The Pomona Freeway, damaged when a tanker truck exploded on Wednesday, has been re-opened for traffic in both directions.
The westbound lane was reopened Saturday morning, spokesman for the California Department of Transportation told NBC LA.
"Here they come right now," said CalTrans spokesman Patrick Chandler, as the rumble of traffic grew near.
The eastbound side of the freeway, where concrete from recent repairs was still curing Saturday morning, would likely open later in the day, Chandler said.
But he and other workers were excited to see the cars come through heading west.
“I’m standing in the middle of the freeway on the eastbound side, and they are coming through right now,” he said. “It’s going to get real noisy real soon.”
The freeway has been closed between the Long Beach Freeway (I-710) and the San Gabriel Freeway (I-605) since the tanker, which was carrying propane, burst into flames, essentially melting portions of the Paramount Boulevard bridge.
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But Chandler said that the westbound portion of the freeway will close again on Sunday night, as workers move to demolish a portion of a freeway overpass that was severely damaged in the explosion. Two eastbound lanes will also be closed. The lanes will be closed from 11 pm to 5 am Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights, he said.
