Southbound I-5 reopens at Oregon-California state line

Oregon Department of Transportation urges drives to not attempt detours using lesser maintained routes.

Salem Statesman Journal

This Oregon Department of Transportation road camera image of the southbound Interstate 5 lanes at milepost 1, on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

All southbound lanes of Interstate 5 are open from exit 14 in Ashland to the California state line after being closed due to severe winter conditions in northern California, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Drivers should expect winter weather conditions and delays as backed-up traffic begins moving again, ODOT said.

Northbound semitrucks pulled over at exit 1 Siskiyou on Interstate 5 near the Oregon-California state line, on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

Oregon Route 66 and Oregon Route 273 also are closed, except for local traffic.

"Do not attempt a detour using lesser maintained routes such as Dead Indian Memorial Rd. or Colestin Rd," ODOT said.

Cherrill Crosby is the executive editor of the Statesman Journal and The Register-Guard. You may reach her at crosbyc@gannett.com