The 15 Freeway in the Cajon Pass will be closed in both directions for one to two days because of a huge blaze that broke out at a bridge construction site, state transportation officials said Monday evening.

The fire at the Ranchero Road overpass in Hesperia created a traffic nightmare along the heavily used freeway that connects Southern California with Las Vegas.

Traffic in both directions was snarled for miles as firefighters battled the blaze that was burning at the wood-and-rebar construction site, officials said.

Officials said the flames engulfed the site and were stoked by strong winds.


“It’s not looking good,” Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga said Monday afternoon.

The blaze was sparked by workers cutting reinforced steel bars with torches, the San Bernardino County Fire Department said.

Motorists were advised to use alternative routes, including California highways 138 and 18.

“If you do know alternate routes, you should take those routes,” said Fire Department spokeswoman Tracey Martinez.