Interstate 10 Shuts Down For Second Night Tonight

Construction on the Palm Drive interchange will completely close off the east bound lanes of Interstate10 tonight.

Lanes will start to be shut down at 6:00 p.m. and will reopen at 4:00 a.m. Friday morning.

CalTrans worked all night Wednesday and all morning Thursday installing the framework for the new freeway overpass’s framework on the west bound side.

All drivers were forced to exit using the Palm Drive freeway off-ramp and then got back on using the westbound on-ramp.

Traffic was backed up several miles along I-10, starting almost immediately after the closure.

Many drivers passing through the valley were unaware of the shut-down, so they drove right into what turned into a dreaded stall along the freeway.

The construction project costs more than $25-million. Its extended overpass on Gene Autry Trail is expected to ease traffic when it’s completed in 2011.