One Of Los Angeles' Busiest Freeways Shut Down After A Major Fire - Here's What You Need To Know
By Natasha Kayes|Published November 17, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Los Angeles is infamous for its busy freeways and heavy traffic, and this week the situation for commuters through the downtown area got considerably worse. A major fire along the I-10 has resulted in a freeway closure in Los Angeles, in the middle of one of the busiest commuter routes. Fortunately, the shut-down will be shorter than initially expected, but in the meantime, here is what you need to know.
The fire, being termed an “inferno” by officials, broke out last weekend on November 11, 2023, underneath the 1-10 freeway. It happened just after midnight and was quickly deemed an arson.
The fire burned so intensely that it caused massive pieces of concrete to peel away from the support columns. At first, the damage caused the governor to say that the affected portion of the I-10 (between Alameda and the East LA Connector to the 101, 5, and 60 freeways) would be closed indefinitely.
Fortunately, after thorough examination, the freeway is now expected to reopen in time for Thanksgiving.
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A glance at the space under the freeway prior to the fire shows reasons why the flames become so intense and out of control. Much of the area was sub-leased and used for storage, being filled with wooden pallets, parked vehicles (with gasoline in the tanks), and other things.
Officials are asking drivers passing through downtown LA to stay on the freeways and use detour routes, such as other freeways that traverse the LA area, rather than use surface streets. Congestion and gridlock on these streets poses a serious threat to emergency vehicles being able to get where they need to go.
Commuters are also being advised to take public transportation if possible. Because of the major impact the freeway closure has had on commuter traffic, LADOT Transit has announced that rides on all Commuter Express bus routes are being offered free until further notice. Metro has also added more busses to at least two of its lines.
Another suggestion is to work from home for a time. More and more business entities allow employees to telecommute for at least part of the work week, so this may be a viable option to avoid the traffic issues altogether.
Many local schools - and related bus routes - are, of course, affected too, and for any students who may be able to take advantage of distance learning temporarily, that is also recommended.
Check out one of the early news reports about the I-10 fire:
For the next few days, drivers through Los Angeles will need to allow extra time for their commute, remain patient, and drive carefully. Have you been affected by the I-10 freeway closure in Los Angeles? How are you dealing with the situation? We would like to hear from you in the comments. If you will find yourself sitting in extra traffic for the next few weeks, get your favorite relaxing playlists cued up and make sure you pack some good snacks for the road.
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