Picture this: You're zooming along one of California's most vital highways, Interstate 5, when suddenly, thunderous explosions erupt overhead from military artillery—creating chaos, confusion, and a whole lot of debate. That's the wild reality facing commuters in Southern California as officials reopened a 17-mile section of the freeway, but with major traffic snarls persisting into the afternoon due to a high-profile military event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. But here's where it gets controversial—while the military insists it's perfectly safe, critics are blasting it as reckless and politically motivated. Let's dive into the details, breaking it down step by step so even newcomers to these kinds of stories can follow along easily.
In Sacramento, officials announced the reopening around noon, but they cautioned drivers to brace for ongoing delays. The reason? Live-fire artillery rounds would be launched over the freeway as part of a Marine Corps celebration. To put that in simple terms, 'live-fire' means actual ammunition being shot—nothing simulated here. Oceanside's Assistant Police Chief John McKean explained to The Times that the California Highway Patrol would manage the situation by briefly halting traffic during the firing phases.
"It's not as if drivers are in danger of being struck by the explosives themselves," McKean reassured. "The main issue is the loud booms that could startle them. Imagine a series of deafening cracks echoing for about 15 to 20 minutes—it might scare folks on the road, for sure." To help beginners understand, think of it like fireworks going off unexpectedly during a family picnic; harmless in theory, but distracting and potentially alarming in a high-speed driving environment.
The southbound lanes of I-5 came to a grinding halt roughly half a mile before the El Camino Real exit, which is just before the official closure point. The three preceding exits—Avenida Palizada, Avenida Pico, and Avenida Vista Hermosa—flashed warning signs alerting drivers to the upcoming shutdown. Those who ignored the warnings and pushed past Avenida Palizada faced at least a 30-minute ordeal just trying to get off the freeway. And this is the part most people miss: Some desperate drivers even attempted illegal 90-degree turns on the southbound lanes to sneak onto the vacant El Camino Real onramp, creating a temporary workaround before a Highway Patrol officer intervened and blocked the access.
The full closure spanned from Harbor Drive in Oceanside to Basilone Road near San Onofre, lasting from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. To add to the disruption, Amtrak suspended its train service between Orange and San Diego counties through midday, as shared in a tweet from PacSurfliners. This unprecedented shutdown stemmed from military confirmations that live rounds would be fired over the freeway during the event, prompting state officials to take action to protect public safety.
But here's the kicker—Gov. Gavin Newsom didn't hold back in criticizing the White House for poor coordination and withholding safety details ahead of the Marine Corps 250th anniversary festivities. "The President is prioritizing his ego over accountability, showing a blatant disregard for public safety," Newsom stated in a press release. "Shooting live ammunition over a crowded highway isn't just misguided—it's downright hazardous." McKean, who has been in discussions with Camp Pendleton officials for the past month, revealed that the interstate closure was a last-minute decision from Newsom's office, coming just overnight.
The city of Oceanside only learned about it at 7:30 a.m. via a California Highway Patrol update. "The Marine Corps wasn't even in the loop on the closure; this directive came straight from Sacramento through Cal Trans to CHP," McKean clarified. As someone who's resided in the area since 1996 and has 20 years in the Marine Corps under his belt, he noted, "I've experienced artillery fire over me many times, but for everyday drivers, it could be a real distraction. I believe the governor is erring on the side of caution." Terry Gorman Brown, a city spokesperson, warned that the shutdown could extend travel times from San Diego to Los Angeles by hours, turning a routine drive into an epic ordeal.
This incident highlights growing tensions between California and the Trump administration, which have intensified recently. For context, the White House has deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles to suppress protests, increased immigration raids, and pressured universities to align with federal agendas—all moves that critics argue overstep state boundaries. Despite the Marine Corps and White House claims that the closure was unnecessary, the event is described as a "historic Amphibious Capabilities Demonstration," emphasizing the Navy-Marine Corps team's strength and readiness to defend the nation.
Military officials pointed out that artillery was already tested from Red Beach into designated ranges during a Friday rehearsal. "M777 Howitzers have been safely fired during regular training from positions west of I-5 into impact zones east of the interstate, adhering to established safety measures without needing to shut down the road," they stated. This is an established and safe practice, they insisted. Yet, Newsom's team felt differently, having been alerted earlier in the week about potential freeway closures. When no federal directive came by Wednesday, state officials decided to act independently, driven by worries over live ordnance crossing above the highway.
The drama escalated: Newsom's office initially heard no live fire would cross the freeway, only for that to change by Friday when organizers requested a sign reading "Overhead fire in progress." Early Saturday, word came that live rounds were slated for around 1:30 p.m., leading CHP to advocate for the closure due to safety risks and the chance of driver distraction. Capt. Gregory Dreibelbis from I Marine Expeditionary Force confirmed that while no ordnance would come from Navy ships, Marines would use M777 Howitzers for high-explosive rounds in safe zones, supplemented by simulated effects.
William Martin, communications director for Vice President JD Vance, accused Newsom of sensationalizing the exercise. "Gavin Newsom is trying to portray this as dangerous," Martin countered. Caltrans echoed the gravity, stating the closure was necessitated by the White House-directed event involving live ammo over the freeway, with potential delays throughout.
For practical advice, Caltrans suggested detours: From San Diego County northbound, start at State Route 15 in the southeast, and for those west of SR-15 along I-5, opt for SR-94, SR-52, SR-56, or SR-78 to connect to I-15 north. Heading from San Diego to Los Angeles? Take I-15 north to SR-91 west into LA. From Los Angeles south to San Diego, use SR-91 east to I-15 south. To reach Orange County from San Diego, go I-15 north to SR-91 west, then SR-55 south; reverse for the opposite direction via SR-55 north to SR-91 east to I-15 south.
Adding layers to the story, this military display coincides with "No Kings" rallies statewide, protesting what many see as government overreach by President Trump. With over 2,700 such events nationwide and dozens in Southern California, it's a stark counterpoint to Trump's own military parade in June for the Army's 250th anniversary. "Wielding our armed forces to intimidate dissent is not strength—it's irresponsible and unworthy of the presidency," Newsom remarked. "This isn't law and order; it's mayhem."
The Trump administration had planned a grander naval anniversary bash next month in San Diego, featuring the Blue Angels and warship parades, but those have been scrapped. Camp Pendleton itself, a sprawling 125,000-acre base in northwestern San Diego County, has long been vital for amphibious training since World War II, with its beaches and hills ideal for prep. Interestingly, the Department of Defense is now exploring leasing parts of it for civilian development—a shift that could reshape the area.
So, what's your take on all this? Is prioritizing military celebrations over commuter safety a fair trade-off, or is it a power play? Do you side with the governor's caution or the military's assurances of safety? And here's a thought-provoking twist: Could this be less about genuine risks and more about political theater to undermine the administration? We'd love to hear your opinions—agree, disagree, or share your own experiences in the comments below!
