Rains No Match for Freeway Overhaul

Despite heavy rainfall, construction on the 405 Sepulveda Pass project is continuing as planned. Expect project-related traffic snarls and delays to continue at least through January—but mercifully they'll occur mainly in the middle of the night. 

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in July began work on a 10-mile high-occupancy vehicle lane and improvements supporting infrastructure such as ramps, bridges and sound walls on the 405. The project, which will widen lanes from the 10 freeway to the 101, should yield such benefits as a decrease in commuter time, a reduction of air pollution and an increase in ride sharing.

However, MTA spokesman David Sotero said that the HOV lane expansion is still in its earliest stage and should not cause further delays as Angelenos return from their holiday vacations and resume their commute to work.

"Let's just say that it's a lot of prep work, a bunch of activities leading up to the widening of car pool lanes," he said.

The HOV lane is only one element of the 405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project, which will also replace bridges at Sunset Boulevard, Skirball Center Drive and Mulholland Drive, realign 27 on- and off-ramps, widen 13 existing underpasses and structures, and construct approximately 18 miles of retaining and sound walls. MTA is partnering with the California Department of Transportation on the $1-billion-plus project, which is subsidized by local, state and federal money.

When completed in approximately three years, the HOV lane will constitute "the last part of the 405 car pool lane that's missing on the freeway [system]," Sotero said.

Since the summer, the MTA has been working on the 405/Sunset intersection. "We tore down half of the bridge in July," Sotero said. "There's a 10-month rebuild for the south side of the bridge, then the north side will follow."

Both sides will be completed by spring 2012.

In November, there were some closures in the area when the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power finished relocating overhead power lines at Ohio Avenue.

Construction workers are currently installing new footing so they can install the new side of the bridge. December will also see a reopening of Church Lane and a widening of the Montana Avenue under-crossing.

However, don't expect to be further inconvenienced, according to the MTA, as most construction will occur overnight, between midnight and 5 a.m., so as to minimally disrupt motorists.

"The work that happens during the day primarily does not affect traffic," Sotero said. "We couldn't have freeway lane closures during daytime. That's why we do most of our freeway work at night when there aren't as many people. I don't know if you've driven it at night, but it looks like the Astrodome [with the construction lighting]."

Sunset Boulevard is one of the most heavily traveled east-west streets on the Westside. About 3,500 vehicles cross the 54-year-old Sunset bridge each hour, and more than 300,000 drivers travel on the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass each day.

In other words, there will be no shortage of disgruntled motorists, even if construction proceeds smoothly.

"[Some people] will be upset no matter what because what you're dealing with is change," said Cori Solomon, president of the Brentwood Glen Association, made up of residents in one of the neighborhoods most heavily affected by the 405/Sunset construction.

Sotero recommended that commuters utilize the MTA's online tools for the most up-to-date information on the project's progress and construction delays in the 405/Sunset area. The MTA regularly lists closures as well as alternate routes.

"The alternate routes are not along local access streets, which is important to the community around there, " Sotero said. "These are major thoroughfares only. "

For project information and ongoing construction updates, click here  or call the project hotline at 213-922-3665. Daily updates are also available on Twitter .