Work Continues To Reopen 5 Freeway Following Fiery Tanker Crash
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Work continues around the clock on the 5 Freeway in the 2 interchange tunnel as the hope is still to have more lanes open for Tuesday's commute following the fiery tanker truck crash and subsequent fire.
Two lanes had re-opened on both the North and South-bound I-5 near the 2 Freeway as of Monday night.
Workers report that there is still six to nine inches of damage to the concrete in the tunnel.
The goal for workers throughout Monday night and early Tuesday morning is to service tunnel enough to open all lanes for Tuesday's commute.
"The pavement here is severely damaged," Cal Trans worker Patrick Chandler said. "The walls are damaged. It's very severe."
Crews on the scene say that there is a strong possibility that all north-bound lanes may be open sometime Tuesday morning.
The traffic nightmare began Saturday when a fuel truck blew out a tire in the small tunnel, which connects the northbound 2 Freeway to the northbound Golden State Freeway near Elysian park.
As a result of the heavy traffic, the surrounding surface streets have experienced unusually heavy stress.
Up to 30 city traffic engineers were working in the field over the weekend, recalibrating traffic signals in order to adjust to the congested traffic flow on the streets.
People are being urged to carpool to work, as there is still a one to two-hour delay expected throughout the area for Tuesday morning.
