Unified Command reminds the public that on October 12th and 13th, the Space Shuttle Endeavour will be traveling through the Cities of Los Angeles and Inglewood. We invite the public to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event. We remind the public that cooperation from all our residents, visitors, and public safety departments is needed in order to be completed safely and with minimal impact to traffic and to the local communities.

Due to the tremendous size of Endeavour, streets along with sidewalks will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians to ensure public safety. The public should anticipate traffic delays on the route and in the surrounding areas throughout the Endeavor’s last mission. Sidewalk closures along the route may be opened as determined by the Unified Command based on street width, fixed obstacles, and public safety issues on a block-by-block basis. Unified Command realizes the inconvenience “Mission 26” is having on local communities and will make every effort to balance both the needs of the public with the goal of getting Endeavour to its new home.

“Endeavour is a unique item and its transportation presents a unique challenge,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. “Never before has an item of this size traversed our City streets. While this once-in-a-lifetime event is a cause for celebration, public safety remains the City’s top priority. We encourage the public to view Endeavour as it travels through the streets of Los Angeles, but urge that we do so in the safest manner possible.”

Members of the public interested in viewing Endeavour from the city sidewalks and intersections should expect large crowds and heavy traffic. We urge the public to arrive early, be prepared to stand long hours, and remember to bring water, snacks, sun block, hats, and chairs. In addition, spectators traveling from distant communities are reminded to please be respectful of private property.

The California Science Center Foundation and Unified Command have dedicated viewing public locations along the route. On October 13th, at around 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., the City of Inglewood will have an event and Endeavour will be on display for half an hour, in front of the Forum. There is ample free parking at the Hollywood Park Race Track. There is no over-night staying and parking lots open at 4 a.m. Contact www.CityofInglewood.org  for additional information on this event.

On October 13th, at around 2 p.m., Endeavour will stop for about a half an hour for a planned event at the intersection of Crenshaw Blvd. and Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Blvd. There is a dedicated area for the public to stand and view the stage, north on Crenshaw Blvd. from MLK. Space is limited so come early.

On October 13th, at around 8:30 p.m., Endeavour will reach its final destination. Large parking lots have been dedicated for public viewing. Four parking lots between Bill Robertson Lane and Vermont Ave., north of MLK will provide ample opportunity to view Endeavour as it moves towards the California Science Center’s Samuel Oschin Pavilion. Mass transit is recommended and available via the Expo Rail and bus line running along Exposition Blvd.

“Nearly 700 Los Angeles Police Department’s Cadets and volunteers from throughout the community have been dedicated to assist with ensuring Endeavour reaches its destination,” Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said. “This event allows us to both show case the Endeavour and the remarkable youth of our community that have dedicated their weekend to keeping us safe.”

Any questions regarding this news release should be directed to the LAPD Media Relations Section at (213) 486-5910.

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Plan Ahead for Shuttle Endeavor

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will begin closing streets as early as 10 p.m. on Thursday, October 11th, to prepare for the transport of the Space Shuttle Endeavour.  LADOT anticipates that traffic in the areas surrounding the shuttle route will be negatively impacted, and drivers should expect delays.   Law Enforcement and LADOT asks the public to Plan ahead and consider alternative routes. See below for approximate closure times:

Closed from 10/11/12 10:00 p.m. to 10/12/12 6:00 a.m.
• Northside Parkway from Westchester Parkway to Lincoln Boulevard
• Westchester Parkway from Loyola Boulevard to La Tijera Boulevard
• La Tijera Boulevard from Westchester Parkway to Sepulveda Boulevard

Closed from 10/11/12 10:00 pm to 10/12/12 5:00 p.m.
• Sepulveda Eastway from Westchester Pkwy to 87th Street

Closed from 10/12/12 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• La Tijera Boulevard from Sepulveda Boulevard to Manchester Avenue

Closed from 10/12/12 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Manchester Avenue from Sepulveda Boulevard to Aviation Boulevard

Closed from 10/13/12 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Crenshaw Boulevard from 79thth Street to Vernon Avenue

Closed from 10/12/12 8:00 p.m. to 10/13/12 8:00 p.m.
• Crenshaw Boulevard from Vernon Avenue to 39th Street
• Martin Luther King Boulevard from Marltin Avenue to 4th Avenue

Closed from 10/13/12 4:00 p.m.to 10:00 p.m.
• Martin Luther King Boulevard from 4th Avenue to Figueroa Street
• Bill Robertson Lane from Martin Luther King Boulevard to Exposition Park

Additional closures include: On Thursday, October 11th, one lane in each direction of Lincoln Blvd (Between Sepulveda and Manchester) will be closed from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. for removing the median barriers.

