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In article <uitgms$mok7$12@dont-email.me>
shitbag <elonx@protonmail.com> wrote:

Hundreds of thousands of commuters were introduced to a major detour
on their Monday commute after a weekend fire damaged one of Los
Angeles’ busiest freeways, creating a traffic disruption that is not
likely to end anytime soon as authorities investigate the cause of
the blaze.

Mayor Karen Bass said it was still too early to say whether the
stretch of the 10 Freeway through downtown L.A. will be completely
demolished or repaired as engineers work to see how much damage was
caused by the intense fire early Saturday at two storage yards under
the freeway.

“This morning, I want to speak directly to the 300,000 people who
would normally drive on the stretch of the 10,” Bass said during a
news conference Monday. “And to those who live, work or have
appointments or schools in the area. As we made clear yesterday,
this was a huge fire and the damage will not be fixed in an
instant.”

Although the state fire marshal’s office with the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection completed its
investigation, officials have not disclosed the cause of the fire.

The blaze is being investigated as arson, according to two law
enforcement sources who were not authorized to discuss details of
the investigation. In addition to pallets, sanitizer accumulated
during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was stored under the
overpass and helped fuel the flames, according to the sources
familiar with the probe.

Though investigators have not determined cause of the fire, the
blaze is of sufficiently suspicious origins to be an arson
investigation, the sources said.

Federal, state and local agencies have scrambled to determine what
happens next after the sudden closure of a mile-long section of the
heavily trafficked freeway, between Alameda Street and the East L.A interchange, a key east-west route through downtown. Bass said U.S.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg called and reassured her
that federal officials are aware of the impact from closing one of
the busiest freeway corridors in the country.

“Losing the stretch of the 10 Freeway will take time and money from people’s lives and businesses,” Bass said. “It’s disrupting in every way. Whether you were talking about traveling to and from work, or
your child care plans, and the flow of goods and commerce, this will
disrupt the lives of Angelenos.”


Before that can happen, structural engineers must determine the
extent of the damage so officials can plan for the rebuild or
repair.

Mitigation of hazardous materials at the site is ongoing, but most
of the site has been cleared for structural engineers and
maintenance crews to start their work, California Transportation
Secretary Toks Omishakin said. They have taken samples of the
freeway columns and bridge deck.

An initial influx of federal emergency funds has been secured, said
Tony Tavares, director of the California Department of
Transportation. Contractors have installed shoring underneath the
overpass and in the most heavily damaged areas. Video footage from
the scene shows the charred underbelly of the overpass and what
appear to be sections of columns chipped away.

Monday’s commute was the first weekday for Angelenos encountering
the disruption. The mayor’s office sent an emergency advisory Sunday
evening alerting residents about the detour, and officials
encouraged employers to let their employees work remotely if
possible. Nearby L.A. Unified schools remained open, though traffic
was expected to be worse, especially in Boyle Heights and south of
downtown.

At Grand Central Market, Maria Behringer scrambled Monday to set up
the pastries for Bastion Bakery after she left her apartment near
USC around 6:40 a.m. and arrived around 7:15 a.m. Though the market
opens at 8 a.m., she needed time to set up her station before
customers started trickling in.

“I was definitely rushing more than I usually do, so it was little a
bit of a stressor,” said Behringer, 30. “I didn’t realize how close
the fire was to downtown and I didn’t realize it would affect my
commute.”

Her partner, Brandon Walsh, who rode in with her, said their usual
commute takes them east on the 10 and then onto the 110 Freeway. But
this time, the GPS rerouted them to side streets.

“I think so much was diverted to 110 [because of the fire] so the
GPS just told us to get off at Grand and go into the city,” said
Walsh, 32.

Officials encouraged car commuters to try alternatives, such as
Metrolink, rail lines and local bus services, which are all
expecting an increase in daily riders.

Metro Chief Executive Stephanie Wiggins told Angelenos to “plan
ahead, share the ride, and keep up to date” on the disruption. She
said there was a noticeable increase in cars parked at Union Station
on Sunday, indicating people are taking advantage of public
transportation. Officials directed drivers to check the detour
status online at emergency.lacity.gov, and commuters can call 511 or
check Metro.net for alternative routes.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-11-13/10-freeway- closure-snarls-commute-after-huge-downtown-los-angeles-fire

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