Rubble on the 405 freeway being cleaned up during Carmageddon I in July 2011. Photo by Gary Leonard for Metro.

[Caltrans] – The California Department of Transportation will perform several maintenance activities inside of the 53-hour closure of the San Diego Freeway (I-405) for the demolition of the north side of the Mulholland Bridge as part of the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project. Maintenance crews will begin work at 11:59 p.m., Friday, September 28 to 12:01 a.m., Monday, October 1.  Crews will be on standby to assist the contractor crews Monday morning in re-opening the freeway.

“Some have called this closure Carmeggedon II. At Caltrans we call it an  opportunity,” said District 7 Director Michael Miles.  “We are going to be able to complete almost seven weeks of maintenance work within 48 hours.”

Caltrans maintenance crews will perform bridge maintenance and inspections, inspect and clear storm drains, seal pavement cracks, re-stripe lanes and ramps, replace freeway signs, install new raised pavement markers, sweep, and remove graffiti.  Community service workers will pick up litter and assist maintenance crews with landscaping work.

“This opportunity affords us the ability to work on the freeway without having to disrupt traffic, therefore increasing the safety of motorists and our personnel,” said Miles.  “It is very rare for our crews to have such a large window of time. Usually we have to close lanes and even connector roads.”

Those who enter the closure area without proper authorization may be cited by law enforcement.

For those who must use the freeway system during the closure, Caltrans’ new QuickMap online tool and application can help them make smart choices about their route before they leave and avoid congestion. Visitors to the online interactive travel map can access nearly 1,000 freeway cameras and more than 700 electronic message signs on highways statewide. They can also monitor traffic congestion, California Highway Patrol incidents, travel time information, lane closures due to highway roadwork, and Amber Alerts.

Motorists can also call 511 before they leave to get real-time traffic information or visit go511.com. Those who find themselves in need of non-emergency assistance while on the freeway can call #399 to summon the Freeway Service Patrol, which provides basic roadside assistance free of charge.

Background

The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project, a joint effort between Caltrans and Metro, will complete the remaining 10-mile gap of the northbound I-405 carpool lane system over the Sepulveda Pass, creating a continuous carpool lane of almost 73 miles in each direction stretching from Orange County to the San Fernando Valley — the longest in the world. Scheduled for completion in 2013, the project will significantly improve traffic flow for commuters and further expand District 7’s 512-mile carpool lane system, the largest in the nation.

Closure Details

On Friday, Sept. 28, ramps along the 10-mile closure area will begin to be shut down as early as 7 p.m., and closure of lanes will begin at 10 p.m. The closure is scheduled to continue until 5 a.m. Monday morning, Oct. 1. Ramps and connectors will be reopened by 6 a.m. During this closure, the Mulholland Bridge, I-405 and access ramps will be closed.