On Thursday, October 11th, Lincoln Boulevard (LA Highway 1) will be completely closed in both directions (Between Sepulveda and Manchester) from 8:30 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. of October 12th.

On Saturday, October 13th, one lane on each direction of Lincoln Blvd (Between Sepulveda and Manchester) will be closed for the reconstruction of the median barrier from 4:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Additionally, the following schedule is currently under consideration: Route Interstate 405 Freeway on and off ramps at Manchester Avenue will be closed from 10:00 am October 12th, (Friday)
to about 4:00 a.m. (Saturday morning/night) October 13.  Route 405 southbound off-ramp at La Cienega Blvd. /Florence Avenue will also be closed during this time.

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— LAX TRAFFIC ADVISORY FOR OCT. 11-12, 2012 —

SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR DEPARTS LAX OCTOBER 11-12, 2012;

TRAFFIC DELAYS ANTICIPATED IN COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING AIRPORT
(Los Angeles, California – October 10, 2012) As the Space Shuttle Endeavour begins its two-day trek from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the California Science Center, passengers, visitors, airport workers, and ground transportation providers driving to/from LAX are advised to plan ahead and travel alternative routes to avoid possible traffic delays due to full and intermittent street closures in communities north and northeast of LAX beginning Thursday night through Friday afternoon. Airport officials also recommend that during this period, ALL motorists — including those driving from areas south and east of LAX — add extra time to their drive in anticipation of traffic delays.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close both directions of Lincoln Boulevard between Manchester and Sepulveda boulevards from 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 11, through 6 a.m. on Friday, October 12.
In addition, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will begin closing streets as early as 10 p.m. on Thursday, October 11, to prepare for the transport of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. LADOT anticipates that traffic in the areas surrounding the shuttle route will be negatively impacted, and drivers should expect delays. Below are approximate closure times in areas adjacent to LAX:

Closed from 10 p.m. on Thursday, October 11 to 6 a.m. on Friday, October 12:
• Northside Parkway from Westchester Parkway to Lincoln Boulevard
• Westchester Parkway from Loyola Boulevard to La Tijera Boulevard
• La Tijera Boulevard from Westchester Parkway to Sepulveda Boulevard

Closed from 10 p.m. on Thursday, October 11 to 5 a.m. on Friday, October 12:
• Sepulveda Eastway from Westchester Pkwy to 87th Street
Closed from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, October 12:
• La Tijera Boulevard from Sepulveda Boulevard to Manchester Avenue
Closed from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, October 12:
• Manchester Avenue from Sepulveda Boulevard to Aviation Boulevard

The Endeavour is scheduled to remain at a private parking lot located near the intersection of La Tijera and Sepulveda boulevards from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m, when it will resume transporting through Westchester onto Manchester Boulevard to the City of Inglewood.
There are no designated public viewing sites along the route through Westchester. The public is advised that due to public safety reasons, as the Endeavour moves through this area, much of the shuttle route will require closing streets and sidewalks to vehicles and pedestrians. The Los Angeles Police Department warns these street closures will likely result in significant traffic congestion.
Motorists driving to LAX from West Los Angeles, Santa Monica and other beach
communities north of LAX are encouraged to use the following alternative routes during the Endeavour movement:
• Westbound Jefferson Boulevard or Culver Boulevard to southbound Pershing Drive to eastbound Imperial Highway to northbound Sepulveda Boulevard
• I-405 San Diego Freeway to westbound Century Boulevard
• I-405 San Diego Freeway to westbound Imperial Highway to northbound Sepulveda Boulevard
• I-405 San Diego Freeway to westbound I-105 Century Freeway to northbound Sepulveda Boulevard

Because traffic congestion north of LAX often extends south of the airport, motorists driving to LAX from south of the airport are encouraged to use the following alternative routes:
• I-405 San Diego Freeway to westbound Century Boulevard
• I-405 San Diego Freeway to westbound I-105 Century Freeway

The public is strongly encouraged to visit the Endeavour at the California Space Center, which is considered the best place to see and experience Endeavour, when it opens to the public on October 30 in the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Pavilion. Although the Space Shuttle Endeavour exhibition is free of charge, it is recommended that the general public reserve a timed ticket online at www.californiasciencecenter.org  for $3, or $2 for Science Center members.

While flight operations at LAX are expected to be normal this weekend, passengers are always advised to check with their airlines to ensure their flights are on time before coming to the airport. Real-time flight status can be found at LAX’s Internet website at www.lawa.org/fsw  and on many airlines’ websites. Real-time traffic conditions in and around LAX can be found at http://trafficinfo.lacity.org/html/lax.html and on the airport’s Twitter site @LAX_Official and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport.