The crucial LA 405 Freeway is closed for the July 16-17 weekend for a 10-mile stretch in what is now known as Carmagedon.
The closure will last 53 hours and end on 5 a.m. Monday local time. The purpose of the Carmagedon 405 Freeway project is to widen the 10-mile stretch, add a new carpool lane, upgrade sound walls, and demolish and reconstruct the Mulholland Center Dr Bridge.
Why is the closure of 10 miles of one freeway so bad that people are calling it Carmagedon?
The 405 Freeway is one of the busiest and most congested freeways in the United States. It carries 285,000 vehicles per day, according to LA Weekly, and is the gateway between West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
Whenever 405 Freeway slows down because of an accident, cars divert to the streets of LA and wreak havoc. Now that it's closed, the chaos could escalate.
Below are pictures of Carmagedon and its impact.
Traffic enters the 405 Freeway near the Mulholland Bridge, which is slated for demolition beginning Friday night, in Los Angeles, California July 14, 2011. "Carmageddon" is the name Los Angeles residents are giving the likely epic traffic tie-up that will result when a 10-mile (16-km) stretch of the 405 Freeway is closed for construction, including the demolition of the bridge, from Friday night to Monday morning between two of the nation's busiest interchanges.Reuters.A worker stands on the Mulholland Bridge, which is slated for demolition beginning Friday night, along the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles, California July 14, 2011. "Carmageddon" is the name Los Angeles residents are giving the likely epic traffic tie-up that will result when a 10-mile (16-km) stretch of the 405 Freeway is closed for construction, including the demolition of the bridge, from Friday night to Monday morning between two of the nation's busiest interchanges.ReutersTraffic moves slowly on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California July 14, 2011. "Carmageddon" is the name Los Angeles residents are giving the likely epic traffic tie-up that will result when a 10-mile (16-km) stretch of the 405 Freeway is closed for construction, including the demolition of the bridge, from Friday night to Monday morning between two of the nation's busiest interchanges.ReutersTraffic moves slowly on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California July 14, 2011. "Carmageddon" is the name Los Angeles residents are giving the likely epic traffic tie-up that will result when a 10-mile (16-km) stretch of the 405 Freeway is closed for construction, including the demolition of the bridge, from Friday night to Monday morning between two of the nation's busiest interchanges.ReutersTraffic moves slowly on the 405 freeway under the Mulholland Bridge in Los Angeles, California July 14, 2011. "Carmageddon" is the name Los Angeles residents are giving the likely epic traffic tie-up that could result when a 10-mile (16-km) stretch of the 405 Freeway is closed for construction, including the demolition of the bridge, from Friday night to Monday morning between two of the nation's busiest interchanges.ReutersTraffic is seen on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles, California July 14, 2011. "Carmageddon" is the name Los Angeles residents are giving the likely epic traffic tie-up that will result when a 10-mile (16-km) stretch of the 405 Freeway is closed for construction, including the demolition of the bridge, from Friday night to Monday morning between two of the nation's busiest interchanges.ReutersA sign is seen for the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California July 14, 2011. "Carmageddon" is the name Los Angeles residents are giving the likely epic traffic tie-up that will result when a 10-mile (16-km) stretch of the 405 Freeway is closed for construction, including the demolition of the bridge, from Friday night to Monday morning between two of the nation's busiest interchanges.Reuters
