The California Department of Transportation broke ground Friday on a major freeway repaving project spanning 14 miles of roadway from Lake Hughes Road in Castaic north to Vista Del Lago at Lake Pyramid.

The project entails covering I-5 Freeway lanes, shoulders and ramps with rubberized asphalt concrete in both directions. It will also replace traffic loop detectors, construct meet handicapped-accessible curb ramps, adjust inlets to grade, replace damaged slabs with rapid strength concrete and install two traffic cameras.

“For too many years we’ve seen the condition of our roads and bridges deteriorate. It is important for our economy that our roads serve well into the decades to come,” said Doug Failing, executive director of highway programs for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Castaic Chamber of Commerce Board President Rev. Latisha Stewart Smith speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The $23 million project – of which $11 million is federally funded via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – got underway last month. It is targeted for completion next spring. The contractor is Security Paving Inc. of Sun Valley. Most construction work is being done at night to minimize impacts, leaving at least one lane open with nonconsecutive ramp closures.

A future $130 million project, approved earlier this month by the California Transportation Commission, will rehabilitate the next stretch of roadway from Vista Del Lago north to the Kern County line. That project will start when the current one is complete.