Heavy rains over the weekend in Southern California caused a section of Interstate 10 to collapse Sunday about 50 miles from the Arizona border.
Travel has been cut off through that section of I-10, but the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) announced Tuesday the westbound side of the bride will open to two-way traffic Friday, July 24 at noon Pacific Time.
“Crews will strengthen the westbound side of the bridge in order to allow two-way traffic – one lane in each direction,” CalTrans said in a press release. “Once I-10 is opened, minor work will be performed on the westbound side and work will commence on the eastbound side of the structure to get it operational. The existing detours will remain in effect until the opening of I-10.”
Until Friday, CalTrans advises motorists to avoid travel on I-10 until further notice and use other detour routes such as Arizona Route 95 to I-40, I-8 to State Route 111 to State Route 86, or State Route 177 to State Route 62 to access I-10. A map of the detours can be seen above.
The collapsed I-10 bridge was elevated about 15 feet above what is normally a dry ditch, but the rains flooded the area. The road gave way and crashed into the flowing floodwater below.
The collapse sent at least one vehicle into the water. The driver had to be rescued and sent to the hospital with minor injuries, while the passenger was able to escape unharmed. Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on either side of the collapse and had no choice but to turn around for another route.
I-10 bridge collapse delays truckers https://t.co/YH78xjaNYA pic.twitter.com/6pa0XiFG0n
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) July 21, 2015
I-10 East bridge Collapse @ktla5 pic.twitter.com/OmS6YYnkqR
— ⚡️Brandon Burton⚡️ (@BraandonD1) July 20, 2015
Bridge collapses on I-10 in Desert Center, traps vehicle injuring one. Freeway closed (photo credit: @KESQ) pic.twitter.com/YLfD2LZtgR
— Julie Sone (@ABC7JulieSone) July 20, 2015