Fire-Damaged I-10 Freeway in Los Angeles to Reopen in 3-5 Weeks, Says Governor Newsom

The freeway, used by 300,000 vehicles daily, was damaged by an arson fire, leading to investigations and a reassessment of state land leasing practices.

• California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the fire-damaged I-10 freeway in Los Angeles could reopen in three to five weeks, as engineers declared the structure could be repaired without being torn down.
• The elevated route, which sees 300,000 vehicles per day, was damaged when a fire spread underneath it, melting guardrails and damaging 100 support pillars.
• The cause of the fire was declared as arson and investigations are still underway. The state took legal action against the tenants of the site underneath the freeway last month for failing to pay rent and subletting the property to multiple people.
• While the work is underway on the I-10, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged commuters to find alternative routes or work from home if possible.
• The area under the freeway was leased by the state to Apex Development Inc., which is now under scrutiny for storing flammable materials on the site. The state is reassessing the practice of leasing land under roads.

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