Californians await 'Carmageddon'

[RandySF]

A major 10-mile stretch of one of the busiest freeways in the world is being shut down for an entire weekend for a widening project. It's being called "Carmageddon."

More than 250,000 cars a day use the stretch of Los Angeles' I-405 freeway that connects the San Fernando Valley with the West Side. But this weekend it will be closed, leaving traffic backups that observers predict could be anywhere from 28 to 65 miles long.

he project involves demolishing the Mulholland Bridge, whose supports are too close to the current freeway to add a carpool lane. To do that, the entire freeway on both sides must be shut down for 53 hours.

City and transportation officials are urging people to stay home and avoid the area altogether. It's predicted that all surface streets and other freeways will be jammed with people who must get from the valley to the West Side, so all those who do not need to travel shouldn't, officials say.


http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/14/californians-await-carmageddon/

[gratuitous]

1. Overhyped panic

I have every confidence that without a massive clustering of cameras, most folks in the area will be able to manage their affairs for four days. All bets are off, though, if there is relentless wall-to-wall coverage that proves irresistible to people who simply must get on the teevee machine.

[JuniperLea]

2. Totally over-hyped!

I think it will be a huge non-event... more news peeps on the road than anyone.

[catabryna]

3. Okay... people of SoCal

You prepare for this, like you prepare for a snowstorm. You go to the grocery store, stop off at your local video outlet, perhaps the liquor store if that's your thing, and stock up.

It's called staying home for the weekend!

:think:

[Iggo]

8. Yeah, we know.

Same thing happened back in '84 for the Summer Olympics.

Doom, doom, doom. We're all doomed.

Then nothing. Everybody stayed home.

Lord, it was beautiful.

[catabryna]

10. I'm sure it will be an inconvenience for those who

*absolutely* need to use the freeways to get where they need to go. But, I'm sure everyone will get over it. :)

[LibDemAlways]

4. It will be a huge pain in the ass for anyone who needs to traverse the

West Side-Valley corridor for work or some other pressing obligation. Most people, though, who don't have to be in that immediate area can avoid the whole thing by staying home or taking one of a number of other routes to get where they need to go. It's not the end of the world - though the media is sure having a field day hyping it.

[Politicalboi]

5. We survived the Northridge earthquake

With the 5 down, and the 14 down, and the 405, and the 118 for months. This is just over hype.

[3waygeek]

9. Exactly....

20 years ago, I lived in Sherman Oaks, near Ventura & Woodman. When going down into the West LA/Westwood/Hollywood, I usually took Sepulveda, Coldwater Canyon, or Laurel Canyon, and took the 405 only if I were going to the South Bay or Long Beach. Not really a huge difference in time taking the canyon roads, and the drive is a lot more fun.

[madinmaryland]

6. People can't just stay the fuck home for ONE weekend??

:wtf:

[madinmaryland]

7. People can't just stay the fuck home for ONE weekend??

:wtf:

[JHB]

11. It ain't carmageddon unless there's giant robots eating cars

[Angry Dragon]

12. Obama could declare a national emergency

and nationalize all those corporate jets to ferry people around
or the corporations could just donate them to show their good side..........