ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
I10 fire Los Angeles firefighters continue to assess the damage from a fire under Interstate 10 near downtown Los Angeles, CA November 12, 2023. The highway opened Sunday evening weeks earlier than first thought. (Francine Orr/ Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
LOS ANGELES — More than a week after an arson fire scorched a main artery south of Los Angeles, the highway has reopened.
Interstate 10 reopened before Monday morning’s rush hour, a day earlier than planned and even weeks earlier than originally thought, The Associated Press reported.
KNBC reported that the first cars were allowed on the highway at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Mayor Karen Bass made the announcement on social media, writing “The 10 is BACK!” accompanied by a time-lapse drive along the freeway.
The 10 is BACK! All lanes are open in both directions as are most on and off ramps.
@CaltransDist7 will begin opening Interstate 10 tonight, November 19, 2023, and have the freeway fully open with all five lanes in each direction available for tomorrow morning’s commute between Alameda Street and the East Los Angeles interchange. pic.twitter.com/69WlWcmoFC
A fire had been started on Nov. 11, forcing the shutdown of the highway as crews worked around the clock to make sure the road was ready for traffic.
About 100 support columns were burned by the flames that had started in flammable materials that had been stored under the highway, which was a violation of the lease that had rented the property, the AP reported.
Up to nine columns were severely damaged and Newsome had said they had been talking about replacing a large portion of the road, KTTV reported.
Last week, officials said they had hoped to have it open by Tuesday but safety inspections showed that the highway was safe for reopening starting Sunday night.
“It wasn’t just speed that we were after. We wanted to make sure this thing was safe,” California Gov. Gavin Newsome said during a news conference, the AP reported.
There will still be work being done on their highway that would cause “episodic closures” but are not to impact daily commutes significantly. Crews will still be working around the clock to get the repairs made, KTTV reported.
KNBC reported that the closures will happen on “occasional weekends and overnight.”
Police have a person of interest for the alleged arson, saying that it was a man who was captured on camera, who appears to be between 30 and 35 years old and possibly has a burn on his left leg. He also had a knee brace on his right knee, KTTV reported. The company that leased the land under the overpass, Apex Development Inc., is also under investigation. The company is accused of subleasing the property to at least five other businesses, which officials said brought items to the lot that were not authorized.
0 of 31
I-10 fire This photo provided by the California Department of Transportation shows an early morning fire along Interstate 10 near downtown Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Caltrans District 7 via AP) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire California Department of Transportation personnel inspect the structural integrity of a section of Interstate 10 that was severely damaged by a large fire near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished the large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire Los Angeles firefighters mop up damage from a fire that severely damaged a freeway at an Interstate 10 overpass in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire California Department of Transportation personnel inspect the structural integrity of a section of Interstate 10 that was severely damaged by a large fire near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished the large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire Los Angeles firefighters mop up damage from a fire that severely damaged a section of Interstate 10 in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire This photo provided by the California Department of Transportation shows a closed section of Interstate 10 near downtown Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (Caltrans District 7 via AP) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire Los Angeles firefighters assess the damage from a intense fire under Interstate 10 that severely damaged the overpass in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire This photo provided by the California Department of Transportation shows the damage of columns from a fire under Interstate 10 that severely damaged the overpass in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (Caltrans District 7 via AP) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire In this photo provided by the California Department of Transportation, a Los Angeles firefighter uses a robotic hose to douse a fire under Interstate 10 that severely damaged the overpass in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (Caltrans District 7 via AP) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire Traffic backed up along a closed Interstate 10 after a fire that severely damaged the freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire Los Angeles firefighters mop up damage from a fire that severely damaged a freeway at an Interstate 10 overpass in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire Los Angeles firefighters assess the damage from a intense fire under Interstate 10 that severely damaged the overpass in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire This photo provided by the California Department of Transportation shows the damage of columns from an intense fire under Interstate 10 that severely damaged the overpass in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (Caltrans District 7 via AP) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire This photo provided by the California Department of Transportation shows a closed section of Interstate 10 and damage from a fire in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (Caltrans District 7 via AP) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire Los Angeles firefighters mop up from a fire under Interstate 10 that severely damaged the freeway in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire Smoke continues to billow from Interstate 10 as an off ramp is seen with a melted railing and burn scars after it was severely damaged by a large fire near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished the large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel/AP)
I-10 fire Damaged freeway columns are seen as Los Angeles firefighters mop up from a fire under Interstate 10 that severely damaged the freeway in an industrial zone near downtown Los Angeles, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Authorities say firefighters have mostly extinguished a large blaze that burned trailers, cars and other things in storage lots beneath a major highway near downtown Los Angeles, forcing the temporary closure of the roadway. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) (Richard Vogel/AP)
Freeway Fire Los Angeles The site of a fire is shown under Interstate 10, in an aerial view, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles drivers are being tested in their first commute since a weekend fire that closed a major elevated interstate near downtown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
APTOPIX Freeway Fire Los Angeles In this aerial view, traffic is backed up under a closed interstate 10 in the aftermath of a fire, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles drivers are being tested in their first commute since a weekend fire that closed a major elevated interstate near downtown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Freeway Fire Los Angeles In this aerial view, traffic is backed up near a closed interstate 10 in the aftermath of a fire, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles drivers are being tested in their first commute since a weekend fire that closed a major elevated interstate near downtown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Freeway Fire Los Angeles In this aerial view, traffic is backed up under a closed interstate 10 in the aftermath of a fire, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles drivers are being tested in their first commute since a weekend fire that closed a major elevated interstate near downtown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Freeway Fire Los Angeles In this aerial view, traffic is backed up under a closed Interstate 10 in the aftermath of a fire, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles drivers are being tested in their first commute since a weekend fire that closed a major elevated interstate near downtown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
APTOPIX Freeway Fire Los Angeles In this aerial view, Interstate 10 is empty due to a closure in the aftermath of a fire, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles drivers are being tested in their first commute since a weekend fire that closed a major elevated interstate near downtown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Freeway Fire Los Angeles In this aerial view, Interstate 10 is empty due to a closure in the aftermath of a fire, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles drivers are being tested in their first commute since a weekend fire that closed a major elevated interstate near downtown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
APTOPIX Freeway Fire Los Angeles In this aerial view, Interstate 10 is empty due to a closure in the aftermath of a fire, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles drivers are being tested in their first commute since a weekend fire that closed a major elevated interstate near downtown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Freeway Fire Los Angeles In this aerial view, Interstate 10 is empty due to a closure in the aftermath of a fire, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles drivers are being tested in their first commute since a weekend fire that closed a major elevated interstate near downtown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)
Sign Up
