I-10 Faces Shutdown In Both Directions Monday Night

A section of Interstate 10 through Indio will be closed in both directions tonight to accommodate the installation of a utility pole and power lines.

The freeway will be closed between Jefferson and Monroe streets at 11 p.m., reopening at about 5 a.m. Tuesday, said Michelle Profant of Caltrans. The utility pole will go north of the freeway and crews will pull new power lines across it, she said.

“We’re hoping it’ll go smoothly. We’re not expecting any issues or troubles,” said Darin Cooke of Caltrans.

Westbound traffic will be taken off the freeway at Monroe and directed north to Avenue 42. Detoured traffic will continue west on Avenue 42 and Varner Road to Jefferson, where it will be routed back to the interstate, Profant said.

Eastbound traffic will be taken off the freeway at Jefferson Street and routed onto Indio Boulevard. Traffic will continue east on Indio Boulevard to Monroe Street, where it will be directed north.

Traffic will continue north on Monroe Street, then back to Interstate 10. Eastbound traffic can continue east on Indio Boulevard to Jackson Street, where signs will direct motorists north to eastbound Interstate 10, Profant said.

Monroe and Jefferson streets may be closed to cross traffic while the detours are in effect, Profant said.

Cooke said Caltrans has tried to get information to the public about closures quickly in light of the massive traffic jam Feb. 12 that backed up westbound traffic from Banning to the Coachella Valley.

“We get things out as soon as we can. We use Twitter a lot,” he said.

Caltrans District 8 director Raymond Wolfe attended a public forum Thursday in Rancho Mirage about Interstate 10 traffic. Caltrans drew criticism after the Feb. 12 jam and later issued an apology. The problem is believed to have developed when pavement repair was delayed during an overnight project on the freeway.