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Fix the 10

Interstate 10 Now Open in Los Angeles.  Freeway Repairs are in Progress. 

Fix the 10 Logo: ongoing efforts to fix the 10 Freeway in Los Angeles after a massive fire closed a portion of the freeway

Caltrans worked around the clock with CAL FIRE, California Highway Patrol, and local agencies to reopen I-10 as quickly as possible. Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in Los Angeles County to help facilitate clean up and repair work to better help this key transportation corridor safely re-open after the November 11 fire.

La Interestatal 10 ya está abierta en el centro de Los Ángeles entre Alameda Street y East Los Angeles Interchange. Gracias Los Ángeles por tu paciencia.

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Updates:

The 10 freeway is now open in both directions between Alameda Street and the East LA interchange weeks ahead of schedule.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • The 10 Freeway in Los Angeles is now open to traffic between Alameda Street and the East LA interchange in both direction, weeks ahead of schedule.
  • Crews are working to repair the fire damage.
  • CalFire believes the fire was caused by arson. Tips or leads can be sent anonymously to the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408 or arsonbomb@fire.ca.gov.
  • Governor Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency in Los Angeles County to support the state's response to the fire.
A close up photo of the damaged support pillars surrounded by burned vehicles underneath a section of the Interstate 10 Closure at Alameda Street in Downtown Los Angeles due to a catastrophic fire on November 11, 2023.

Caltrans District 7 - Los Angeles

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Details:

Just after midnight on November 11, the LA City Fire Department responded to what became a major fire in a pallet yard in the 1700 block of E. 14th Street near Downtown LA. The fire quickly consumed the yard, multiple trailers, and a second pallet yard under the I-10 Freeway.  I-10 was closed to traffic from November 11 to November 19, when all lanes were re-opened. The freeway closure, which at first was expected to last for weeks or possibly months, ended just eight days later thanks to around-the-clock efforts of crews and engineers on- and off-site, better-than-expected structural testing results, rapid debris removal, and close coordination between state, local and federal government officials to safely expedite repairs.  

Resources:

Driving:

Public Transit:

Watch video of I-10 repairs in progress

Newsroom:

Send Tips:

Please send any tips anonymously to the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408 or arsonbomb@fire.ca.gov.

Repair Progress

The first cars cross the I-10 freeway upon re-opening after a major fire, 7:00pm November, 19, 2023.
The first cars cross the I-10 freeway upon re-opening, 7:00pm November, 19, 2023.

FAQ:

A: The 10 Freeway is now open between Alameda Street to the East LA interchange in both directions.

A: No.  Caltrans continues to monitor this section of the freeway to ensure safety for travelers. The freeway meets or exceeds safety requirements. Repairs are underway. A complete demolition and rebuild of this section of the freeway is not required.

A: CalFire believes the fire that damaged the I-10 was caused by arson — the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property — that began in a fenced-off area under the freeway that should not have been accessible to the public. Investigators urge the public to provide any leads or tips, which can be sent anonymously to the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408 or arsonbomb@fire.ca.gov.

A: The state is working with specially trained contractors to handle these types of situations, and they are working with certified receivers to safely dispose of the material offsite as they collect it. We are currently not anticipating the need to conduct any additional remediation after clearing debris.

A: CalFire currently believes the fire was caused by arson — the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property. The fire began in a leased, fenced-off area that should not have been accessible to the public. The investigation by CalFire is ongoing.

 

A: Yes. Leasing “airspace” under freeways is a common practice used across the nation and in other countries. In California, revenue generated from Airspace leases is deposited into the State Highway Account and has also been used in the past to fund public transportation. But in this case, the leaseholder was subleasing this space in violation of the lease terms and the state had already initiated legal action against the lessor back in September 2023.

A: Federal officials from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have surveyed the site and emphasized the federal government’s support. Costs related to this incident are likely to be eligible for federal reimbursement under the FHWA emergency relief program.

A: Governor Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency to ensure there is no barrier to emergency repair funding from the federal government and has directed all state agencies to support clean up and repair work. Caltrans has set up a 24-hour command center on-site and is working nonstop to perform clean-up, damage assessment, and repair.