‘Carmageddon II’ Begins on L.A. Freeways
‘Carmageddon II’ Begins on L.A. Freeways
Traffic was light around Los Angeles hours after the start of Carmageddon II, and transportation officials were hoping it stays that way until a bridge is demolished before the Monday morning rush hour.
Construction crews began work early Saturday morning taking down a portion of the Mulholland Drive bridge along Interstate 405, one of the nation’s busiest freeways. The bridge and its pillars will eventually be replaced so that the freeway can be widened to include a new carpool lane.
“So far, so good,” said Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Dave Sotero. “Drivers are staying away from the demolition area.”
For weeks Angelenos have been warned to avoid the 10-mile stretch of the 405 that will be shuttered through the Sepulveda Pass on LA’s west side for the entire weekend.
If drivers don’t stay away, officials warn, a citywide traffic jam could result. But beyond just scare tactics, city officials have been encouraging Southern Californians to get out and enjoy their own neighborhoods on foot, on bikes or via short drives on surface streets.
During a similar closure last year commuters stayed away from the freeway in droves, the shutdown was considered a success, and crews finished the first phase of the work early.
This time, the contractor faces a penalty if the work isn’t done in 53 hours.