The second full closure of the 405 Freeway spans Saturday, Sept. 29 and ends 53 hours later.
We are asking drivers to “Plan Ahead, Avoid the Area or Eat, Shop and Play Locally.”
As background, Metro’s improvement of the 405 Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass will add a northbound HOV lane. This effort requires the demolition and reconstruction of Mulholland Bridge. We began this effort by demolishing the south side of the bridge in July 2011.
With the south side near reconstruction, it is time to demolish the north side of the bridge. Because of the design of Mulholland Bridge, it cannot be demolished in sections the way the Sunset Bridge was. Hence, the need to demolish an entire side over a weekend.
The closure of the 405 will be managed through an incident command post headed by LAFD/LAPD/CHP/Caltrans/Metro. As with last year, our outreach to commuters and travelers will reach national audiences, as well as local, regional and statewide stakeholders.
Emails, including approved detour maps, and several channels through which you can receive up-to-the-minute updates, will be issued regularly. We intend to provide you with all the critical information you will need leading up to the demolition date. We ask you to help us to encourage travelers to refrain from driving through the affected area.
Your first line for information is the project website: www.metro.net/405, as well as the project’s social media sites: twitter.com/I_405 or www.facebook.com/405project. You may also call Jennifer Gill at 213.922.4224 for a referral to your regional lead. Be advised that our Board and the agency staff are committed to informing you with the latest information, up to and including the weekend closure. In the future, all communication on this freeway closure will be labeled “I-405 Sepulveda Pass Closure Alert.”
Mr. Leahy is Chair of the Metro Board.
