CAMP PENDLETON, CA — A stretch of the freeway shut down Saturday in San Diego County due to a military event celebrating the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th birthday.
The California Highway Patrol on Saturday announced the "unscheduled closure" of a section of Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton due to public safety concerns linked to a controversial live-fire military demonstration at the base that prompted concerns from state officials over public safety. The closure comes a day after military officials assured community leaders that a closure wouldn't be necessary.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statement Saturday blasting the federal government's decision to move forward with the event and confirming the temporary freeway closure.
"The President is putting his ego over responsibility with this disregard for public safety," Newsom said. "Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn't just wrong — it's dangerous. Using our military to intimidate people you disagree with isn't strength — it's reckless, it's disrespectful, and it's beneath the office he holds. Law and order? This is chaos and confusion."
The closure was scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday from Harbor Drive to Basilone Road, according to the CHP.
"Because of the event and closure, drivers should expect delays on Interstate 5 and other state routes throughout Southern California before, during and after the event," the CHP said in a statement.
According to the governor's office, the state received notice late Friday from event organizers asking for Caltrans signage to be posted along the I-5 warning drivers of "overhead fire in progress." State officials observed a practice round Friday near the freeway.
Early Saturday morning, the federal government confirmed that live fire activity was scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the governor's office.
The decision to close a section of the freeway was recommended by traffic safety experts at the CHP, who cited "extreme life safety risk and distraction to drivers, including sudden unexpected and loud explosions," according to the governor's office.
The freeway closure comes days after the U.S. Marines said no public highways or transportation routes would be closed for the event, called "America's Marines 250: From Sea to Shore – A Review of Amphibious Strength."
Top officials from the Trump administration, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are scheduled to join more than 15,000 Marines, sailors, veterans and their families for the occasion.
The planned live-fire demonstration sparked concerns earlier this week that a stretch of I-5 would need to be shut down for the public's safety.
"Donald Trump and JD Vance think that shutting down the I-5 to shoot out missiles from ships is how you respect the military," Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on X. "Put aside your vanity parade and pay our troops instead."
Rep. Mike Levin, who represents Camp Pendleton and surrounding communities, also expressed concerns.
"As the proud representative for Camp Pendleton, I'll always honor our Marines — the best fighting force in the world," he posted on X. "But reports of multi-hour I-5 closures on Friday and Saturday raise serious concerns. We should celebrate the Marine Corps' 250th birthday with full transparency and without disrupting the community."
In a news released issued Wednesday by the Marines, officials said all training events would take place on approved training ranges and comply with established safety protocols. At that time, military officials said no public highways or transportation routes would be closed.
Caltrans and the CHP on Saturday urged motorists planning to travel near the closure to visit quickmap.dot.ca.gov for real-time traffic information.
According to Caltrans, passenger rail service on the adjacent rail line will also temporarily be disrupted Saturday afternoon.
In San Diego County, the detour to head north will begin at Interstate 15 in southeast San Diego, according to Caltrans. Travelers west of I-15 along the I-5 corridor in San Diego are advised to use SR-94, SR-52, SR-56, or SR-78 to I-15 north.
Travelers from San Diego heading to Los Angeles County are advised to use I-15 north to state Route 91 west into Los Angeles, according to Caltrans. Travelers starting in Los Angeles heading south to San Diego should use SR-91 east to I-15 south.
To get to Orange County from San Diego, travelers are advised to take I-15 north to SR-91 west then SR-55 south. Travelers from Orange County heading south to San Diego, should use SR-55 north to SR-91 east to I-15 south.
Travelers to and from Riverside County are advised to take I-15 and SR-91.