interstate 8 westbound

It looks like bits are closed for construction, other bits have a reduced number of lanes. See the Caltrans Quickmap, click on alert icons for explanations.

http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

One lane is closed eastbound, yes. They will not close the entire freeway and there is a frontage road that also will qualify for the worst road you have ever driven on also if traffic is too bad.

Drove Tucson - San Diego round trip last week and I-8 is fine. There are several sections between El Centro and Yuma that still are under construction but the speed limit in these sections is 60 and most folks are going much faster. Road conditions are good and the construction only added about 10 minutes to our usual 6 hour trip.

Agree with Desert Captain. Just visited daughter in SD 2 weeks ago the highway only reduces to 1 lane but the speed is still 60. It has been that way for close to a year now. Never have had a issue.