What Will You Do When the 405 Closes for Two Days?

If you think the West County Connector causes headaches, you’re going to want to prepare for this migraine.

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority is urging drivers to give some thought during the next several weeks to how to detour during the 53-hour, 10-mile closure of the San Diego (405) freeway, between the Ventura (101) and Santa Monica (10) freeways, on the weekend of July 16-17.

Traffic in those surrounding communities and beyond are expected to be severe with significant, multi-hour delays, according to officials. Freeway message signs in neighboring counties are expected to have updates for motorists, Metro said.

The ramps could be shut down as early as 7 p.m. Friday and the closure could begin as at 10 p.m. to begin demolishing the Mulholland Bridge. The work is part of the Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project. Only residents will be allowed to use Sepulveda Boulevard as an alternate route because it does not have the capacity to handle freeway traffic, according to Metro.

Motorists who must travel through the Los Angeles metropolitan area are advised to use alternate freeways within the region, including the 5, 15, 23, 55, 57, 101, 118, 126, 210, 605 and 710 freeways to bypass the impacted area.

Additionally, public transportation options such as the Metro Rail service within L.A. County and Metrolink servicing Orange and surrounding counties are available. Additional alternate route information will be made available on the project web site at www.metro.net/405.

City News Service