Is The 10 Freeway Safe After Its Speedy Repairs? (And Other Headlines)

How long does it take to open a fire-damaged freeway? A few months? Three weeks? Eight days, apparently.

Fixing the 10 Freeway

The 10 Freeway from Alameda Street to the East L.A. interchange reopened on Sunday, Nov. 19, blowing an initial three-to-five-week closure timeline out of the water. But is it safe to drive?

My colleague Caitlin Hernández recently did an L.A. Explained video on the 10 Freeway repair and talked to some experts about the speedy work and whether it’s really safe to drive on one of L.A.’s busiest freeways again so soon. The TL;DR answer is yes, according to experts.

Load capacity, which refers to how much weight a bridge can hold, is key to the speedy reopening. As repair plans were underway, "engineers developed a plan to reinforce the bridge with temporary shoring to distribute load capacity on the bridge safely,” said Michael Comeaux, a spokesperson for Caltrans. Structural engineers certified that the loading and bracing met safety standards, allowing Caltrans to reopen the bridge.

Learn more about the long-term repairs and evaluations of the freeway’s safety and structural integrity.

Stay safe, L.A. There’s more news below — just keep reading.

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Wait! One more thing...

Show appreciation for the party host in your life

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Olivia Hughes for LAist

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I have always wanted to host a party, but after seeing family members and friends take on that task, I know it can be stressful. From coordinating the food to curating the perfect music playlist, party hosts do the most.

Psst, speaking of Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings, there’s a How To LA episode about how to host the perfect Friendsgiving that can apply to all your upcoming holiday parties.

This LAist gift guide is perfect for those who want to show their appreciation for party hosts — and if you just don’t want to come empty-handed. This is definitely handy for me because I just got invited to a few gatherings, and as someone who doesn’t have a signature dish to bring, I can always bring a cool gift like a linen towel set or bamboo plates.

Bonus: And while we’re on the topic of hosts, if you need some help — or inspiration — for your Thanksgiving dinner, tune in Thursday at 9 a.m. for “Turkey Confidential” on LAist 89.3 FM, the LAist app, or streaming on LAist.com. The Splendid Table is bringing in a full kitchen of guests — including Top Chef‘s Kristen Kish — to guide you through the year’s Super Bowl of cooking … and eating.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving break, and I’ll see you again on Friday!