California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Sunday that the 10 Freeway through downtown Los Angeles, which was originally thought to be so damaged by fire that it would need to be demolished, will instead reopen by Monday. This announcement came after various officials provided an update on the repair efforts, revealing that structural integrity assessment results indicated the damage to the freeway was not as bad as originally thought, allowing the restoration process to be completed within three to five weeks. The restoration process is set to be completed eight days ahead of schedule, with repairs being covered by federal funding provided by a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Vice President Harris praised local and state officials as well as workers who worked around the clock to fix the freeway.
The 10 Freeway was initially thought to have sustained so much structural damage that months of repair work would be required, but as engineers looked more closely, it became clear that the worst-case scenario – demolition and a rebuild – would not be necessary. Additionally, it was confirmed that the fire was set with “malice intent” and was believed to be an act of arson. Thousands of Angelenos were affected by the freeway closure, having to resort to public transit. The closure not only impacted commuters but also travelers who relied on the 10 Freeway for their daily routines. Finally, authorities have released photos of a person of interest sought in connection with the fire, urging anyone with information to come forward.
