San Diego I-5 Overnight Closure Starts at 9 p.m.

Caltrans District 11 says all northbound Interstate 5 lanes and five outside northbound Interstate 805 lanes will close overnight Monday for striping on newly paved pavement. The window runs from 9 p.m. August 31 to 5 a.m. September 1 between Torrey Hills and University City.

Drivers headed toward late flights, hotel check-ins, or coastal lodging north of downtown should treat the corridor as a known delay, not a surprise detour. The I-5 local bypass lane remains open for northbound travel, and Caltrans says portable message signs will point to alternate routes.

What Caltrans confirmed for Monday night

Caltrans District 11 posted that all northbound I-5 lanes and five outside northbound I-805 lanes (numbers 3 through 7) will close for striping newly paved lanes. The agency timed the work for August 31 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Independent reporting from NBC 7 San Diego matches those lane and hour details and places the work between Torrey Hills and University City. The San Diego Union-Tribune likewise described Genesee Avenue to Carmel Mountain Road as the affected Sorrento Valley segment.

The I-5 local bypass lane is the official northbound relief valve during the full I-5 mainline shutdown. Two inside lanes of northbound I-805 are also expected to remain open while lanes 3 through 7 close.

Why this overnight window matters for travelers

This is not a downtown-only inconvenience. Torrey Hills, University City, and Sorrento Valley sit on the coastal north corridor used by hotel guests, conference traffic, biotech shift workers, and visitors connecting to La Jolla, Del Mar, and points farther north.

A late arrival into San Diego International Airport can still leave travelers facing a northbound ground transfer after 9 p.m. Ride-hail drivers and hotel shuttles may stack delays when the mainline disappears, even if a bypass remains open.

Deep Arrival’s San Diego itinerary guide is useful for sequencing neighborhoods once the overnight move is settled. The immediate decision tonight is simpler: leave earlier, use the bypass, or wait until the 5 a.m. reopen window.

How the work fits the larger I-5 Asset Management Project

Caltrans frames the striping as part of the I-5 Asset Management Project, a roughly $113.7 million pavement and corridor upgrade. Official project materials say construction began in April 2025 and is planned through winter 2027.

The project aims to rehabilitate mainline pavement, shoulders, and ramps from Camino De La Plaza north to just south of Via De La Valle across San Diego, Chula Vista, and National City. Beyond resurfacing, Caltrans lists slab replacement, culvert work, sign upgrades, guardrail updates, and roadside safety features.

Funding comes through the State Highway Operation and Protection Program, including federal support and SB1 state funds. For drivers, the traveler-facing takeaway is the recurring overnight pattern: similar northbound closures already ran for paving on August 23 and 24, and more restriping or paving nights can follow as crews finish segments.

What stays open and what does not

All northbound I-5 mainline lanes close during the published window. Northbound I-805 keeps two inside lanes while five outside lanes close. Southbound travel is not the focus of Monday night’s posted notice.

Portable changeable message signs are the on-road authority for suggested alternates. Do not invent a neighborhood cut-through as a guaranteed free path; residential streets near University City and Torrey Hills can clog quickly when a freeway segment drops out.

Businesses and residents near the work zone should expect noise and lighting overnight. That detail matters for travelers in nearby hotels as much as for locals.

Practical routing choices for Monday night

Start with the official message signs and Caltrans QuickMap rather than a single navigation app assumption. Apps often lag when a full mainline segment closes and a parallel bypass remains open.

If your destination is La Jolla, UTC, or Sorrento Valley lodging, ask the property which approach they recommend after 9 p.m. Some hotels already brief guests when freeway restriping hits the local feeder network.

For a multi-day San Diego stay, Deep Arrival’s where to stay in San Diego comparison helps separate coastal north lodging from downtown and airport-adjacent areas. Choosing the right base reduces how often you need the exact corridor that is closed tonight.

Travelers using the corridor for a same-night hotel arrival should also watch local feeder ramps around University City and Genesee Avenue. Congestion often forms before the hard closure time as message boards begin redirecting traffic.

If you already hold a prepaid ride or shuttle reservation, message the driver or front desk with the Caltrans window so the pickup plan can move earlier. A ten to twenty minute shift is usually cheaper than sitting in a blocked mainline segment after 9 p.m.

What the sources confirm and what remains open

Caltrans District 11’s August 28 alert is the controlling lane-and-hour notice for the August 31 overnight window, and the agency’s project page supplies the cost, corridor limits, and multi-year schedule. NBC 7 and other local outlets independently restated the same Monday to Tuesday hours and the Torrey Hills to University City geography.

Unresolved points remain normal for active construction: exact minute-by-minute reopen timing, the precise alternate-route mix on message boards that night, and whether another restriping night follows immediately. Schedules can change for weather, traffic incidents, or crew needs.

Open the live Caltrans notice again before departure. A news brief explains the traveler decision, while the current District 11 alert and QuickMap status are the stronger real-time record.