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Unexpected utility work, a lawsuit over a potential golf course and negotiations with the FBI over security clearances for crews relocating communication lines at the West LA federal building have all contributed to delays in the massive 405 freeway widening and modernization project. The overall project is now four to six months behind schedule, the Daily News reports. This means that the plans to close the freeway over a weekend to finish tearing down the Muholland Drive bridge in Sepulveda Pass are now delayed at least until late summer. Officials would still like to get Carmageddon II done before schools resume in the fall and traffic increases.
Meanwhile, ZevWeb put together some enlightening (or maybe just sobering) numbers for the upcoming mess at Wilshire and the 405. Which, sadly, has not been delayed long enough. Samples:
- Vehicles traveling on Wilshire: An average of 105,721 vehicles a day cross the intersection of Wilshire and Sepulveda Boulevard, right next to the freeway
- Best public transportation option: Metro’s 761 bus, which runs from the Valley to Westwood
- Total number of ramps to be rebuilt: 8
- First two ramps up for closure: westbound Wilshire onramp to the northbound 405 and northbound 405 off-ramp to westbound Wilshire
- Cost of rebuilding those two ramps: $2.65 million
- Overall cost of the entire 405 Project: $1.034 billion
