A section of Interstate 5 in northern Los Angeles County that was closed due to the nearby Hughes fire reopened Wednesday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Early Wednesday afternoon, authorities closed the freeway in both directions through Grapevine, closing the northbound lanes at the interchange with Highway 126 and Grapevine Road on the southern edge of Kern County. But southbound traffic stopped.
“For a variety of reasons, we’re going to reopen the freeway so people can go again and again,” LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a news conference.
However, Luna stressed that people who don’t need to travel should still avoid the area.
“If you don’t live in the area, if you’re following the smoke, if you want to see what the firefighters are doing, turn on the television,” he said. “Don’t drive in these areas. You’re affecting emergency vehicles getting in and out. We don’t need more traffic. We want less traffic.”
