10 Freeway closure: LA commuters urged to avoid surface streets

LA commuters urged to avoid surface streets

Officials asked those commuting through downtown Los Angeles to use freeway detours and to stay off the surface streets.

LOS ANGELES - As Angelenos continue to navigate around the 10 Freeway closure in downtown Los Angeles, city officials once again urged commuters to stay off the surface streets.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘Stay on the freeways’: LA Mayor Bass asks drivers to avoid side streets in DTLA amid 10 Freeway closure

With traffic gridlock on city streets, first responders in Los Angeles haven't been able to get through because cars have no way to move over to the side.

On Tuesday night, LA Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley took an aerial tour of the city during the afternoon rush hour and got a bird’s eye view of the traffic nightmare on surface streets. Bass referred to what she saw as an "absolute parking lot."

An aerial view from SkyFOX shows the traffic nightmare on the 10 Freeway as a section of the roadway remains closed in downtown LA.

The stretch of the 10 Freeway at Alameda Street remains closed after a fire erupted over the weekend.

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Instead of using freeway detours, several commuters are taking surface streets.

Fearing delays in an emergency situation, the Los Angeles City Fire Department is proactively staging additional units in congested areas.

City officials continue to encourage Angelenos to continue working from home or to rearrange their schedules, so they don’t have to come into downtown LA. Carpooling and using public transit is also recommended. To assist, commute express buses are free for the remainder of the year.

Freeway closure, rain spell traffic nightmare

Combined, the closure of the 10 Freeway near downtown Los Angeles and the storms hammering Southern California are wreaking havoc on traffic.

Construction and repair work continues in the area around the clock.

On Tuesday morning, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced positive news and said the section of the freeway should reopen in three to five weeks. Until then, commuters will have to remain patient.

For any updates on the construction, detours, and even how affected businesses can request help, visit emergency.lacity.gov.

Several fruit vendors' carts were also damaged in the blaze. Information on how to help them can be found on GoFundMe.