A portion of the 10 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles has been shut down indefinitely after an arson fire broke out under a bridge early Saturday morning. The incident, which has caused significant disruption, prompted officials to take immediate action to reopen the freeway. California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and Vice President Kamala Harris announced during a press conference on Sunday that the 10 Freeway will reopen in time for Monday morning’s commute, with some lanes possibly opening as soon as Sunday night. This comes as a surprise, as Newsom initially suggested it may take months before the affected portion of the freeway would reopen. However, after facing pushback from LA residents, Newsom provided updated timelines, stating that the roads may reopen as early as Tuesday.
Governor Newsom commended the workers and contracting company for their efforts, claiming that 10,000 hours of labor went into the repairs, enabling the freeway to be open in just eight days. Cal Fire also released photos and a description of a person of interest in the arson fire. The suspect is described as a 6-foot tall man weighing between 170 and 190 pounds, with black hair. Investigators believe he is between 30 and 35 years old, and his race is unknown. The suspect was seen wearing a black hoodie, blue shorts, gray shoes, a green scarf, and a knee brace on his right knee. He was carrying a dark-colored backpack.
The investigation revealed that the company Apex Development Inc., which leased the land underneath the freeway, was in violation. It was discovered that the company had subleased the lot to at least five other businesses, allowing unauthorized materials to be brought onto the lot. As a result, authorities have taken over four of Apex’s five leases, with the remaining one in Sun Valley. A court hearing in the case is expected to take place in January or early February. Caltrans is also reviewing similar leases to determine if other companies are violating lease terms. Preliminary results of this investigation will be released on Wednesday.
City officials have identified approximately 100 concrete pillars underneath the damaged section of the freeway, with at least nine of them suffering significant damage in the fire. Samples have been taken from underneath the concrete pillars, and repair work will continue around the clock.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the arson fire to call the Cal Fire arson hotline at 1-800-468-4408.
The reopening of the 10 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles will bring relief to commuters and ease traffic congestion in the area. The swift action taken by officials to address the arson incident and expedite repairs demonstrates their commitment to ensuring the safety and functionality of critical infrastructure.
