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What does the big 340-ton boulder headed to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art have in common with President Barack Obama? Before you get all witty or snarky, we've got the answer: When they come to town, they mess up traffic. Now that the rock is nearing its final destination on the Miracle Mile, that means street closures Wednesday to Friday.
The city's Transportation Department announced the closures today, notes City News Service. "The city will close streets and temporarily remove street lights at 60 intersections along the route from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. between Wednesday and Friday."
Yep, they have to take the street lights down to make room for the massive convoy. Don't worry, though, this is not our tax dollars at work. "The estimated $203,400 cost of staffing the street closures will be paid for by Emmert International, which is coordinating the boulder's move," notes CNS.
The boulder is part of an installation called "Levitated Mass," by artists Michael Heizer.
You can track the rock's progress via LACMA's Twitter account (and the unofficial @LACMARock Twitter account, too).
Here's how the rock's last leg of the journey will impact Angelenos.
Wednesday, March 7
Overnight Wednesday, traffic officers will close the roads ahead of the convoy's route west on Pacific Coast (1) Highway from Magnolia Avenue in Long Beach and north on Avalon Boulevard to the Carson city limits.
Thursday, March 8
Thursday night, the rock will travel north on Vermont Avenue, west on 190th Street, north on Normandie Avenue, west on Artesia Blvd, north on Western Avenue, east on Florence Avenue and north on Figueroa Street.
Friday, March 9
On its scheduled final leg, the convoy will travel north on Figueroa Street, west on Adams Boulevard, north on Western Avenue, west on Wilshire Boulevard, north on Fairfax and east around the block on Sixth Street to its permanent home on the museum's north lawn.
Here's LACMA's official route map for the rock's journey:
View LACMA Rock's journey in a larger map
Check out some photos of the rock's trip so far from Riverside to L.A.
