New Carpool/HOV Lanes Open on I-5 in Carlsbad! 

Caltrans and SANDAG joined local elected officials and community leaders to commemorate the completion of four new miles of Carpool/High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes along Interstate 5 (I-5) between Palomar Airport Road in the City of Carlsbad and State Route 78 (SR 78) in the City of Oceanside. The southbound lanes opened to traffic on Wednesday, June 14. 

The new lanes connect to the existing nine miles of I-5 Carpool/HOV lanes completed last year as part of Build NCC, bringing the total to 13 miles of new Carpool/HOV lanes available for use within the North Coast Corridor. The new southbound lanes are currently open to traffic, and the northbound lanes are expected to open fully on Tuesday, June 26, after crews complete final striping.

These improvements provide the region with new travel options, increased coastal access, and an anticipated reduction in commute times.

About I-5 Carpool/HOV Lanes

The new Carpool/HOV lanes are permitted for motorists with 2+ people in the vehicle at a time, motorcycles, vanpools, buses, or electric/clean air vehicles with HOV access stickers issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The Carpool/HOV lanes will operate 24/7, and motorists driving alone without HOV access stickers in these lanes are subject to fines. Please note that vehicles can only enter/exit the Carpool/HOV lanes via the dashed white lines. Roadside signage will also alert motorists when they need to exit the Carpool/HOV lanes to reach their chosen exit.  

Please see the map below, which shows the new and existing Carpool/HOV lanes:

To ensure safety for both motorists and highway crews during I-5 construction, drivers are reminded to “Drive 55 on the 5” in the Build NCC construction zone and that traffic fines are doubled in construction zones. The SANDAG-operated Motorist Aid Service for roadside assistance can be easily accessed by dialing 5-1-1 anywhere in San Diego County. Additionally, the “Move Over” law requires all drivers to move over a lane or, if they are unable to do that safely, slow down when they see amber flashing lights on Caltrans vehicles, law enforcement and emergency vehicles, and tow trucks.

About Build NCC

Build NCC is a collaborative effort between SANDAG, Caltrans, and United States Department of Transportation. The first phase of construction is in the cities of Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Carlsbad as part of the North Coast Corridor Program. Build NCC includes extending the existing Carpool/HOV lane on Interstate 5 in each direction from Lomas Santa Fe Drive to State Route 78, double-tracking the rail line and replacing the highway bridge at the San Elijo Lagoon, restoring the San Elijo Lagoon, and constructing nearly seven miles of new bike and pedestrian trails. Construction on Build NCC began in early 2017 and will be complete by 2024.