Lt. Gov issues emergency proclamation due to storm damage
Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom issued an emergency proclamation for Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties on Wednesday due to the effects of severe storms that caused flash flooding, mudslides and fires ignited by lightning strikes, resulting in damage to roads, highways and other infrastructure and the evacuation of residents.
A series of rain storms swept across Central and Southern California beginning on Friday, July 18, bringing high winds, substantial precipitation, lightning strikes and flooding.
The emergency proclamation orders Caltrans to request immediate federal assistance for highway repairs or reconstruction in the affected counties through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, Title 23 and the United States Code section 125.
All state government agencies are ordered to employ state personnel, equipment and facilities for all work done during the state of emergency, according to the Lieutenant Governor’s release.
The biggest impact locally is obviously the I-10 bridge reconstruction west of Desert Center. Caltrans officials expect to have a temporary solution in place Friday at noon to get traffic moving once again through the major artery connecting Southern California to Arizona.
The westbound lanes will be set up to allow for two-way traffic.
While the temporary solution is a step in the right direction, travel delays are still expected to be significant, so many commuters may still want to use one of the suggested detours.
