DIAMOND BAR : Death Stirs Talk of Freeway Closures During Road Work
The death of Caltrans employee Juan Thome, killed Wednesday when a big rig truck smashed into him and two other workers beside the Pomona Freeway in Diamond Bar, may renew discussion about shutting freeways completely for maintenance work, state transportation officials said Thursday.
“It will definitely be one of the alternatives to look at,” said Jerry Baxter, Caltrans director for Los Angeles and Ventura counties. “When you have three workers killed in the last 10 months, you’ve got to question what you’re doing and ask yourself: ‘How can we do this safer?’ ”
Baxter said complete freeway closures are rare because they require extensive advance preparation and coordination. “
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