Judge Blocks City From Joining Freeway Lawsuit

ALHAMBRA — A federal judge has denied Alhambra’s request to join the federal government in defending a lawsuit filed by South Pasadena seeking to block construction of the Long Beach Freeway extension.

Attorneys in the case received a written ruling from U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson, who last week issued a similar tentative ruling before a hearing.

The decision is a victory for South Pasadena, which for decades has stalled construction of the 6.2-mile freeway, which would slice through the city, as well as Pasadena and the Eastside.

South Pasadena attorneys had opposed the entry of Alhambra, which has aggressively pushed for the roadway’s completion.

Alhambra, where much of the commuter traffic now flows, has championed the freeway as a means to easing its traffic congestion.

“The incomplete 710 Freeway is an environmental nightmare,” Alhambra officials said in a prepared statement. “Nearly 5 billion tons of carbon monoxide is spewed daily into Alhambra as result of vehicles forced to travel the 6.2-mile incomplete portion of the 710 on surface streets. Traffic on our major arteries is gridlocked due to the incomplete freeway.”

At last week’s hearing, Alhambra’s attorney told the court the city feared the federal government cannot be relied on to complete the project.