A stretch of westbound State Route 78 through the Oceanside-Carlsbad area will be closed for several days to repair weather-related damage, Caltrans and the city of Oceanside announced Wednesday, March 15.

All westbound lanes are closed on State Route 78 just west of Vista from College Boulevard to El Camino Real to repair a sinkhole that developed during heavy rains from an atmospheric river event March 14 into March 15, officials stated. Repairs are needed to a metal pipe culvert running underneath the highway.

Traffic is being diverted to side streets until repairs are completed, expected to last least through Saturday, according to an Oceanside city notice. The city advises motorists to exit the highway at the College Boulevard/Vista Way offramp, then west on Vista Way to pick up the highway again at El Camino Real.

Traffic updates can be viewed on Caltrans’ website at lcswebreports.dot.ca.gov. Search conditions for District 11.