Over the weekend, a fire burnt a large portion of I-10 Freeway located in downtown Los Angeles. According to CBS News, investigators have confirmed the fire was started intentionally in the storage business located underneath the freeway.
“[The investigators] made a preliminary determination there was malice intent,” said California governor Gavin Newsom to CBS News. “This fire occurred within the fence line… it was arson and that it was done and set intentionally.”
Although the fire severely damaged the affected areas, the freeway will not have to be torn down due to fire damage, as stated by CNN.
“This will not be a demolition, we will not need to demolish and replace the I-10,” said Newsom
Officials are reassured that there is little risk of collapse in affected areas.
“We have no concern for worker safety working underneath,” said John Yang, deputy district director for construction for the California Department of Transportation.
While a major issue for Californians – as the freeway facilitates an estimated 300,000 drivers a day – a repair operation is set to be completed within the next 3 to 5 weeks, according to Newsom.
“We’re going to do everything in our power to move that into the more immediate future and not extend this to that five-week period,” stated Newsom, reconstruction work will be conducted 24/7 until reopened.
