Results tagged “freeway”

Governor Arnold Scwharzenegger last night vetoed a bill that would have limited the options of completing the 710 Freeway, which is considered the missing link of the regional freeway system, according to the L.A. Times. If signed, the bill would have stopped any possibility of a surface route, therefore increasing chances of a 4.5-mile tunnel under South Pasadena, connecting to the 134/210 freeway exchange.

As noted earlier today, one of the seven murals made of flowers advertising the 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle was unveiled today along the 101 Freeway near downtown. This truly isn't an advertisement, at least not in the legal sense for Federal regulators who are not allowing the floralscapes to be commercial in nature. Instead, the new marketing concept (their words) uses "abstract images of the new Prius" that captures the essence of its marketing campaign--“Harmony Between Man, Nature and Machine"--developed by Saatchi & Saatchi.

Who knew our little freeway that could was the largest and most stimulated project in all of the state. Ripped from a White House press release about California meeting Recovery Act goals ahead of schedule: "As of today, California’s largest ARRA-funded project is the I-405 in Los Angeles County that will be widened and include several interchange upgrades along a 10-mile stretch of HOV lanes. This project is located in an economically distressed area and relies on $190 million in ARRA funding to go toward the total cost of $739 million for the project." The only 10-mile 405 freeway HOV widening project listed on Metro's website is located in the "economically distressed" areas between the 10 Freeway and Ventura Blvd... you know, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Brentwood, Westwood Village, etc. Still, once completed, it should be happier days for many.

Several lanes remain closed on the southbound 405 freeway as police search for burglary suspect who hid in a storm drain near the Roscoe on- and off-ramps. The suspects--one was arrested--were apparently trying steal copper wiring from a nearby warehouse when someone reported the burglary, according to the LAPD. The closure began around 3 a.m., snarling morning traffic on one of the busiest freeways in the world.

A fiery crash yesterday evening has caused the connector road between the eastbound Artesia (91) Freeway to the northbound Long Beach (710) Freeway as CalTrans continues to investigate the deadly incident.

Metro wants to test out their own brand of congestion pricing called ExpressLanes, which would allow solo drivers to access carpool lanes for a price. For one year, starting in December 2010, Metro will convert carpool lanes on the I-10 (El Monte Busway) and the I-110 (Harbor Freeway Transitway) freeways to toll lanes.

The California Department of Transportation has told local officials how many miles they've covered and at what cost in 2008, according to abc7.com. Here's a look at some of the numbers:

In a state report card (.pdf) evaluating all the Caltrans districts, 7, which is responsible for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, has the worst grade. "It's actually kind of appalling," a staff member of Councilwoman Jan Perry's office said in an article from blogdowntown. Here's some of the breakdown:

Today, traffic data company INRIX released their 2nd annual 100 Worst Traffic Bottlenecks list, which includes 33 in Los Angeles--most of which run along the 101 and 110 freeways. Not only that, it states the obvious: we have the worst congestion in the country. Here goes...

Motorists attempting to travel on the 5 Freeway through Downtown this morning were stopped short for over an hour following the death of 25-year-old Jaime Herrera, who was struck and killed by a silver Toyota Camry at approximately 4:30 a.m. Herrera was "running east across the northbound lanes near the Los Angeles River," when he was hit, according to L.A. Now. So what was he doing on foot on the freeway? The LA County coroner's office says he was doing something he sure as hell shouldn't have been: “He had just finished tagging a freeway sign when he attempted to run across the freeway,” explained Lt. Cheryl MacWillie. “There was another friend with him tagging, but he survived.”

Two buses traveling on the 405 Freeway North collided at approximately 9:40 this morning near the Venice exit. According to abc7.com, "at least 10 fire paramedic units were sent to a parking lot just off the 405 Freeway, at the National Boulevard offramp, following the crash," to treat "24 children with minor injuries." A steady stream of emergency vehicles moving from the scene of the rear-end collision to the parking lot of Ross Dress For Less continued for more than an hour afterward, as paramedics worked to treat the many kids who suffered injuries in the incident. To deal with the traffic chaos on the streets, "Los Angeles city transportation officers were sent to that intersection to direct traffic."

