Caltrans opens two lanes of northbound 5 freeway

Burned-out tanker in the connector tunnel under I-5 in Elysian Valley.

Caltrans officials were able to open two northbound lanes of I-5 at the interchange with the 2 freeway in Elysian Valley in time for today's afternoon commute. The rest of the northbound I-5 lanes may open by the morning, the two closed southbound I-5 lanes by noon on Tuesday. The damaged tunnel where a tanker overturned and caught fire on Saturday remains closed, blocking northbound traffic on the 2 from entering the northbound I-5.

'The intense heat from the tanker fire on Saturday, July 14 caused extensive damage to the pavement, walls, support columns, drainage, and lighting within the tunnel requiring the closure of all lanes of northbound I-5 at SR-2 and two lanes of southbound I-5. The northbound SR-2/northbound I-5 connector is closed indefinitely," Caltrans posted at 5:30 p.m. "Caltrans will take core samples of the concrete in the tunnel to determine the extent of damage and determine a permanent repair solution.

Caltrans posted a small gallery of photos on Monday showing the burned-out chassis of the tanker, the damaged concrete and more.