LA traffic dodges 'Carmageddon' fears
Source: Agencies |
July 18, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
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LOS Angeles drivers avoided the dreaded "Carmageddon" - utter gridlock - on the first day that one of the busiest highways in the nation was shut down for repairs. But can the car-crazy city control itself one more day?
Experts weren't sure.
Officials were elated that the public got the message to stay off the roads on Saturday as a 16-kilometer stretch of Interstate 405 was shut down. But some were concerned the lack of gridlock would make drivers complacent and spur them to return to the road before today's scheduled reopening.
"We hope they still listen to what we're saying and not go out and try to drive through this area, because it is going to be congested if people do that," said Mike Miles of the California Department of Transportation.
Authorities closed a highway segment on the western side of Los Angeles at midnight on Friday for 53 hours to allow partial demolition of a bridge. Many feared that would paralyze traffic in Los Angeles, a city where residents love their cars.
For once, the hype was worse than the reality.
"It's been one of the most quiet Saturdays I've seen in forever," said resident Steven Ramada. Demolition work is expected to be completed today, followed by cleanup and reopening of the freeway at 5am, with on-ramps and connectors all reopened an hour later.
Project contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West will face a US$6,000 fine in each direction for every 10 minutes of delay in getting the freeway reopened.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa flew over the city in a helicopter and said it was clear there were far fewer cars on the freeways and streets than normal, but he cautioned there were hours to go still.
Progress on demolition of the half-century-old Mulholland Bridge was on schedule, Villaraigosa said. Powerful machines with long booms hammered away at the south side of the span, which is being removed to allow construction of an additional freeway lane. The plan is to leave the north-side lanes standing until the south side is rebuilt. Another closure will be required in the future to demolish the north side.
"We've made great progress," Villaraigosa told reporters.
Traffic jams are rooted in Los Angeles' geography as the city is divided by the Santa Monica Mountains.
Experts weren't sure.
Officials were elated that the public got the message to stay off the roads on Saturday as a 16-kilometer stretch of Interstate 405 was shut down. But some were concerned the lack of gridlock would make drivers complacent and spur them to return to the road before today's scheduled reopening.
"We hope they still listen to what we're saying and not go out and try to drive through this area, because it is going to be congested if people do that," said Mike Miles of the California Department of Transportation.
Authorities closed a highway segment on the western side of Los Angeles at midnight on Friday for 53 hours to allow partial demolition of a bridge. Many feared that would paralyze traffic in Los Angeles, a city where residents love their cars.
For once, the hype was worse than the reality.
"It's been one of the most quiet Saturdays I've seen in forever," said resident Steven Ramada. Demolition work is expected to be completed today, followed by cleanup and reopening of the freeway at 5am, with on-ramps and connectors all reopened an hour later.
Project contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West will face a US$6,000 fine in each direction for every 10 minutes of delay in getting the freeway reopened.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa flew over the city in a helicopter and said it was clear there were far fewer cars on the freeways and streets than normal, but he cautioned there were hours to go still.
Progress on demolition of the half-century-old Mulholland Bridge was on schedule, Villaraigosa said. Powerful machines with long booms hammered away at the south side of the span, which is being removed to allow construction of an additional freeway lane. The plan is to leave the north-side lanes standing until the south side is rebuilt. Another closure will be required in the future to demolish the north side.
"We've made great progress," Villaraigosa told reporters.
Traffic jams are rooted in Los Angeles' geography as the city is divided by the Santa Monica Mountains.
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