Photo of destroyed Northridge freeway. — At 4:30 am, on January 17, 1994, residents of the greater Los Angeles area were rudely awakened by the strong shaking of the Northridge earthquake. This was the first earthquake to strike directly under an urban area of the United States since the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Credit: Jorge Villalba, IStock.

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Spencer Hutchison

CSUN Prof: 1994 Earthquake Recovery Influenced Quick Repair of Recent 10 Freeway Fire

College of Engineering and Computer Science

CSUN civil engineering professor Rais Ahmad draws parallels between the rapid recovery of the recent 10 Freeway fire closure and the 1994 Northridge earthquake repairs. While the earthquake caused far more extensive damage, both incidents showcased accelerated construction and coordinated government response. The recent freeway reopened in just eight days, compared to initial estimates of months, thanks to modern engineering technology and swift action from state and local leaders. Ahmad credits advanced preparation and lessons learned from the ’94 earthquake, when similar emergency response protocols and contractor incentives helped speed up repairs.