Flooding Traps Cars, Big Rig On Key Vincent Thomas Bridge Detour

LOS ANGELES, CA — Several vehicles, including a big rig, became trapped in floodwaters in the South Bay Friday morning along a key detour route for the Vincent Thomas Bridge closure, prompting Los Angeles County officials to call for an alternate route.

Heavy flooding inundated Harry Bridges Boulevard near Alameda Street in Wilmington, where crews worked to pump out the water and tow trucks attempted to remove stranded vehicles.

At least four cars and a semi-truck were immobilized by the flooding, KTLA reported. One driver told the station that she encountered the flooded roadway around 4 a.m. but could not see the high water because of the rain and darkness.

The flooding appeared to be caused by a combination of heavy rain and high tides, authorities said.

Santiago Rodriguez, a manager at a nearby business, told KTLA that flooding during high tides is common at the intersection, but he had never seen it reach such dangerous levels in more than 20 years working there.

The flooding has raised concerns because Harry Bridges Boulevard serves as a critical detour during the 16-month closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn had warned earlier in the week that high tides were causing significant flooding at the intersection, just days into the bridge closure.

On Friday, Hahn called on Caltrans to establish another detour route.

"We have cars getting trapped in floodwater on Harry Bridges and Alameda, and this is only going to get worse with more rain expected this week," Hahn said in a statement. "City and county crews are working to pump out the water, but we cannot keep sending commuters through a route that is flooding."

Hahn said she was asking Caltrans to identify a detour that avoids the intersection until officials can find a permanent solution.

It was unclear Friday morning when the flooded roadway would be cleared and reopened.

The flooding came as the first in a series of storms moved through Southern California. The National Weather Service forecast additional storms affecting the region through at least Thursday.

City News Service contributed to this report.