Two northbound lanes reopened on 5 Freeway after debris flow

Two northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway in the Sun Valley area were reopened Wednesday evening after a debris flow shut down the busy artery and created a rush-hour nightmare.

Two southbound lanes had been opened earlier after mud, rocks and water trapped some vehicles on the freeway near Sunland Boulevard, the California Highway Patrol said.

The agency said it was unclear when the other lanes would be open. The closure caused a backup for miles on the northbound lanes and a heavy traffic jam on southbound lanes, the CHP said.

Rush-hour motorists were urged to use alternate routes. The CHP said that southbound drivers should take the 5 Freeway to southbound 170 Freeway and then use the eastbound 101 Freeway. Drivers heading north were urged to take the 5 Freeway to the westbound 134 Freeway and then use the 170 Freeway to get back on the 5 Freeway.

Initially, one southbound lane of the freeway remained open, but a full shutdown was ordered shortly before 4 p.m. as crews worked to clear the lanes.

Earlier Wednesday, a CHP unit at the scene reported “tons of water” and “all lanes covered in rocks, debris and mud.”

Water apparently overflowed from a nearby storm drain as the first storm of the season brought rain and high winds to the area.

Some cars were stranded, according to television news footage and CHP reports from the scene.

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robert.lopez@latimes.com