Portions of Highway 47, including the Vincent Thomas Bridge, were still closed Friday after a big rig containing lithium batteries crashed in San Pedro, starting a fire.
Highway 47 remained closed from Harbor Boulevard in Los Angeles to the Highway 103 junction in Long Beach, according to the California Department of Transportation.
The closure could extend into Saturday as fire crews continue to work at the scene, KTLA-5 reported. The large truck was still near the bridge Friday morning.
The California Highway Patrol says the best route between San Pedro and Long Beach is the Pacific Coast Highway, between Interstate 110 and Interstate 710 or Interstate 405.
The accident happened around 11:48 a.m. Thursday at 940 N. Seaside Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Lithium batteries inside the large rig exploded and caught fire, requiring a hazardous materials team to respond to the scene.
No injuries or evacuation orders were reported.
Tens of thousands of vehicles and heavy goods vehicles pass over the Vincent Thomas bridge every day; the bridge also connects San Pedro to Terminal Island.
The highway closure also hampered operations at the Port of Los Angeles. The APM, Fenix Marine, Everport and Yusen terminals were closed Friday while agencies worked on site, although some other terminals remained open. Traffic has been diverted from the area.
“The Los Angeles Port Police and senior port officials are working with response agencies, container terminal operators, union officials and other stakeholders to ensure safety and minimize disruptions,” the port officials on social networks.
In a statement Friday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass thanked LAFD firefighters “for keeping drivers, port workers and the surrounding community safe while this situation is resolved.” She added that her office remains in contact with port and Caltrans leaders about port closures and traffic detours.
