Berman Calls for L.A. Freeway Safety Study

Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) asked the secretary of transportation Wednesday to undertake a comprehensive study of the Los Angeles freeway bridge system to determine what can be done to avoid an earthquake disaster like Tuesday’s tragic collapse of the double-deck Nimitz Freeway through Oakland.

“While there are no double-deck highways in Los Angeles, if a similar earthquake were to occur in Southern California at the same time of day--and if the freeway overpasses and bridges are vulnerable, as were those in the Bay Area--the loss of life could be in the thousands,” Berman wrote to Secretary Samuel K. Skinner.

Berman noted that Gov. George Deukmejian expressed concern over the collapse of the mile-long stretch of the Nimitz Freeway, which killed at least 250 people, and freeway and bridge safety in general.

Berman recalled that the state undertook to reinforce overpasses throughout California following the 1971 Sylmar temblor, but the Cypress section of the Nimitz Freeway that collapsed in Oakland had itself just been reinforced.

“If highways through and around Los Angeles are in similar condition,” Berman said, “a disaster is waiting to happen, if such a quake should occur in Southern California.”