Driving Highway 5—whether you're hitting the "Coq" in British Columbia or the massive I-5 stretch through Washington and California—is honestly a gamble this time of year. You’ve probably seen the headlines or heard the horror stories about the Grapevine closing or the Coquihalla turning into a skating rink. It's stressful.
Right now, as we sit in mid-January 2026, the situation is... well, it’s complicated. If you're planning a trip, you can't just rely on a quick glance at a map app. You need the ground truth.
The Bathtub-Sized Problem on the Coquihalla
Let’s start north. If you’re heading through British Columbia on Highway 5, the big news isn’t just the snow—it’s the pavement. Or the lack of it.
Maintenance crews on the Coquihalla (Highway 5) are currently battling potholes that Dave Duncan, a manager at Yellowhead Road and Bridge, literally described as the size of "small bathtubs." It sounds like an exaggeration until you’re the one hitting one at 100 km/h.
A woman named Kari-Anne Flatmark recently shared a story about blowing a tire near Hope on January 10th. She said it sounded like a gunshot. Honestly, that’s the reality of the Coq right now. The freeze-thaw cycles have been brutal. Some of these holes have been patched 50 or 60 times this winter alone, but the cold just won't let the repairs stick.
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Current Coquihalla Status: * Pothole Alerts: Massive craters reported between Hope and Merritt.
- Winter Advisory: Compact snow and narrow lanes are the norm near the summit.
- The "Washout" Factor: Nearby Silver Skagit Road is currently closed due to a washout, which just adds to the general chaos in the area.
Seattle’s "Revive I-5" Is Back with a Vengeance
Moving south into Washington, the I-5 experience is dominated by the "Revive I-5" project. This isn't just a few orange cones. It’s a multi-year overhaul of the Ship Canal Bridge, and it’s currently making the Seattle commute a nightmare.
Starting January 12th, the northbound I-5 has been reduced to just two lanes across the bridge. This isn't a weekend thing; it's going to stay like this until June. The only break we get is for the FIFA World Cup matches in the summer.
The express lanes are currently locked into "Northbound Only" mode 24 hours a day to try and manage the overflow. If you’re used to those lanes flipping for your morning commute, you’ve probably already realized your routine is trashed.
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WSDOT Secretary Julie Meredith has been pretty blunt about it: "Preserving the Ship Canal Bridge is essential." Basically, that means we just have to deal with the 45-minute delays for the next few months.
High Winds and "Grapevine" Gambles in California
Further down in California, the I-5 (often just called "The 5") is dealing with classic winter weather drama. If you're heading through the Grapevine—that high-elevation pass between LA and the Central Valley—you need to watch the wind.
A high wind advisory is currently in effect from the Los Angeles/Kern County line up to the Grapevine. We're talking gusts that make high-profile vehicles (campers, trailers, semi-trucks) feel like they're sailing. Caltrans is actively recommending that trailers stay off the road in this section.
California I-5 Hotspots:
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- Merced County: Expect lane and ramp closures for maintenance between January 18th and 24th.
- The John C. Erreca Rest Area: The northbound side is currently closed. If you need a break, you’ll have to hold it until the Coalinga-Avenal area.
- Burbank Repaving: There’s a massive 55-hour weekend closure scheduled for northbound I-5 in Burbank from January 23rd to 26th.
Why Your GPS Might Be Lying to You
One thing most people get wrong about road conditions hwy 5 is trusting their phone's "ETA." Modern GPS is great for traffic, but it sucks at predicting "micro-events."
In the Central Valley, dense fog (Tule fog) can drop visibility to near zero in seconds. Your GPS sees a green line because cars are technically moving, but it doesn't know you're driving blind. Same goes for the freezing fog patches currently hitting southern Oregon around Drain and Glendale. Temperatures there are hovering in the low 30s, meaning black ice is a massive, invisible threat.
Practical Steps for the Road
If you’re actually getting behind the wheel today or tomorrow, don't just "hope for the best."
- Check the "QuickMap": If you're in California, use the Caltrans QuickMap app. It's way more accurate for specific lane closures than Google Maps.
- DriveBC is your Bible: For the Canadian side, the DriveBC "Major Events" tab will tell you if the Coq is actually open or if a semi has jackknifed and shut it down.
- The "Chain" Rule: Even if it’s sunny at the base, if you’re crossing the Cascades or the Siskiyous, keep chains in the trunk. State troopers don't care if you have AWD; if the "Chains Required" sign is lit, you aren't moving without them.
- Buffer Time: Add at least 90 minutes to any trip passing through Seattle or the BC interior right now. Between the Ship Canal Bridge construction and the bathtub-sized potholes, you're going to stop. A lot.
The reality of Highway 5 in 2026 is that it's a "maintenance year." From bridge deck replacements in Washington to emergency pothole filling in BC, the infrastructure is being pushed to its limit. Stay patient, keep your tank full, and maybe don't try to set a land-speed record through the Grapevine when the wind is howling.