A homeless encampment in Long Beach is being cleared Wednesday morning near two major freeway corridors, aerial footage from Sky5 showed.
The cleanup is underway near Artesia Boulevard and the L.A. River, where encampments have been set up beneath the overpasses. Sky5’s Rich Prickett described “quite the cleanup” taking place as Caltrans crews worked through piles of debris scattered under the bridge.
“You can see all the debris that is being picked up here by Caltrans,” he said, noting that “a lot of these encampments have been set up under these overpasses, and you can see all the debris that collects up over time.”
Prickett added that crews “will be here throughout the day” as California Highway Patrol officers monitor the area, centered at 499 E. Artesia Boulevard.
Cleanup crews work to clear debris from a homeless encampment near major freeway corridors in Long Beach. December 2025. (KTLA)
The cleanup comes as California continues a broader, statewide push to dismantle encampments on state-owned property. Earlier this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom launched the SAFE Task Force — a coordinated effort involving Caltrans, CHP and state housing and health agencies — aimed at clearing unsafe or unsanitary encampments along major rights-of-way in the state’s largest cities.
Recent operations tied to this initiative have taken place across Southern California, including a cleanup along the 110 Freeway in South Los Angeles, where over a dozen people accepted shelter and services, and a sweep in Van Nuys that drew protests and a heavy law enforcement presence as city crews moved in to remove tents and debris. County agencies have also taken part in similar efforts, most recently clearing a large encampment near Gardena while offering housing, medical care and support services to residents.
Wednesday’s Long Beach operation reflects the same multi-agency approach, with state crews removing debris beneath heavily traveled freeway corridors while public safety teams secure the area.
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