L.A. braces for 'Carmageddon' freeway closure

Traffic was light in parts of Los Angeles Friday as drivers appeared to follow advice urging them to stay off the roads ahead of the temporary closure of part of Interstate 405 — a busy, frequently clogged freeway.

Starting at midnight, a 16-kilometre stretch of Interstate 405 will be closed for 53 hours as part of a major highway reconstruction project.

Local officials warned of potential traffic tie-ups and slow downs, prompting local media to dub the event "Carmageddon."

Drivers were inundated with warnings about the looming shutdown for months, as police and transportation officials urged people to plan ahead, use transit or find alternate routes.

"Even if we get the message out to half the people — that still means 250,000 people are going to try to use that road," said Los Angeles transit official Mike Miles.

Actor Erik Estrada — who once played a highway patrolman on TV — even got in on the action. He filmed a commercial alongside real motorcycle police officers to remind drivers to "avoid the area, or just stay home."

Some people are planning a "staycation" as crews work to widen the road, while others got out of town early, CBC's Jennifer Westaway said.

Freeway to reopen Monday

The crews working on the road have a tight deadline, Westaway said, as they are aiming to have the job done by 5 a.m. local time Monday. Ramps and connectors should be reopened by 6 a.m., officials said.

If the highway isn't ready on time, the contractor responsible for the job could face a $6,000 US penalty for every 10-minute delay, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"There's a lot to do," said Doug Failing, the Los Angeles Metro official in charge of highway projects. "The contractor has this broken down into 15-minute increments. We've pored through the schedule. Every minute is important."

Heavy equipment needed to demolish a section of a 50-year-old bridge as part of the $1-billion freeway-widening project was already in place Friday, hours before the 405's midnight closure.

Sections of the bridge's pilings that are being torn out had been marked and prepped in advance.

Emergency officials and hospitals also planned ahead: the city fire department put two dozen additional engines, fire companies and ambulances into service, placing them in neighbourhoods that firefighters might have a hard time getting to from jammed roadways.

Several local hospitals stocked up on supplies, and many doctors and nurses plan on spending the weekend at work.

The closure means lost business for some stores, Westaway said, but some entrepreneurs see the freeway closure as an opportunity.

Dave Anderson is selling T-shirts saying "I Survived the 405."

"We thought it was kind of fun to poke fun at," Anderson said. "Maybe make a little money along the way."

Those who do want that real road warrior look might consider swinging by T-Man's Tattoos, located just off the 405, in the San Fernando Valley.

"If you come on in and mention you're in town because you're stuck from Carmageddon, you can get 15 per cent off tattoos and piercings," proprietor Howard Teman said.

People who really want to avoid the traffic can take to the skies — at least one helicopter company is offering shuttle service with per person pricing.