"According to the California Highway Patrol, the closure impacts both sides of the freeway from Harbor Drive in Oceanside to Basilone Road near San Onofre. Just minutes after the closure took effect at 11 a.m., the freeway began backing up with heavy traffic. In a statement, the CHP said the military event will involve "live ammunition being discharged by the federal government over the freeway.""
"Outrage grew after the Trump administration said the Marine Corps would be firing live ammunition during the demonstration on Saturday and was considering shutting down a stretch of the 5 Freeway by the base. On Thursday, the Marines said the celebration would not shut down the freeway. But the state was asked Friday to put signage along the freeway that read "Overhead fire in progress," according to a statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom's office."
"Early Saturday morning, the federal government informed the state that the live fire activities were scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Due to the safety risk and distractions to drivers, the CHP made the call to temporarily shut down the freeway. Over 80,000 travelers and $94 million in freight travel the freeway every day, according to Newsom's office. The vice president, war secretary and thousands of other spectators are expected to attend the live-fire exercise."
A 17-mile stretch of Interstate 5 from Harbor Drive in Oceanside to Basilone Road near San Onofre was temporarily closed for a Camp Pendleton Marine Corps 250th anniversary live-fire demonstration. The California Highway Patrol said live ammunition would be discharged over the freeway, prompting immediate traffic backups after the 11 a.m. closure and suspension of Amtrak service between Orange and San Diego counties. Video shows live munitions fired near the freeway during a practice run. The state requested signage reading "Overhead fire in progress," and the CHP closed the roadway due to safety risks and driver distraction concerns. More than 80,000 travelers and $94 million in daily freight use the corridor, and the vice president, war secretary and thousands of spectators were expected at the exercise.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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