Just when the plankers and pranksters of Carmageddon have finished milking last month's 405 Freeway closure for more photo ops and good vibes than anyone expected, news of more closures around the 405 is setting the stage for less picturesque days ahead. Last week, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky's website detailed the forthcoming closures of the Wilshire Blvd. on- and off-ramps in Westwood: In November, construction will commence on two ramps, then move to the next two ramps and so on until work is done on all eight ramps. The ramps will be closed for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for 14 to 90 days each. It's not surprising that locals think the Wilshire closures will be worse than the non-event Carmageddon. Via Zev's Blog, Steve Resnick, president of the Westwood Homeowners Association says, "The 405 closure, as it turned out, was just the opposite of what was expected. It was terrific. The feeling is that this could be much worse."
The closures are part of the same project that shut down the 405 in July--the $1 billion project that will add a 10 mile northbound carpool lane to the 405. The plan also includes improvements that will turn the Wilshire Blvd. ramps into "modern, swooping flyover ramps that will make it easier to navigate the notoriously jammed intersection."
First up for closure are the westbound Wilshire on-ramp to the northbound 405 and the northbound 405 off-ramp to westbound Wilshire. Adding to concerns about the Wilshire ramp closures, utility relocation work will be taking place on Sepulveda Blvd. at the same time as the ramp closures. Sepulveda is, naturally, the designated detour route for the Wilshire closures.
· A really long goodbye to Wilshire ramps [Zev's Blog]
· Wilshire 405 flyover ramps coming [Zev's Blog]
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