An accident involving a number of vehicles has left at least one person dead and several others injured. Shortly before 4 p.m., the LA Fire Department responded to the crash on the westbound 10 Freeway at Overland Avenue. As of 4:30, it was unknown how many people were injured, but d'Lisa Davies did confirm one fatality. She said some people were ejected from their cars and at least one car rolled over. A SigAlert, which could last up to two hours, has been issued. UPDATE: 3 women were injured and another woman, approximately around 65 years old, died.

Drinking and driving is beyond stupid, and we all know that making phone calls while intoxicated can also lead to disastrous results. And of course, drivers who lead cops on chases are just foolishly delaying the inevitable. Well, one smart fella did all of the above last night on the freeways of Southern California, and added in a bonus police chase for good measure.

As the Sayre Fire moves northward further into the Santa Clarita Valley and in Placerita Canyon, there is some good news for residents of the San Fernando Valley affected by the blaze.

Due to the Triangle Complex Fire (sometimes referred to as the Freeway Complex Fire) that has affected the areas of Corona, Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills, Chino Hills, Brea Canyon, and Diamond Bar there remain several freeway closures. The following closures are currently in effect: 57 Freeway between Lambert Road and the 60 Freeway; 71 Southbound at Pine to the West 91 connector; 241 Northbound from Santiago to the 91 Freeway; 91 Westbound to the Southbound 241. Motorists are encouraged to stay away from the burn areas and to leave the streets as clear as possible so that evacuees can make swift exits and emergency personnel can reach the affected areas with ease.

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Santa Ana winds whipped up the Marek / Little Tujunga Canyon Wildfire this morning, forcing school and freeway closures. More than 3,000 acres have burned from Lakeview Terrace to Sylmar including a mobile home park in Lopez Canyon. The 210 Freeway is closed from the 2 to the 118 and LAUSD announced the closure of four schools: Broadous Elementary in Pacoima, Hubbard Elementary in Sylmar, Harding Elementary in Sylmar and Fenton Charter School in Lakeview Terrace.

Yesterday the Freeway Blogger came to Los Angeles to promote peace via his easy-to-make signs placed over freeways where they get millions of impressions by passing drivers until someone comes by and takes them down. He hit at least seven spots yesterday. Did you see the signs saying "Peace" or "Peace on Earth"?

       

It's not every morning that we have clear skies. And depending where you live, today might not be so different. But it's Friday. Relax. Take a deep breath and enjoy these wonderful sunrise photos from the past, some of them from our LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr.

Early this morning at around 2:30 a lime green 2008 Porsche plummeted approximately 30 feet off the westbound 101 Freeway near Shoup Avenue and crashed into a parking structure on Burbank Boulevard. Once the vehicle landed it burst into fire, setting a nearby parked car aflame as well. The driver of the vehicle, who appeared to be alone, died in the accident. Their name has not been released. *According to another news network, the car was a Lamborghini.

A total of 5 members of the public showed up to last night's Metro congestion pricing, or fast lanes, meeting for the 10 and 110 freeways last night in South LA.

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A pavement rehabilitation project will force the closure of lanes tonight on portions of downtown area freeways. Up to three lanes on the 10 between the 101 and 110 freeways will be closed in both directions along with various on- and off-ramps starting tonight through Thursday, according to Caltrans (.pdf). Most closures will begin after 7:00 p.m. and go through 5:00 a.m.

Caltrans' Jeanne Bonfilio called to give the latest update on the all-day closure of the Northbound 110 Freeway at Fair Oaks Blvd. She says the 15 foot (both in width and depth) sinkhole caused by the original and now broken drainage pipe from the 1940s is being replaced by a new 20 foot piece. "We're trying to get the freeway open early this evening. It's really hard to say an exact time."

A large pothole reported near the center divider on the northbound 110 Freeway yesterday evening turned into a full blown sinkhole overnight, prompting the complete closure of the northbound 110 Freeway near Fair Oaks Drive at the tail end of the freeway before it hits surface streets in South Pasadena.

Via L.A. Now, here's the 4th documented freeway bicycle ride. This time, it was a different group of folks (you may remember these crazy photos from Crimanimalz) and they hit the 101 and 110 starting in Silver Lake.

The Southbound 110 at Sepulveda Boulevard in Carson was shut down last night due to an oil spill that created a "slippery mess" on the lanes. After the CHP shut down the lanes, clean up crews cleaned up the mess, and the 110 reopened early this morning. It is unclear what caused the oil spill.

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Sometimes, what happens around San Francisco applies to Los Angeles. Editor Brock Keeling catches this sign of the times with some humor: