Caltrans Closes Northbound I-805 at Palm Avenue
Overnight closures on November 15 and 17, 2026 allow crews to install false work for an interchange project.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Home Renovation
Live Poll
Do you think traffic conditions in your South Bay area are getting better?
Caltrans will close northbound Interstate 805 at Palm Avenue from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on November 15 and November 17, 2026. The closures replace work originally scheduled for November 14 that was postponed due to weather.
Why it matters
The closures are needed so crews can install false work for the ongoing Palm Avenue/I-805 Interchange Improvement Project. Drivers in the South Bay area should plan alternate routes during the overnight windows.
The Palm Avenue/I-805 Interchange Improvement Project carries a total cost of $31 million, and each overnight closure window runs from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The schedule remains subject to change due to weather, traffic incidents and other maintenance needs.
The players
Caltrans District 11
The District 11 office of the California Department of Transportation, which oversees state highways and freeways in San Diego County and co-leads the Palm Avenue interchange project with the City of San Diego.
City of San Diego
The municipal government that co-leads and co-funds the Palm Avenue/I-805 Interchange Improvement Project alongside Caltrans.
Federal Highway Administration
The U.S. Department of Transportation agency that provides federal funding for the Palm Avenue/I-805 Interchange Improvement Project.
The details
Northbound I-805 traffic will be detoured to westbound State Route 905, then northbound I-5, then eastbound State Route 54 to reconnect with I-805. The northbound on-ramp at Palm Avenue and the on-ramps south of State Route 54 remain open, and motorists must exit at Palm Avenue.
Timeline
June 2026: Construction on the interchange project began.
November 14, 2026: Original closure date postponed due to weather.
November 15, 2026: Northbound I-805 overnight closure at Palm Avenue, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
November 17, 2026: Northbound I-805 overnight closure at Palm Avenue, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Fall 2028: Estimated completion of the interchange improvement project.
Roadmap
The project is funded jointly by the City of San Diego and the Federal Highway Administration, following the cost-sharing model used for federally supported interchange rebuilds. Its fall 2028 completion target places it among multi-year freeway improvements scheduled in phases to limit long-term disruption.
Drivers using northbound I-805 near Palm Avenue on November 15 and 17 should plan the detour through State Route 905, I-5 and State Route 54 between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Commuters can check real-time conditions before leaving to avoid delays.
The takeaway
Overnight closures are a routine tool for building freeway interchanges safely, so checking real-time traffic maps before a late-night drive can save time. Planning a detour in advance keeps the trip predictable during construction windows.
What happens next
Northbound I-805 overnight closures at Palm Avenue are scheduled for November 15 and November 17, 2026, with work continuing toward an estimated completion in fall 2028.
Further reading
For more on home and infrastructure upkeep, see Home Renovation coverage on Wisevoter.
More information
Check live lane and ramp status on the Caltrans QuickMap real-time traffic conditions portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSWB 5/69.
Live Poll
Do you think traffic conditions in your South Bay area are getting better?
