Fire in the I-10
A state of emergency has been declared recently in Los Angeles after a fire has broken out under the I-10, barring public access to a one mile stretch of the freeway, particularly the arterial parts connecting it to the 110 and Freeway 60. This is bad news for approximately 300,000 commuters regularly using the I-10 in their usual routes.
Due to the I-10 fire, significant lags in people’s commutes have been reported, specifically those who are passing through or frequent downtown Los Angeles.
There’s been much speculation about the cause of the accident.
One of the most common stories that are being circulated is that a fire from nearby homeless encampments spun out of control, effectively charring the storage area under the freeway and the I-10 itself.
But Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass cautions people —at least, until the investigation is finished — against spreading that narrative. She worries that it may further subject homeless people to unnecessary and unfounded backlash.
According to California Governor Gavin Newsom, the findings in the investigation thus far suggest that there’s reason to believe that this fire was intentionally started with malicious intent.
As of right now, investigation and construction are underway to ensure that the usual flow of the Los Angeles traffic returns back to normal. But to ensure structural integrity, Newsom claims that it may take three to five weeks to achieve this goal.
Until then, the commuters are left to figure out how to best get to their destinations as quickly and efficiently as they can. Here are some suggestions:
Take the Metro During I-10 Fire Constructions
The I-10 passes through the heart of downtown Los Angeles, making it an essential freeway for people commuting to the area. Taking the Metro is an excellent alternative to driving as it could help you curb the difficulties of commuting, especially the lag that comes with wading through the current state of L.A. traffic.
Carpool with a friend
Carpooling with a friend to get to specific destinations could also help alleviate the traffic conditions in the city. The car-centric culture of Los Angeles makes everyone dependent on their cars to travel, inevitably breeding congestion. Carpooling helps solve the problem born out of the I-10 reconstruction as it decreases the amount of cars on the road.
Walking to a specific destination
The car-centric culture of Los Angeles is so severe to the point where walking anywhere seems inconceivable. While it is true that Los Angeles urban planning isn’t conducive to pedestrian safety, walking to a location is not entirely impossible. If you have to go somewhere and it’s nearby, skip the hassle of the traffic and walk instead!
Use the scooters
Another mode of transportation that you can use at your disposal is the scooters. A lot of people still opt to use their cars even when they live a short distance from where they work. Understandably, walking may be strenuous for some people. But scooters may be a viable alternative. In Los Angeles, you can find them lying around in random parts of the city. Because of its sheer size, the scooter can help you squeeze through short cuts that a car may not be able to.
Take The Side Streets
The I-10 closure means that you would inevitably have to take different routes. In all likelihood, your GPS is probably going to make you go on multiple freeways. However, they’re notorious for switching up ETAs mid-drive.
Your best bet to get to your destination as efficiently as possible may be taking the side streets. While it seems counterintuitive, this ironically gives you leverage in driving to work efficiently since not a lot of people may think of driving in the side streets as an option.
Call Omega Law Group If You’ve Been Injured Due To The I-10 Fire
As you wade through increased traffic congestion, it’s important more than ever to have a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles on speed dial. And not just any personal injury lawyer — you need the best. You need Omega Law Group.
Omega Law Group has a team of highly skilled legal professionals with a combined decades worth of experience in the field of personal injury. Their work has been praised by their clients and peers alike, even gaining recognition from prestigious publications like the Los Angeles Time and the Los Angeles Business Journal.
The latter of which hailed them as one of the “Most Admired Firms,” and even featured them as a headlining story for their innovative integration of artificial intelligence technology to efficiently streamline their case processes.
With over millions of dollars accrued in settlement amount, Omega Law Group is the right personal injury firm to call for any accidents —ie: rideshare, TBI, SCI, wrongful death, etc.
True to their mission of providing quality and equitable legal services, Omega operates on a contingency fee basis so that their clients don’t have to be burdened with upfront legal fees. Schedule a free legal consultation with Omega Law Group now to learn more!