Los Angeles “Carmageddon” Underway

What is Carmageddon? It’s a road project/closure on the Los Angeles 405 Freeway dubbed “Carmageddon” by Los Angeles officials.

The unprecedented weekend shutdown of a 10-mile (16-km) stretch of the 405 Freeway could, in a worst-case scenario, delay motorists for hours on alternate routes with ripple effects on other major highways.

The shutdown will allow crews to demolish part of Mulholland Drive bridge for a $1 billion freeway widening project.

Four excavators mounted with Jack Hammers called Hoe Rams will demolish the estimated 4,000 tons of concrete portions of the bridge while technicians that are strapped into fall protection harnesses with oxyacetylene cutting torches will be removing rebar for recycling. The remaining support columns will be left for later removal in order to ensure that the freeway opens back up on time.

The 10-mile stretch is the key connector between the Westside and San Fernando Valley. It was shut down fully by midnight Friday and is scheduled to be ready for commuters by 6 a.m. Monday. Officials have said that if all goes well there’s a chance the freeway could be open earlier.