Bridge Collapses California

While rain resumed pelting Northern California and threatened new flooding, the Monterey area began Monday to dig out from the punishing weekend storm that left thousands isolated from their homes and jobs by washed-out bridges. The small farm town of Pajaro remained a flooded ghost town, its 4,000 residents forced by a breached levee on the Pajaro River to spend a third day waiting and worrying.

Interstate 5, severed last week when a bridge near Coalinga collapsed, killing seven, was expected to reopen to traffic by early this morning, state officials said Friday. The Department of Transportation said expedited construction of a temporary bridge made of railroad flatcars would allow resumption of travel over Arroyo Pasajero Creek.

A 184-mile segment of Interstate 5, the most commercially vital highway in California, was put out of commission by the weekend storms, and Caltrans said Sunday that it could take as long as a month to erect a temporary bridge and reopen the road to traffic. Officials said they will introduce a new type of bridge--using railroad flatcars--while permanent spans are built to replace the twin bridges near Coalinga that collapsed under the pressure of raging storm waters Friday night.

While rain resumed pelting Northern California and threatened new flooding, the Monterey area began Monday to dig out from the punishing weekend storm that left thousands isolated from their homes and jobs by washed-out bridges. The small farm town of Pajaro remained a flooded ghost town, its 4,000 residents forced by a breached levee on the Pajaro River to spend a third day waiting and worrying.

The rain was over, and the sun was shining. But the muddy horror continued Sunday on the banks of Arroyo Pasajero Creek. Farm workers battled the mud for the right to bury their dead loved ones and friends trapped in cars that had tumbled into the thunderous darkness when the Interstate 5 bridge collapsed. As the turbulent waters subsided Sunday morning, about 350 anxious people stood along the almond orchards above the muddy Arroyo Pasajero in a grim vigil.

Interstate 5, severed last week when a bridge near Coalinga collapsed, killing seven, was expected to reopen to traffic by early this morning, state officials said Friday. The Department of Transportation said expedited construction of a temporary bridge made of railroad flatcars would allow resumption of travel over Arroyo Pasajero Creek.

A 184-mile segment of Interstate 5, the most commercially vital highway in California, was put out of commission by the weekend storms, and Caltrans said Sunday that it could take as long as a month to erect a temporary bridge and reopen the road to traffic. Officials said they will introduce a new type of bridge--using railroad flatcars--while permanent spans are built to replace the twin bridges near Coalinga that collapsed under the pressure of raging storm waters Friday night.

The rain was over, and the sun was shining. But the muddy horror continued Sunday on the banks of Arroyo Pasajero Creek. Farm workers battled the mud for the right to bury their dead loved ones and friends trapped in cars that had tumbled into the thunderous darkness when the Interstate 5 bridge collapsed. As the turbulent waters subsided Sunday morning, about 350 anxious people stood along the almond orchards above the muddy Arroyo Pasajero in a grim vigil.