Interstate 15 express lanes to be temporarily reconfigured daily to test barrier-transfer machine

SAN DIEGO – The Interstate 15 (I-15) express lanes will be temporarily reconfigured on a daily basis starting in early April as part of a short test of the barrier-transfer machine, according to Caltrans.

Starting Monday, April 8 and each weekday for a few weeks, the machine will start reconfiguring the I-15 express lanes early in the morning with three lanes in the southbound direction and one lane in the northbound direction. Then about mid-day, the machine will reverse the configuration with three lanes northbound and one lane southbound. The lanes will be reconfigured with two lanes in each direction on weekends.

"We've done some of this on a very limited basis and wanted to evaluate the machine's performance during a full-scale operation simulation," said Caltrans spokesperson Cathryne Bruce-Johnson. "It may be noticeable for some motorists, especially those that use the Express Lanes on a regular basis.”

The I-15 express lanes accommodate carpools, vanpools and buses free of charge. Single drivers with a FasTrak® account may also use the lanes. Electronic message signs will alert motorists when the barrier transfer machine is in operation.