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When you take your drive, walk or bike over 405 Freeway Sunset Boulevard bridge on Friday, it will be the last one before some traffic hell over the next 20 months begin. As part of Metro and Caltrans' project to bring a carpool lane to the Sepulveda Pass, three bridges will be taken down and reconstructed. Luckily, the artery won't be totally cut off as officials will work on the bridge in segments, allowing for traffic to continue during reconstruction.
Beginning Friday night and throughout the weekend, traffic lanes and signals will reconfigured, narrowing traffic flow in each direction from three to two lanes. Vegetation around the bridge will be removed.
Demolition of the first bridge segment -- the southern end -- could begin at the end of May and will take at least six nights to complete. "Access to surrounding local streets, the freeway and freeway ramps during demolition will be impacted. To keep traffic moving, detours will be set up and traffic control officers will be stationed at critical locations to help direct traffic. Detailed information on all closures, including detours, will be made available in advance," says Metro.
Once demolition ends and reconstruction begins, traffic lanes will be reopened only to occasionally be closed at night. Reconstruction of the southern half will take 10 months ,and once complete it will take another six days to demolish the other half, with 10 more months of reconstruction.
As for the Skirball and Mulholland bridges, those two are also scheduled to begin demolition later this year, probably in the Fall.
Your best bet in keeping up to date on street closures is by following their Twitter project-related account, liking the project on Facebook or checking their website. Good luck, Westside!
