A massive bridge being constructed over Interstate 15 in the Mojave Desert was a smoldering shambles of twisted metal and wood Tuesday after a metal-cutting accident set it ablaze, blocking a major route between Southern California and Nevada.

The fire erupted Monday afternoon and snarled traffic as it burned through the night. Firefighters struggled to battle flames in the bridge's temporary wooden support structure as they contended with the danger of collapse, limited water supply and winds.

By morning, girders sagged onto the interstate below, and crews were using heavy equipment to drag collapsed remnants out of lanes.

Despite the monumental mess, Basem Muallem, the California Department of Transportation's district director, said he expected to have the northbound lanes open by Tuesday afternoon and the southbound side reopened by Wednesday morning.

In the meantime, traffic was routed off the interstate onto local roads to bypass the bridge. Motorists were advised to use two smaller state highways as alternate routes.

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