The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has implemented a new bypass lane on the northbound Golden State Freeway (I-5) between Vista Del Lago Road and SR-138. The bypass lane will remain in effect through August 2013, while crews pave the two right lanes and shoulder of northbound I-5.

Bypass Lane Configuration: The inside lane of southbound I-5 has temporarily become a northbound lane at all times from Vista Del Lago Road to SR-138, a distance of about 7.5 miles. A temporary concrete barrier separates the northbound and southbound lanes.

This configuration allows three traffic lanes in each direction to remain in use while work is underway on the two outside northbound lanes and will reduce the duration of the project.

Motorists traveling in the left lane of northbound I-5 should prepare for the lane shift as they approach Vista Del Lago Road.

The bypass lane on northbound I-5 between just south of Gorman Road to just north of the Kern County line remains in effect through November 2013. The distance from the first bypass lane (Vista Del Lago to SR-138) to the second (Gorman Road to Kern County) is about three miles.

This work is part of a project that is replacing slabs in both directions of I-5 between the Vista Del Lago Road overcrossing and the Kern County Line, a distance of 15.4 miles.

This $100.1 million project, which will be completed in mid-2015, will extend the life of the pavement, reduce maintenance costs and closures, and provide a smoother ride for motorists. The contractor is Griffith/Coffman Joint Venture of Brea, Calif.

Closure information for this and other freeway projects is available on the Caltrans website: http://www.lcswebreports.dot.ca.gov/lcswebreports.