Sunset Blvd. bridge contruction over 405 Freeway causes traffic snarls

Freeway commuters were greeted today by traffic snarls caused by reconstruction of the Sunset Boulevard bridge over the San Diego (405) Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass.

Over the weekend, construction workers restricted the Sunset bridge from six lanes to four in preparation for the bridge's demolition, according to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Mark Littman.

Traffic lights along Sunset were also being re-synchronized and a traffic officer was in place this morning to help drivers navigate the newly narrowed bridge, Littman said.

But with motorists struggling to exit the 405 at Sunset and backing up onto the freeway, commuters were slowed even more than usual in their effort to get out of the San Fernando Valley — with some drivers averaging just 6 mph on the morning drive.

The Sunset Boulevard bridge will eventually be rebuilt with eight lanes and increased capacity for on- and off-ramps. The Mulholland Drive and Skirball Cultural Center bridges are also expected to be rebuilt during the three-year, $1 billion project to widen and improve the 405 Freeway in the area.

Beginning in late May or early June, workers will demolish the south lanes of the Sunset bridge, according to Littman. He said construction equipment will be outfitted with mufflers to mitigate noise and spotlights will be directed away from nearby homes and businesses as much as possible.

During the proposed six-night demolition, various road closures will be in place including two nights of shutting down Sepulveda Boulevard, two nights of shutting down the northbound 405 and two nights of shutting down the southbound 405.

The Sunset bridge reconstruction is expected to take 20 months, Littman said, and will include seismic upgrades to the structure.

"Traffic is going to be disrupted, there's no way around it,'' Littman said, adding the MTA gives constant updates of detour and traffic information on Facebook and Twitter. Commuters can also check metro.net/405 for updates, or call the MTA's hotline at (213) 922-3665.

This fall, demolition and construction will begin on the Mulholland and Skirball bridges, meaning three major overpasses in the Sepulveda Pass will be under construction simultaneously, Littman said.

"There's no way around that,'' he said, citing deadlines imposed by the federal government on funding made available for the project.

The Sepulveda Pass improvement project is expected to create 18,000 "direct and indirect'' jobs, according to Littman, who said, "by adding another lane of capacity to one of the busiest freeways in the world,'' everyone's commute will be made easier.

Littman said 300,000 people travel the Sepulveda Pass every day.

"It's a massive project,'' Littman said of the project that will add a northbound carpool lane between the Santa Monica (10) Freeway and the Ventura (101) Freeway.

On- and off-ramps, overpasses, sound walls and retaining walls are all scheduled for improvement during the project, Littman said, who said 27 on- and off-ramps will need re-striping as the project is completed.

Drivers who use the carpool lane can save one minute per mile, and the freeway's increased capacity will also reduce air pollution and save energy, Littman said.