L.A. Prepares for Worst and Hopes for Best in Freeway Shutdown

Gerald · 07-07-11, 01:48 PM

LOS ANGELES — You would think that Los Angeles, of all places, would know how to handle a catastrophe.

But in just over a week, 11 miles of Interstate 405 — the north-south spine of the West Side of Los Angeles, which carries 500,000 cars every weekend over the Sepulveda Pass into the San Fernando Valley — is going to shut down for 53 hours, from late Friday night to early Monday morning. No cars, trucks or motorcycles will be allowed, to make way for the latest phase in a $1 billion widening project for a highway that serves as an unhappy second home for commuters during rush hours.

And they are calling it Carmageddon.

City officials are warning of a traffic nightmare, urging people to stay home or get out of town with pronouncements that have taken on an increasingly alarming tone. “EXPECT BIG DELAY” reads the warning on electronic billboards on highways and streets from Bakersfield to San Diego. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has an official “Countdown to the Closure” clock on its Web site, ticking down to the weekend of July 16 and 17.

The Los Angeles Police Department, leaving no electronic stone unturned, asked Lady Gaga to post a warning on her Twitter feed, which has 11.4 million followers and is usually more concerned with promoting “Born This Way” than a highway. There is a Carmageddon Facebook page and an all-things Carmageddon Web site, with maps, videos, a Twitter feed and local businesses offering deals to people who stay home. (The tagline: “The Price You Pay to Live in L.A.”) And there is an ever-growing list of hashtags to help Twitter account users track the impending crisis.

Kajon Cermak, the traffic reporter for KCRW in Santa Monica, said she was considering doing what any rational person would do on that weekend: leaving. “I was talking to my husband, and he said we should get out of here and go to Portland,” Ms. Cermak said. “The traffic is going to be bumper to bumper. Everybody is talking about it.”

Which is hardly a surprise considering how terrifying the warnings have sounded.

“If you think the 405 is gridlocked during the week, you haven’t seen anything yet,” Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa said by telephone last week. “My message is to stay home. Or go on vacation. Walk. Go on a bike. But do not get in your car and go anywhere near the West Side. It’s going to be a mess.”

Bill Rosendahl, a City Council member from the area, said, “This is truly a potential paralysis moment.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/us...me&ref=general

Note: July 6. 2011

AVGWarhawk · 07-07-11, 01:58 PM

Maybe all should try walking. Imagine what it would do concerning pollution from vehicles that are not on the road over that 53 hours. Oh well, this will be good enough reason as any to have a riot!

Gerald · 07-07-11, 02:01 PM

I prefer to travel by car in spite of....

Ducimus · 07-07-11, 02:31 PM

Quote:

You would think that Los Angeles, of all places, would know how to handle a catastrophe.

Oh that's rich!

Here's something that I didn't see mentioned:
All the freeways are connected in some way shape or form. A traffic jam on one, spills over into another one with the car stackup. The whole basin is liable to be more FUBARed then usual.

I am so glad, i don't live there anymore.

07-07-11, 01:48 PM	#1
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	L.A. Prepares for Worst and Hopes for Best in Freeway Shutdown LOS ANGELES — You would think that Los Angeles, of all places, would know how to handle a catastrophe. But in just over a week, 11 miles of Interstate 405 — the north-south spine of the West Side of Los Angeles, which carries 500,000 cars every weekend over the Sepulveda Pass into the San Fernando Valley — is going to shut down for 53 hours, from late Friday night to early Monday morning. No cars, trucks or motorcycles will be allowed, to make way for the latest phase in a $1 billion widening project for a highway that serves as an unhappy second home for commuters during rush hours. And they are calling it Carmageddon. City officials are warning of a traffic nightmare, urging people to stay home or get out of town with pronouncements that have taken on an increasingly alarming tone. “EXPECT BIG DELAY” reads the warning on electronic billboards on highways and streets from Bakersfield to San Diego. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has an official “Countdown to the Closure” clock on its Web site, ticking down to the weekend of July 16 and 17. The Los Angeles Police Department, leaving no electronic stone unturned, asked Lady Gaga to post a warning on her Twitter feed, which has 11.4 million followers and is usually more concerned with promoting “Born This Way” than a highway. There is a Carmageddon Facebook page and an all-things Carmageddon Web site, with maps, videos, a Twitter feed and local businesses offering deals to people who stay home. (The tagline: “The Price You Pay to Live in L.A.”) And there is an ever-growing list of hashtags to help Twitter account users track the impending crisis. Kajon Cermak, the traffic reporter for KCRW in Santa Monica, said she was considering doing what any rational person would do on that weekend: leaving. “I was talking to my husband, and he said we should get out of here and go to Portland,” Ms. Cermak said. “The traffic is going to be bumper to bumper. Everybody is talking about it.” Which is hardly a surprise considering how terrifying the warnings have sounded. “If you think the 405 is gridlocked during the week, you haven’t seen anything yet,” Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa said by telephone last week. “My message is to stay home. Or go on vacation. Walk. Go on a bike. But do not get in your car and go anywhere near the West Side. It’s going to be a mess.” Bill Rosendahl, a City Council member from the area, said, “This is truly a potential paralysis moment.” http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/us...me&ref=general Note: July 6. 2011 __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

07-07-11, 01:58 PM	#2
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,257 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Maybe all should try walking. Imagine what it would do concerning pollution from vehicles that are not on the road over that 53 hours. Oh well, this will be good enough reason as any to have a riot! __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

07-07-11, 02:01 PM	#3
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	I prefer to travel by car in spite of.... __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie