I-10 bridge repair expected to cost $5M
Officials with Caltrans said the I-10 bridge repair near Desert Center is expected to cost around $5 million and it will take until late September. The I-10 reopened Friday July 24 at noon after the two lane Eastbound bridge collapsed amid heavy rain.
Caltrans held a news conference just hours before the temporary fix was in place.
Riverside County supervisors declared a local state of emergency due to the collapse that prompted a full and indefinite closure of the freeway.
Caltrans and construction crews have been working around the clock to provide a temporary solution for the major closure. Officials said crews poured cement and gravel to strengthen the westbound side of the bridge to allow for two-way traffic in each direction.
Now that the temporary fix is in place, minor work will be performed on the westbound side and work will continue on the eastbound side of the bridge to make it fully operational once again, according to a release.
“It definitely added about 150 to 200 miles to my trip with two or three extra hours of pointless driving and if the 10 was fixed I could be home with my family enjoying the AC,” said Miguel Brice a truck driver trying to get back to Phoenix.
Officials said the existing detours will remain in effect until Friday. But with heavy traffic converging near Desert Center once again, the suggested detours may still be a viable option as opposed to one-lane traffic in each direction on I-10.
Interstate 10 was shut down between Route 86 and the Arizona border after a 30 by 50-foot section of bridge collapsed four miles west of Desert Center early Sunday evening. The bridge collapse has also forced Greyhound Bus Lines to reroute buses between Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Video: Supervisor Benoit speaks about significant road closure
Traffic has been turned around at Chiriaco Summit and Corn Springs. Cal Fire said about 500 cars were backed up Sunday night.
Officials said the collapse was caused by heavy rains which created flooding in the area. It happened in the eastbound lanes of I-10 near Eagle Mountain Road around 4:40 p.m.
Firefighters responded to the scene and began a cut and rescue operation at 4:43 p.m. Rescue crews were able to free the driver, Bryon Castor, just after 7 p.m .
Castor was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center where he is now recovering from two broken ribs, a lacerated liver, a shattered knee, cuts and bruises on his head, face and hands. The passenger, Scott Meyn, was able to exit the truck on his own, according to the California Highway Patrol.
KESQ News Channel 3’s Karen Devine spoke to Castor Monday night from his hospital bed. Castor says he immediately realized pieces of the bridge were falling into the water and that if a chunk big enough fell on his truck it could crush him. He says he started to pray.
CHP officers said flooding was blocking lanes of the interstate as well.
Motorists were advised to avoid I-10 travel and use detour routes such as Arizona Route 95 to Interstate 40 or Interstate 8 to State Route 111 to Route 86 to get around the closure, she said. State Route 78 remained closed due to flooding and not a detour. State Route 177 from Desert Center reopened at about 2 a.m.
Gas stations and truck stops on the 10 in Indio have been trying to help motorists find there way.
“We get several people that come in and want to know how to get around and we have printed up some maps for the customers so they can see the detour routes,” said Isaiah Morris, the General Manger Love’s Travel Stop in Indio.
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