The 10 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles is currently closed due to an apparent arson attack on November 11. The schedule for reopening by November 21 at the latest is a welcome update courtesy of a 250-strong workforce, including Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass., reported by ABC7.
The considerable damage, spanning 100 support columns of the mile-long interstate, forced officials to predict a delay of three to five weeks. However, the bridge's better-than-expected condition and relentless work have proven these estimates conservative. Governor Newsom confirmed that all lanes of the freeway will reopen by Tuesday, "at the latest", as per ABC7.
During the closure, Mayor Bass, who also chairs the Metro Board of Directors, proposed numerous steps to support public transit, including lifting the ride cap on the Metro low-income fare LIFE program, coordinating with local jurisdictions to speed up trains and buses, and increasing the number of "Transit Ambassadors" to help riders, according to the article in ABC7.
Mayor Bass's proposal also provided for free use of the Metro Bike-Share system and slashed the parking rates at Metro Park and Ride lots. In response, the Metro reported an E (Expo) Line ridership increase by 10%, which runs parallel to the freeway.
The motion found takers amongst several other Metro board members, such as county Supervisors Janice Hahn, Holly Mitchell, and Hilda Solis, Whittier Mayor pro tem Fernando Dutra, and Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian.
During ongoing construction, the Mayor's Office is providing daily traffic briefings from the Department of Transportation's Traffic Control Center. Mayor Bass has made Commuter Express and DASH buses complimentary to promote the use of public transportation. Additional white-glove traffic officers have been requested in busy areas to better facilitate commuters.
While the arson investigation is still progressing with no arrests to report, authorities believe more than one person might have been implicated. Materials stored under the freeway in an industrial neighborhood, including pallets, cars, construction materials, and hand sanitizers, fueled the rapidly spreading fire.
The closure has taken a significant toll on businesses in and around the downtown area. In response, Mayor Bass and her Deputy Mayor of Business and Economic Development have compiled a list of available resources at the state, federal, and local levels for affected companies. This list, to be soon available on emergency.lacity.org, complements individual outreaches to businesses in the affected area by the Mayor's Office of Community Engagement according to the City of Los Angeles.
As LA anticipates the freeway reopening, the exceptional efforts of combined government officials and their teams are a testament to a swift resolution to pressing issues and reassure that community and commuter concerns are prioritizedly addressed.
