1-10 TO REOPEN FRIDAY AT NOON

CalTrans has announced that Interstate 10 will reopen to traffic at noon on Friday. Crews will strengthen the westbound side of the Tex Wash bridge near Eagle Mountain to allow two-way traffic on it–one lane in each direction. Workers will then start working on the collapsed eastbound bridge to get it operational. The existing detours via Highway 62 and Highway 86 will remain in place until noon Friday. That will be the end of some 15,000 vehicles per day traveling through the Morongo Basin on State Route 62. CalTrans was able to expedite the bridge repairs by awarding an emergency contract to Granite Construction on Monday. CalTrans inspected other bridges in the area and discovered that two bridges—Adair Ditch and Hillock Ditch bridges—need minor repairs. The repairs were made concurrently and have been completed. CalTrans estimates that the traffic volume on Interstate 10 between California and Arizona is 27,000 vehicles per day.