CalTrans officials have reopened two lanes after a big rig went over the of the embankment early Wednesday morning.
UPDATE (3:45PM) CalTrans is opening up a second lane to help alleviate traffic. A big rig that went over the side of the embankment late last night crews are still working to clear the scene. Hazardous material inside the truck is slowing down the process. Right now SB I-5 is down to 1 open lane. CHP is hoping to reopen all lanes by 6pm.
Posted by Jessica Harrington 23ABC on Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Three lanes of southbound Interstate 5 near Pyramid Lake were shut down most of Wednesday due to a big rig that drove off the road and down an embankment.
According to the California Highway Patrol, a big rig overturned in the area of Vista Del Lago Road Tuesday night around 11 p.m.
Officials said there are hazardous material inside the truck that is slowing down the process.
The blocked lanes backed up traffic up to six miles at times.
"I had a doctors appointment, I had to go pay the bills, had to go get cat food, had to go get money out of the bank, none of it is happening," said Irene Davis who was driving to Valencia.
Others who had to go down to Southern California had to wait in traffic or take a different route.
“To me, in my mind it’s going to be the same amount of time so it make no difference to me," said Michael Valenzuela who was driving to LA for work.
Officials reopened two lanes around 4 p.m.
A tweet from the CHP's Central Division says traffic is backed up at least three miles and it will remained closed beyond 6 p.m.
#Grapevine UPDATE #Alert #1 & #2 lanes are now open #3 & #4 lanes remain closed back up still approx 6miles SB I-5 at Vista Del Lago
— CHP Central Division (@CHPCentralDiv) December 17, 2015
Valenzuela said he was also worried about the road safety hearing about another accident.
“My biggest concern is that is the second time it’s happened in roughly the same general area," Valenzuela said.
Last week a FedEx truck also drove off of the embankment, backing up traffic for a few hours.
However, other drivers said they weren't as concerned because multiple accidents are expected this time of year.
“You know it’s winter weather and you just have to be safe on it. You just have to drive cautiously and look out for other people," said Malachi Wilson who was driving to Valencia.
Officials originally hoped all lanes would reopen by 6 p.m., but because the clean up took so long, that time had to be pushed back. Officials didn't give an estimated time of when the road would reopen.
