Officials Warn Public to 'Stay Away' From 405 During Mid-July Construction

Government officials warn of a traffic nightmare next month when a 10-mile stretch of the 405 Freeway will close for a 53-hour period. Despite its distance, Pacific Palisades will not escape the chaos because of the ripple effect from motorists' fruitless attempts to get around what is expected to be an epic case of traffic gridlock.

The 405 closure will add to the summer traffic headaches for Pacific Palisades and Malibu motorists, who are already dealing with in the Palisades that is expected to remain that way through August.

Public officials held a press conference Monday morning at the Skirball Cultural Center in Brentwood to prepare residents for the approaching storm. 

"The best alternative route is to totally avoid the 405 area, completely avoid it, don't come anywhere near it, don't even think about coming to it, stay the heck out of here," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, whose district includes Pacific Palisades.

Ramps along the 10-mile closure between the 10 and 101 freeways will begin closing as early as 7 p.m. on July 15, which is a Friday. Freeway lanes will begin shutting down at 10 p.m. to ensure full closure by midnight. The 405 stretch will remain closed until 5 a.m. the following Monday. All ramps and connectors will be reopened by 6 a.m. 

The closure is due to the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project, which includes the demolition of  half the Mulholland Bridge in the Sepulveda Pass to accommodate a wider bridge and a carpool lane on the freeway. This is part of a $1 billion project to add a 10-mile northbound carpool lane that will complete the carpool lane network between Orange County and the San Fernando Valley.

Traffic conditions on local streets and freeways are expected to be severe with multi-hour delays. Sepulveda Boulevard, which is normally an alternative to the 405, will be open only for local residents.

Transportation and public safety officials are spreading the word about the closure on Facebook and Twitter. Caltrans will warn drivers through advisories on freeway message signs all the way to Northern California, said Michael Miles, Caltrans District 7 director.

"It's going to be a real horrendous weekend," Miles said. "You need to really plan your trips and think about what you need to do and stay away. A barbecue would be good that weekend."

Metrolink will add additional trains in the Antelope Valley area and between Los Angeles and Orange counties. Police officers will escort fire trucks to the area if they are needed during the closure and evacuation plans have been made in the case of a wildfire, officials said.