Carmageddon II: 53 Hour I-405 Freeway Shutdown Planned for Sept 29-30, 2012

The second 10-mile closure of both directions of the I-405 over the Sepulveda Pass, popularly known as “Carmageddon,” has now been scheduled for Sept. 29- 30, 2012, when contractors will demolish the remaining side of the Mulholland Bridge.

The I-405 is the nation’s busiest freeway and will be closed in both directions for 53 consecutive hours between the I-10 and U.S. 101. Half a million motorists drive this portion of the I-405 over a typical weekend.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area to minimize auto congestion in the project area and throughout the greater Los Angeles region.

On Friday, September 28, ramps along the 10-mile closure area will begin to be shut down as early as 7 p.m., and closure of individual freeway lanes will begin at 10 p.m. to ensure full freeway closure by midnight. The closure is scheduled to continue until 5 a.m. Monday morning, Oct. 1. Ramps and connectors will be reopened by 6 a.m. During this closure, the Mulholland Bridge, I-405 freeway and access ramps will be closed.

As with the previous I-405 closure in July 2011, Sepulveda Boulevard is intended as an alternate route for local resident access only. Sepulveda Boulevard does not have the capacity to accommodate both local and diverted freeway traffic. Motorists should instead use alternate regional freeway routes to completely bypass the area.

The demolition and reconstruction of the Mulholland Bridge is required to widen the freeway as part of the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project. The $1 billion, 10-mile northbound carpool lane construction project is a joint effort between Metro and Caltrans, and is being constructed by Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. It is scheduled for completion in 2013.

For the latest updates, visit the project web site at www.metro.net/405 or follow the project on Twitter: twitter.com/I_405 and Facebook at facebook.com/405project.