While announcing a state of emergency for six counties Wednesday, the acting governor ordered Caltrans to request money from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program to help fix freeways damaged by the weekend’s downpours.
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom specifically mentioned Sunday’s collapse of the 10 Freeway’s Tex Wash Bridge, about 50 miles west of Blythe, in his declaration for San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Kern and Imperial counties.
Also on Wednesday, Caltrans said they had, on Monday, selected a company to fix the Tex Wash Bridge under “emergency contractual procedures.”
Granite Construction Inc. will reinforce half of the bridge and re-erect the other half.
Reinforcements on the northern lanes, which usually service westbound traffic, are expected to be completed in time to reopen those lanes to traffic — one lane in each direction — by noon Friday, according to Caltrans.
Caltrans spokeswoman Tyeisha Prunty said the agency hasn’t figured how much it will cost or how long it will take to completely fix the bridge.
“The damage and repairs are still being estimated,” she said via email. “We should have a better idea tomorrow, Friday by the latest. Time frame for completed repairs is the same.”
The Tex Wash Bridge collapse, which injured one man, inspired Caltrans officials to inspect other nearby bridges.
They found the Adair Ditch and Hillock Ditch bridges, located west of Desert Center, needed repairs.
Crews completed that work Wednesday, according to a Caltrans statement.
