Asphalt's speed-of-construction attributes garnered worldwide attention last week when a major Southern California freeway was reopened in just five days after experiencing major flood damage.

Interstate 10, a major freeway connecting Los Angeles to Phoenix was closed when flash-flooding caused a bridge to collapse, forcing

A freak summer rainstorm in the desert east of Los Angeles washed out a bridge on Interstate 10.

eastbound traffic to take an hours-long detour. The interstate carries an average of 27,000 vehicles a day through the area.

Working around the clock, a contractor brought in by Caltrans, Granite Construction, trucked in 2,500 tons of asphalt and 2,000 tons of base course to pave a temporary detour around the damaged bridge and traffic was able to pass through the area at noon Friday to great fanfare.

The freak summer rainstorm inundated drought-stricken Southern California last weekend, sending torrents of chocolate-colored water sweeping across the parched desert landscape. A concrete structure that carries I-10 traffic over Tex Wash, about 44 miles east of Route 86 (Coachella) and 42 miles west of the Arizona state line, took the brunt of the flooding. According to Caltrans Public Information Officer Tyeisha Prunty, three other structures received minor damage and were repaired.

The temporary detour, which will carry traffic alongside the collapsed concrete structure at reduced speeds, will be in place until the structure can be replaced, she said. That process could take months, Prunty said, at an estimated cost of $5 million.

Paving crews working around the clock placed 2,500 tons of asphalt to create a temporary detour on I-10 in just five days.