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WEBVTT THIS ROADWAY. INTERSTATE FIVE NEAR RICHARDS BOULEVARD. >> IT WOULD CAUSE A SLIDE TO PUSH MUD AND DEBRIS INTO THE ROADWAY. THERE WAS ALSO SOME DAMAGE TO THE DRAIN. >> IT PUSHED WATER IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION, SENDING IT INTO A COVERT. CREWS ARE USING CONCRETE BARRIERS DESIGNED TO PREVENT EROSION. WHILE THIS PATCHWORK WILL STABILIZE THE GROUND, INTERSTATE FIVE WILL BE UNDERGOING MORE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. THAT WILL CERTAINLY CREATE SOME TRAFFIC JAMS FOR COMMUTERS LEAVING THE DOWNTOWN AREA. >> NORTHBOUND I-5 IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE DELAYS. MOTORISTS SHOULD CONTINUE THE DRIVE SLOW. BEWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS AND WATCH OUT FOR THE WORKERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OUT THERE. >> THE OVERNIGHT RAIN ALSO CAUSED LOCALIZED FLOODING ALONG HIGHWAY 50 NEAR 65TH

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Crews were busy Thursday shoring up a crumbling roadway beneath northbound Interstate 5 after heavy rain caused the ground to give way.Caltrans closed two lanes on the highway for most of the day, and reopened one lane for the evening commute. Both the No. 5 and No. 4 lanes will be closed, along with an auxiliary lane, later in the night so crews can continue repair work.The crumbling road is near Richards Boulevard."(The rain) caused a slide to actually push a lot of mud and debris and all sorts of stuff and water into the roadway right here. There was also some damage to the drain," Caltrans spokesperson Dennis Keaton said. The blocked drain then pushed water in the reverse direction, sending it into a culvert and causing even more debris to come back out the back side.This will be a long-term closure and is expected to have significant traffic impacts, officials said."Northbound I-5 is probably going to have some delays later on (Thursday night)," Keaton said. "More importantly motorist should continue to to drive slow, beware of their surroundings and watch out for the workers that are going to be out there."California Highway Patrol is telling drivers to avoid I-5 through downtown. Business 80 and Highway 50 can be used as alternate routes. It’s unclear how long the repair work will take, Caltrans said.Crews from Caltrans contractor Myers and Sons are using k-rails and concrete barriers to prevent any further erosion. While that patchwork stabilized the ground for Thursday, I-5 itself will be undergoing more extensive repairs.Caltrans said it plans to look at the drain damage first to make a full assessment.Caltrans estimates just under 100,000 drivers travel this major artery through downtown each day — and that’s just the northbound lanes.The stretch of northbound I-5 has had previous issues. On Aug. 1, a pothole damaged at least 10 vehicles. Later in the month, Caltrans was forced to close center lanes due to a pothole that damaged more than two dozen vehicles. If your car or truck is damaged by debris kicked up on a California interstate, you can file a claim here with Caltrans for the cost of repairs.No other details have been released.Stay with KCRA for updates.