The California Department of Transportation announced that traffic on the interstate at the Tex Wash Bridge about 50 miles west of the Arizona border would be reduced to two lanes as crews continue to work on the serious collapse of the eastbound bridge.
Caltrans initially didn’t expect it would be able to reopen I-10 at the site of the collapse for weeks. However, the department put the project in the fast lane and used emergency contractual procedures to award the work to Granite Construction.
The Associated Press reported crews were working to ensure the westbound bridge was structurally sound enough to hold drivers after the washout on Sunday. It wasn’t nearly as damaged the eastbound span, but the rain did severely erode the soil under the concrete anchor.
Caltrans’ Mike Beauchamp said the goal to reopen the Interstate was “aggressive,” and crews would be working day and night. But it’s not set in stone.
“We’re trying to get it open, but the No. 1 priority is safety,” he said.
The I-10 section currently cut off after the collapse usually has around 54,000 vehicles each day pass through. Those vehicles have had to take detours that extend the drive by a few hours.
