HESPERIA – (INT) – ‘Burning bridges’ to the past is taking on a new meaning. For a freeway bridge builder, it’s having an expensive consequence.

Most of the Ranchero Road overcrossing on the I-15 has been demolished in the wake of Monday’s fire. Ray Wolfe of the San Bernardino County Association of Governments says they had no choice.

“We are having all of the debris removed and all of the structure torn down to get traffic moving again.”

A welder cutting iron rebar caught the bridge’s wooden falsework on fire causing a partial collapse. Resulting damages are estimated at $10 million.

The concrete pillars remain, but the bridge will have to be rebuilt.

North and southbound lanes of the I-15 are now open.

Story Date: May 7, 2014