HO-HO-HO! This is gonna be FUN-FUN-FUN! (I-405 closure in CA)

Alps · July 11, 2011, 08:06:32 PM

Quote from: Scott5114 on July 11, 2011, 09:46:39 AM
Steve, aren't you a certified PE now?

I'm certified something, but my participation on this forum is as a hobbyist. All the PE does is inform my opinions. (:

roadfro · July 12, 2011, 03:41:25 AM

NBC Nightly News picked up on this, including the "Carmageddon" name...

NBC Nightly News video

CL · July 14, 2011, 11:49:46 PM

Will anyone be posting updates on here for the duration of the closure? I'd love to get some real-time updates.

rschen7754 · July 15, 2011, 03:24:25 AM

I'm down in San Diego but should I come across anything, sure.

rschen7754 · July 15, 2011, 03:25:52 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/14/carmageddon.jet.blue/index.html?hpt=hp_bn12 - JetBlue is apparently offering $4 flights from Burbank to Long Beach that Saturday.

Quillz · July 15, 2011, 06:22:16 AM

I'm about 10 miles from the 405. I think Topanga Cyn. Blvd, aka CA-27, is going to be seeing a lot more traffic than usual this weekend. I figure that, as well as US-101 and I-5 are going to be the three most used alternates to the 405. Sepulveda and Laurel Cyn. would work well to, presuming you want to get from the valley into downtown.

national highway 1 · July 15, 2011, 07:02:45 AM

Quote from: roadfro on July 12, 2011, 03:41:25 AM
NBC Nightly News picked up on this, including the "Carmageddon" name...

NBC Nightly News video

The footage of NBC was even aired on Australian TV!

rickmastfan67 · July 15, 2011, 10:52:59 PM

lol, somebody is going to try to race JetBlue on a Bicycle.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43776135/ns/us_news-life/

Zmapper · July 16, 2011, 03:03:51 AM

As I type this, Southern California is now 3 minutes into Carmageddon. I can only pray for their safety and well being, and hope that they remain strong though this terrible disaster.

myosh_tino · July 16, 2011, 04:06:57 AM

Quote from: Zmapper on July 16, 2011, 03:03:51 AM
As I type this, Southern California is now 3 minutes into Carmageddon. I can only pray for their safety and well being, and hope that they remain strong though this terrible disaster.

The local news station up here in San Francisco covered the coming Carmageddon this morning and apparently, this is the first of two I-405 closures. The one this weekend will demolish half of the overpass. The other half will be demolished at a later date which has been dubbed Carmageddon 2!

Riverside Frwy · July 16, 2011, 11:46:03 AM

I'm in Long Beach right now, about to go to the Crenshaw District area so I will should be able to see part of it. I want avoid Sepulveda Bl at all cost but I want to go anyway just to see whats happening.

vdeane · July 16, 2011, 01:41:34 PM

Just thought of something: why didn't they simply close half the lanes and re-route the northbound traffic into the southbound lanes? That's what we do in the northeast.

agentsteel53 · July 16, 2011, 01:48:19 PM

it is general policy here as well - but, in this case, the deviation from the policy I think has to do with the fact that demolishing one half of the bridge could, with a small but important probability, cause the other half to come down, either in whole or in part. don't want any cars going underneath it if it does.

(but don't ask me why they'd have to shut down the entire freeway again next year, when half the bridge is already gone.)

myosh_tino · July 16, 2011, 01:49:45 PM

Quote from: deanej on July 16, 2011, 01:41:34 PM
Just thought of something: why didn't they simply close half the lanes and re-route the northbound traffic into the southbound lanes? That's what we do in the northeast.

It's a safety issue!

Do you want potentially large chunks of concrete falling from this overpass onto the road surface? Or even worse, do you want to be driving on this road with large chunks of concrete falling mere feet from your car? I don't think so.

Truvelo · July 16, 2011, 03:21:53 PM

The bridge has two spans either side of the main one so instead of replacing it just remove the earth from beneath the outer spans and build new retaining walls. That way there's enough room for C/D lanes or whatever will be added without causing major disruption.

Zmapper · July 16, 2011, 03:25:34 PM

Carmageddon, what carmageddon. I am looking at Google Traffic right now and aside from 1 serious delay on CA 27 for about 1/2 mile, everything else is fine. Is it different on the ground for those of you in the area?

SignBridge · July 16, 2011, 04:04:29 PM

I'm in New York and this is even on the news here! I've driven thru Sepulveda Pass on several trips to L.A. years ago. Tell me they're not really tearing down that beautiful Mulholland Dr. overpass............... I assume the support columns are in the way of the widening? What are they replacing it with, a similar wider span? Will it look about the same?

Also, if the bridge is gone, how is traffic on Mullholland Drive being detoured?

Quillz · July 16, 2011, 04:10:43 PM

I'm going to miss that really tall overpass. I've always liked it.

RIP

Chris · July 16, 2011, 04:22:17 PM

Traffic seems lighter than normal on the 10 and 101.

By the way; as far as I know they will be only tearing down one side of the Mulholland Bridge this time (south side from the looks of it). The other one will likely require another shutdown in 2012.

Riverside Frwy · July 16, 2011, 08:24:35 PM

Quote from: Zmapper on July 16, 2011, 03:25:34 PM
Carmageddon, what carmageddon. I am looking at Google Traffic right now and aside from 1 serious delay on CA 27 for about 1/2 mile, everything else is fine. Is it different on the ground for those of you in the area?

Yep-I just drove 110 - 405 and traffic definitely lighter than normal-even for a saturday. It looks like peoplewere so scared of dealing with "carmageddon" that it actually scared people to stay home.

agentsteel53 · July 16, 2011, 08:38:19 PM

they should do it more often.

I'm staying home this weekend but that is because I have no business out of town.

we'll see what next year brings - will people think "carmageddon" or "cry wolf"? an interesting real-life application of game theory.

Quillz · July 17, 2011, 01:57:19 AM

They're rebuilding that bridge lower so that Mulholland intersects with both the freeway and Sepulveda, right?

vdeane · July 17, 2011, 02:06:36 PM

Quote from: myosh_tino on July 16, 2011, 01:49:45 PM
Quote from: deanej on July 16, 2011, 01:41:34 PM
Just thought of something: why didn't they simply close half the lanes and re-route the northbound traffic into the southbound lanes? That's what we do in the northeast.
It's a safety issue!

Do you want potentially large chunks of concrete falling from this overpass onto the road surface? Or even worse, do you want to be driving on this road with large chunks of concrete falling mere feet from your car? I don't think so.

I was under the impression that the southbound lanes ARE open. If so, why not do a lane shift to the other side? If not, then some of the media should be fined for bad reporting.

Bigmikelakers · July 17, 2011, 05:14:23 PM

Breaking News! The 405 is now opened! 16 hours ahead of schedule.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/07/carmageddon-ends-405-freeway-reopens-to-traffic-.html

agentsteel53 · July 17, 2011, 05:19:57 PM

Quote from: Bigmikelakers on July 17, 2011, 05:14:23 PM
Breaking News! The 405 is now opened! 16 hours ahead of schedule.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/07/carmageddon-ends-405-freeway-reopens-to-traffic-.html

not bad at all. I know there is a fine for late completion, but was there some kind of bonus specified in the contract for early completion?

News:

HO-HO-HO! This is gonna be FUN-FUN-FUN! (I-405 closure in CA)