REPAIRS TO SNARE DRIVERS ON I-5.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Daily News Staff Writer

If you're heading north on the Golden State Freeway today, expect a 20-mile traffic jam because of road repairs from Castaic to Gorman.

Heavy traffic on northbound Interstate 5 the day before Thanksgiving is as traditional as turkey and pumpkin pie, but this year both the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans predict the worst.

``It's the most heavily traveled day of the year,'' CHP Officer Doug Sweeney said. ``It's going to be just massive traffic. There's zero we can do.''

The culprits are two highway projects. The first involves work on the bridge at the I-5 and Highway 138 interchange, which requires the closure of the two right lanes. That work is expected to continue through December.

Blame El Nino for the second project. Since April, crews have been repairing a half-mile section of road damaged by last winter's heavy rain south of Templin Highway near Castaic.

The open lanes there are rough and bumpy and traffic will be reduced to 45 mph. That work also is due to be completed by the end of next month.

Sweeney said the CHP suggests motorists leave early today or early Thursday to miss the worst of the traffic. The annual jam on the I-5 typically starts about noon at Highway 126 and sluggishly moves north.