Cajon Pass I-15 Projects and Closures: 2026 Update

The I-15 through the Cajon Pass is the main link between Hesperia, Victorville and the Inland Empire, and as of November 2026 most of its big upgrades are still years away. SBCTA's northbound truck climbing lane extension is in early planning, with a forecast opening in 2031. Express lanes are under construction farther south in Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga, and Brightline West's high-speed rail line through the pass is still waiting on federal financing.

In the meantime, closures come mostly from storms, fires, crashes and overnight maintenance. Here is what is planned, what has closed the pass recently, and how to check conditions before you drive.

Where it stands (as of November 2026)

Northbound truck climbing lane extension

This SBCTA project would link two northbound truck lanes that exist today with a break between them. It would also help traffic move better at the SR-138 interchange. As of SBCTA's May 2026 page update, the project was still in its first planning step, the Project Initiation Document.

SBCTA's December 2025 status report gives the details:

• Length: about 3.9 miles, from 2.7 miles north of Kenwood Avenue to SR-138. The project page says about 3.4 miles.
• Estimated cost: about $109.5 million, funded by Measure I and state TCEP freight funds.
• Forecast: environmental clearance December 2026, construction start November 2028, open to traffic June 2031.

I-15 Corridor Freight and Express Lanes (south of the pass)

This SBCTA project adds one to two express lanes in each direction. Its limits run from Cantu-Galleano Ranch Road in Jurupa Valley to just north of Foothill Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga. That is the stretch many High Desert commuters drive after they leave the pass.

The December 2025 report says construction began in February 2025. The estimated cost is about $537.6 million, with the lanes forecast to open in August 2028. SBCTA is coordinating the work with Brightline West near Rancho Cucamonga.

Weigh station, bridges and pavement

• Cajon weigh station. Caltrans is relocating the southbound Cajon Weigh Station and Truck Safety Check Area in a $25 million project. In May 2026, Victor Valley News reported overnight closures between Ranchero Road and the pass, with completion expected in summer 2026. We could not find a completion announcement.
• Bridge work. Caltrans scheduled southbound bridge inspections and repairs for October 24, 2026, with lane closures and a Cleghorn Road on-ramp closure. It canceled them two days earlier.
• Pavement. Caltrans repaved 59 lane miles of I-15 from Oak Hill Road in Hesperia to just south of Bear Valley Road in Victorville. Its project page listed a late June 2025 finish.

Highway 138 projects

Caltrans plans to realign a curving stretch of SR-138 east of I-15 near Hesperia, ending at the Hog Creek Bridge. It also proposed repairing or replacing 39 culverts on SR-138 near Silverwood Lake (April 2026 notice). Neither notice gives a construction date.

After the Lake Fire, Caltrans filed a November 2025 emergency repair notice for SR-138 near Silverwood Lake. It covers replacing burned guardrail, clearing debris and removing loose rock. The notice does not describe a closure.

What has closed the pass recently?

Most closures are short, but they can back traffic up for miles. Dated examples from the past two years:

• Fire, August 28, 2026. A vegetation fire near Kenwood Avenue closed two northbound lanes. It was mapped at 7.4 acres that afternoon, per Victor Valley News.
• Storm, December 24–26, 2025. Christmas Eve rain flooded and partly washed out SR-138. It closed from I-15 to Summit Valley Road and on the Phelan side, according to Victor Valley News. On December 26, CHP gave no reopening time.
• Fog crash, May 2, 2025. A five-vehicle crash in heavy fog just north of SR-138 briefly closed all northbound lanes, per Victor Valley News.

Are there good alternate routes?

Not really. A local Wrightwood community page describes three common detours. In our own summary:

• West side, northbound drivers only: leave I-15 at SR-138 and take it west to Sheep Creek Road. Turn north to reach Highway 18, then head east into Victorville.
• Lake Arrowhead route: climb the mountains on Highway 18, cross over on 138 and 173, and come down Lake Arrowhead Road into Hesperia at Main Street.
• Big Bear loop: the longest option, through Big Bear on Highways 330, 18 and 38, then out through Lucerne Valley on Highway 18 to Victorville.

These are slow two-lane mountain or desert roads. The same storm can close them as well. In December 2025, SR-138 itself closed.

San Bernardino County is studying this gap. In April 2024, an SBCTA committee approved a $762,899 emergency bypass study of SR-247 and SR-62 as I-15 alternatives. We found no published results.

North of I-15, SBCTA's US-395 Phase 2 project is widening 395 from two to four lanes for about 7 miles up to SR-18. Construction was awarded in November 2025, with a forecast finish in May 2028.

How does freight rail share the pass?

BNSF Railway and Union Pacific both run main lines through the Cajon Pass. Brightline West's federal environmental finding (July 2023) shows its line crossing four BNSF tracks and three Union Pacific tracks on grade separations. That means bridges or underpasses, not road-style crossings.

Where Brightline West stands

Brightline West plans a 218-mile electric line from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga. Its construction page describes a 34-mile "California South" section from Hesperia to Rancho Cucamonga, running down the pass in the I-15 median. The Federal Railroad Administration's review measures from the Victor Valley station in Apple Valley instead, so it uses about 49 miles. Planned stations:

• Hesperia: with reserved seats on some weekday trains for High Desert commuters.
• Victor Valley: in Apple Valley near Dale Evans Parkway and I-15.
• Rancho Cucamonga: near Milliken Avenue, connecting to Metrolink's San Bernardino Line.

In February 2026, Brightline announced soil borings in the I-15 median near Main Street and Oak Hill Road. It also scheduled night borings toward Devore.

Timeline

What's still undecided?

• Brightline financing. In March 2026, The Bond Buyer reported the cost at $21.05 billion, up from $16.1 billion. In October 2026, Brightline said it still expects to open in 2029. It also said it needs about four years of construction after financing closes, and financing had not closed as of November 2, 2026. Both statements are the company's own.
• Truck lane funding. SBCTA's December 2025 report lists about $60 million in Measure I and $51 million in state TCEP freight funds, with a small unfunded gap of about $1.5 million.
• Bypass routes. The SR-247/SR-62 study has no public findings yet.

What it could mean for High Desert homeowners and buyers

• Overnight lane and ramp closures hit Oak Hill Road, Ranchero Road and Cleghorn Road in 2025 and 2026. Check QuickMap before late-night trips.
• No new I-15 lane through the pass is scheduled to open before 2031.
• If Brightline West is built, Hesperia and Apple Valley would have stations with a link to Metrolink. See our Brightline West post for more.
• Check before you leave. Caltrans QuickMap shows CHP incidents, closures, chain controls and cameras. You can also call 1-800-427-7623. SoCal511 adds rideshare and transit options. Caltrans District 8 posts project notices on its news page.

How Pleasant Hill can help

If your commute is part of the decision, we can help you weigh homes near I-15, US-395 and Highway 138. You can search homes, request a free home valuation, or contact us. Our Hesperia agent is Nancy Navarro. For more about the city, read our Hesperia community guide.

General information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Rules, fees and rates change; confirm with the agency linked above or ask us. Pleasant Hill Real Estate Group · CA DRE Corp. #01997374 · AZ Entity Lic. #LC694532000 · Equal Housing Opportunity.