- Freeways
- I-5, CA-14, CA-126
- Starts
- Santa Clarita, square B3
- Ends
- Santa Clarita, square B3
- Also reaches
- Sun Valley, Pacoima, Palmdale
Santa Clarita on the 5: the reel pickup lane
The Santa Clarita lane goes up the 5 over the Newhall Pass to Santa Clarita, where the 14 branches to the Antelope Valley and Route 126 heads west toward Ventura County. Its main stops are the Valencia Commerce Center and the business parks along the 5 and the 126.
Where the Santa Clarita on the 5 run goes
From the north end of the San Fernando Valley the 5 climbs through the Newhall Pass, where it meets the 14. Santa Clarita lies just beyond, a city of business parks and growing neighbourhoods. The largest industrial district is around the 5 and Route 126: the Valencia Commerce Center alone covers 939 net acres with about 139 buildings, and it is the second-largest business park in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Aerospace and manufacturing firms are well represented in those parks, alongside distribution, medical products and the contractors who build and maintain them. The lane is short in miles but long in grade, so we plan it as an extension of the San Fernando Valley run or the Antelope Valley run rather than a trip of its own.
Santa Clarita's industry is concentrated rather than scattered. The Valencia Commerce Center, at 939 net acres the second-largest business park in the valley, sits in the north-west corner where the 5 meets Route 126, and smaller parks line the 5 and the Santa Clara River. That makes the lane efficient: one exit can cover several stops, and a business-park dock with a forklift turns a stack of reels into a quick load.
The run sheet, stop by stop
| Stop | Area | Grid | ZIP codes | Freeways | Usual flanges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clarita | B3 | 91350, 91351, 91354, 91355, 91321, 91387 | I-5, CA-14, CA-126 | 24, 36, 48, 72 in |
When the deck still has room, the run also takes stops in Sun Valley (San Fernando Valley, 5 and 118 lane), Pacoima (San Fernando Valley, 5 and 118 lane), Palmdale (Antelope Valley and the 14 lane).
Where the reels on this lane come from
- Business-park manufacturers
- Aerospace and industrial firms in the Valencia Commerce Center empty 24 to 48 inch reels of control and power cable.
- New construction
- Housing and commercial construction across the valley empties nailed building-wire reels.
- Utility work
- Distribution and undergrounding work in the valley leaves larger reels at staging yards.
- Contractors along the 126
- Electrical and general contractors keep yards near the 126 and the 5.
What the stops on this lane put out
Reel sizes along the Santa Clarita on the 5 lane
| Flange | Seen at | Empties per 53 ft deck (est.) | Empty weight, lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in | Santa Clarita | 416 | 23 to 24 |
| 36 in | Santa Clarita | 102 | 64 to 77 |
| 48 in | Santa Clarita | 26 to 30 | 106 to 177 |
| 72 in | Santa Clarita | 20 to 24 | 204 to 592 |
Estimates from published reel and loading charts; method on reels per load.
What the driver needs to know on this lane
The Santa Clarita lane is short: over the Newhall Pass on the 5 and into the valley, where the 14 and Route 126 branch off. At the 5 and 14 interchange, trucks have their own bypass lanes, which keeps the climb steady. Business parks in Valencia sit close to the freeway, and most stops can be reached within a few minutes of an exit, which is why Santa Clarita stops often ride on the San Fernando Valley run.
Small stacks ride along
Santa Clarita stops almost always ride along, on the San Fernando Valley run going over the pass or the Antelope Valley run heading up the 14. A business park clearing out a laydown area may fill a deck on its own; the load planner will tell you.
Windows and timing on this lane
The Newhall Pass is slow southbound in the morning and northbound in the afternoon. We aim to reach Santa Clarita mid-morning on the way north, before the return traffic builds.
The other lanes
Questions about the Santa Clarita on the 5 lane
Is Santa Clarita part of the San Fernando Valley run?
It has its own lane, but it is usually served by the valley run or the Antelope Valley run, whichever passes first.
Do you go west on the 126 into Ventura County?
Our area ends in Los Angeles County. Ask about addresses just over the line; we will say if a run passes.
Do business-park buildings need a forklift?
For reels over 48 inches, yes. Smaller reels can be hand-loaded from a dock.
Why does Santa Clarita have its own lane?
Because the Newhall Pass separates it from the San Fernando Valley, and a stop there is planned differently: the climb, the 5 and 14 interchange, and business parks that are close to the freeway.
Can Santa Clarita reels go out with an Antelope Valley run?
Yes. Canyon Country sits on the 14, so the Antelope Valley truck passes on its way up to Palmdale and back.
Do you go up the 5 past Castaic?
Not as a rule. The Grapevine and the Tejon Pass are outside our map; ask with the address if you are close.
Which Santa Clarita stops load fastest?
Business-park tenants in Valencia with a dock and a forklift. Construction sites in Saugus and Newhall take longer, because the driver waits for a lift and a gate escort.