The California Highway Patrol has announced that a section of Interstate 5 in San Diego, from Harbor Drive to Basilone Road in Oceanside, will be closed from approximately 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday due to a military event at Camp Pendleton. This event involves the federal government discharging live ammunition over the freeway.
Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the situation in a news release, emphasizing the importance of public safety during the live fire demonstration at Camp Pendleton. The federal government confirmed the event early Saturday after communicating with state and local authorities.
Gov. Newsom expressed strong criticism of the demonstration, stating, “The President is putting his ego over responsibility with this disregard for public safety. 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.”
He continued, “In California, we are proud to honor our military and the sacrifices they continue to make for our country. As we all recognize the 250th anniversary of the Armed Forces, let us remember the guiding principles upon which our founding fathers built this great nation and hold dearly those inherent rights that we all share.”
The state was recently informed that the White House planned to hold a major event between Friday, October 17, and Saturday, October 18, at Camp Pendleton. This event was expected to involve firing live artillery rounds over the I-5 freeway, which Newsom condemned as an “absurd show of force.”
On Thursday, October 16, the U.S. Marine Corps confirmed that its exercise would be conducted on its training ranges, as it routinely does, but assured that it would not take place over the freeway. That same afternoon, federal officials directed the cancellation of train services running parallel to I-5 between Orange and San Diego counties on Saturday.
Late Friday, the state received a request from event organizers for Caltrans to post signage along Interstate 5 warning travelers of “Overhead fire in progress.” Additionally, state officials near Camp Pendleton observed live munitions being fired near the freeway in what appeared to be a practice run.
Early Saturday morning, after additional inquiries, the federal government informed state officials that live fire activities had been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Due to the extreme life-safety risks and potential distractions to drivers—including sudden, unexpected, and loud explosions—a section of I-5 will be closed for several hours on Saturday, October 18. This closure follows recommendations from traffic safety experts at the California Highway Patrol.
Interstate 5 serves as a critical economic corridor for Southern California, carrying more than 80,000 travelers and moving $94 million in freight daily between San Diego and Orange counties. Just north of Oceanside, over 65,000 vehicles cross county lines each day, with half of those commuters traveling for work.
Officials estimate that the closure could result in a loss of $8.2 million in daily visitor spending, along with significant delays affecting thousands of truck shipments that rely on uninterrupted access.
Drivers should anticipate considerable delays on Interstate 5 and surrounding regional routes before, during, and after the event. Travelers are encouraged to check real-time traffic conditions at [quickmap.dot.ca.gov](https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov) before traveling through the affected area.
City News contributed to this report.
https://timesofsandiego.com/military/2025/10/18/i-5-to-close-saturday-for-camp-pendleton-military-exercise-involving-live-ammunition/