I-10 Freeway in Los Angeles will fully reopen Monday after fire repairs

Interstate 10 in Los Angeles will fully reopen Monday, more than a week after a fire severely damaged part of the roadway, officials announced Sunday.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said at a news conference that the roadway may be partially reopened as early as Sunday evening and would be “fully operational” by Monday.

He made the announcement on the freeway with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Vice President Kamala Harris and other officials providing updates on the repairs.

“This is a great day in our city and I think it’s a great example of how and why we got this job done,” Ms. Bass said, referring to the crews who worked “24 hours a day, seven days a week.” . .”

The freeway is a crucial artery for Los Angeles drivers for daily travel, she said.

“Everyone came together with the urgency to know what it means to have a highway where 300,000 Angelinos pass every day and the disruption that that caused in our city,” she said.

The fire, which broke out in the early morning hours of November 11, damaged more than a hundred columns supporting the highway that runs through the city. The fire forced the closure of a nearly two-mile segment.

The fire, which occurred in a downtown industrial neighborhood, is believed to have started intentionally in an enclosed space filled with wooden pallets, authorities said.

Cal Fire, the state fire department, identified a “person of interest” linked to the fire and released two photos in a notification on social media.

State inspectors had visited the site at least six times since early 2020 and identified fire and safety hazards in a rented storage area under the highway before the fire. This is reported by the Associated Press.

Officials had initially suggested it could take months to reopen the area, which would have created a nightmare for a city that relies heavily on commuting and cars.

Ms. Bass and Mr. Newsom on Thursday shortened the timetable for repairs and announced that all lanes would be open by Thanksgiving. On Sunday, they said crews had been working around the clock to reopen the section of highway ahead of schedule.

California Sen. Alex Padilla said the repairs would cost an estimated $3 million, which would be covered by federal funds.

“We don’t have to wait until Thursday to say thank you, to give thanks,” Mr. Padilla said, “for the pre-Thanksgiving holiday opening of I-10.”