Crews Thursday continued their efforts to repair a portion of Interstate 10 that was washed out due to inclement weather, snarling eastbound traffic overnight.
The stretch of freeway was flooded east of Corn Springs Road at approximately 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, prompting closure of all eastbound lanes, according to the California Highway Patrol.
One eastbound I-10 lane was reopened shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday, according to a statement posted on Twitter by Caltrans District 8.
“One Lane going EB I-10 has reopened from Desert Center to Blythe!” the statement said. “Detour lanes are what washed out, crews were able to reopen the other EB I-10 lane. To avoid delays, use alternate route, as only one lane is open.”
When the initial closure was reported on Wednesday, a closure was also reported on state Route 177 because of downed power lines, and various detours were announced, including the use of northbound Interstate 15 to Interstate 40.
SR-177 also was reopened about 8 a.m. Thursday, along with SR-78, Caltrans reported. The repair work was continuing.
The National Weather Service announced various flash flooding warnings for the area of the closure until Thursday evening, and flash flooding contributed to the large gaps of freeway that had washed away.
Flooding closed the eastbound freeway around 16 miles outside Desert Center in the early evening hours Wednesday but the westbound lanes remained open.
Sharon Leath, a dispatcher with California Highway Patrol told The Los Angeles Times there were seven overturned tractor-trailers reported on Interstate 10 with one person injured. An overturned big rig along the freeway contributed to the massive backup on Wednesday along Interstate 10, which temporarily left some motorists stranded, according to reports from the scene.
The eastbound state Route 62 opened from SR -177 to Interstate 95 at around 8 a.m., but the westbound portion toward Twentynine Palms remains closed. Caltrans recommended using Interstate 15 or Interstate 8 for those traveling to Arizona and eastbound.