After a severe fire damaged a section of the heavily-trafficked of Interstate 10 in Los Angeles, officials have announced the full reopening of the road on Monday. Governor Gavin Newsom of California confirmed this news on Sunday, stating that the interstate may be partially reopened as early as Sunday evening. The fire, which occurred in a downtown industrial district, damaged over 100 columns supporting the freeway that runs across the city and forced the closure of a nearly two-mile section. The closure disrupted the daily travel of over 300,000 Angelenos and caused significant traffic disruption in the city.
Despite initial suggestions that it could take months to repair the damaged section, Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles announced that all lanes of the freeway would be open before Thanksgiving, which significantly shortened the timetable for repairs. The repairs are estimated to cost $3 million and will be paid for by federal funds. This quick reopening of the I-10 freeway will provide immense relief to the city of Los Angeles, heavily dependent on commuting and cars, and its residents are grateful for the swift and efficient work of the crews who managed to complete the repairs ahead of schedule.
The fire took place in a downtown industrial district and is suspected to have been intentionally started within an enclosure filled with wooden pallets. Cal Fire, the state’s fire agency, identified a “person of interest” connected to the fire and released two photos in a notification on social media. Additionally, state inspectors had visited the site at least six times since early 2020 and identified fire and safety hazards at a leased storage space under the freeway before the fire. The incident has raised questions about safety and security measures in high-risk areas and led to the announcement of federal funds to cover the cost of repairs.
