Caltrans Wants To Ban Storing Flammable Materials Under Overpasses After The 10 Freeway Fire

After a massive pallet fire shut down a portion of the 10 Freeway in November, Caltrans wants to ban the storage of flammable materials and impose other measures for rental lots under freeway overpasses.

The recommendations are listed in a memo from California State Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin after Caltrans reviewed the so-called airspace sites in response to the massive fire.

Among them are the prohibition of “oil, gasoline, lumber, pallets, wood, wood chips, [and] landscaping materials” under bridges. Caltrans is also proposing lease agreements that include definitions of what constitutes “hazardous” items. And rather than allowing sites to be used for “open storage,” Caltrans is recommending that the type of materials, and how they'll be stored, be considered in lease agreements.

“Caltrans and federal law prohibit improperly stored flammable liquids under the airspace lease sites,” Caltrans spokesperson Edward Barrera said. “However, in certain cases, liquid tanks properly stored and inspected and are attached to a working vehicle like cars or buses or forklifts may be allowed. Parking lots have long been an acceptable use of our airspace.”

The tenant at the site of the 10 Freeway fire had subleased the storage space without Caltrans’ prior approval. In order to avoid those issues, the agency is proposing better tracking of possible violations.

Caltrans also wants to vet potential tenants for prior lease violations and bankruptcies.

In its memo, Caltrans noted that prior to last year’s fire, the department had no “readily accessible inventory” of airspace leases. Now, the transportation agency is recommending an up-to-date inventory that will be reviewed twice a year.

Now it's up to Gov. Gavin Newsom's office to consider the recommendations with no clear timeline in place.