and from Gorman.

LEBEC, CA (Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at 7:35 p.m.)—CHP is shutting down the northbound onramp at Gorman to prevent motorists from attempting to drive over the icy summit.

LEBEC, CA (Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at 7:32 p.m.)—CHP is attempting to clear the traffic jam on southbound I-5 by directing motorists to exit at Frazier Mountain Park Road and turn back north on Interstate 5.

LEBEC, CA (Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at 7:14 p.m.)—Southbound motorists are advised to take one of these highways WEST to the coast: 198, 41, 46 or 166. Then take U.S. Route 101 south into Los Angeles. Northbound motorists are advised to take State Route 14 North from I-5 in the Newhall area. Do not attempt to take State Route 138 into Gorman; you will end up on dangerous, icy roads that have been closed.

LEBEC, CA (Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at 7:02 p.m.)—The Grapevine is closed in both directions. Northbound traffic has been stopped in Castaic and Southbound traffic is stopped at Grapevine. Caltrans has launched a message on its northbound freeway sign at Balboa advising motorists to use State Route 14 north to bypass the closure.

LEBEC, CA (Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at 6:51 p.m.)—Motorists are advised NOT to follow directions from internet navigation/mapping services (such as Waze or Google Maps) to “get around” the closures on the mountain. Those motorists unfamiliar with driving in the local snow conditions are finding themselves sliding into ditches and needing to be rescued. Motorists are advised to stop at the nearest opportunity and wait for the roadway to reopen. There are restaurants currently open in Lebec near Frazier Mountain Park Road.

LEBEC, CA (Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at 6:45 p.m.)—Southbound Interstate 5 has been shut down at Grapevine, according to CHP, due to snow and ice conditions beginning at Frazier Mountain Park Road. Vehicles are sliding off the roadway on Ralphs Ranch Road, south of Frazier Mountain Park Road.

LEBEC, CA (Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at 6:35 p.m.)—Southbound Interstate 5 will be shut down at Frazier Mountain Park Road momentarily, according to radio traffic from Kern County Sheriff’s Office. CHP reports four vehicles are stuck on the southbound onramp to the I-5.

This is part of the February 8, 2019 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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