The 10 Freeway area near downtown Los Angeles reopened weeks ahead of schedule after a suspected arson fire.

An initial estimate given by California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Nov. 14 saw a three to five-week timeframe for repairs, which was later changed to Tuesday, Nov. 21 and ultimately Monday, Nov. 20.

“What began as months has turned into days — before Angelenos hit the road on Monday, we're opening the 10 back up," Gov. Newsom said in a statement. "Thanks to the tireless work of Caltrans and union construction crews and with help from our partners — from the Mayor's office to the White House — the 10's expedited repair is proof and a point of pride that here in California, we deliver."

Now all lanes going both ways have been opened and deemed safe to drive on by Los Angeles and California officials, only eight days after the blaze broke on the weekend of Nov. 11.

The construction has not stopped, however, as a full repair is still expected to take months, despite the lanes opening. For that reason, Caltrans has warned drivers to expect occasional night and weekend road closures.

The governor declared a state of emergency for the freeway, opening up federal funds from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, allowing Caltrans to have personnel available 24 hours a day to work on the repairs.

The fire occurred Saturday, Nov. 11 at approximately 12:30 a.m., and continued through the night with investigators suspecting an arson case. The fire burned through a storage yard on both sides of 14th Street, altering the integrity of the freeway's supporting beams.

Photos of the suspect were released to the public on Sunday, Nov. 19, using surveillance footage from the area.

Investigators said the suspect is believed to be a man between 30 to 35 years old, approximately 6 feet tall and had visible burns to his leg, as well as a knee brace. He was wearing a black hoodie with blue shorts at the time the video was taken, and had black hair, although his race and eye color could not be determined.

Initially, city officials announced a 24-hour closure, but after reviewing the damage to the freeway, more extensive repairs and further closure dates were needed.

Onlookers recorded video of the fire, showing the flames completely engulfing the stretch of freeway, with the fire believed to have started underneath.

A day after the fire, LAFD showed photos of the damage underneath the freeway, with debris and ash filling the underpass.

The owners of the property under the freeway are Apex Development Inc., which the governor's office said they are in an active lawsuit with. The company is being accused of not paying its rent and subletting the property without authorization.

“We’ve been in a litigious posture for some time,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement Monday. “They stopped paying their rent, they’re out of compliance…and they have been subleasing this site to at least five, maybe as many as six tenants, without authorization from Caltrans or from our federal partners.”

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