It’s Coming: Los Angeles Braces for ‘CARMAGEDDON’
- Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:38pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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LOS ANGELES (The Blaze/AP) — Thousands of doctors and nurses will bunk at hospitals, an emergency operation center will be set up and Southern California residents are being urged to stay home and stock up on food.
One major airline offered $4 seats to help people avoid the looming mess, selling out of tickets in three hours.
The crisis?
A 10-mile stretch of the 405 freeway will be closed this weekend, prompting an avalanche of preparation tips for surviving "Carmageddon."
A 10-mile stretch of Interstate 405 — a vital artery that links population centers north and south of the Santa Monica Mountains — is shutting down for 53 hours this weekend. The closure, a necessary part of a major highway reconstruction project, is being dubbed “Carmageddon,” evoking images of gridlock, road rage and other traffic nightmares that it might spawn in car-dependent Southern California.
By now, even if you don’t live in Los Angeles, odds are you’ve heard something about this.
Celebrities are among those sounding the alarm, via Twitter messages urging residents to stay off the road starting at midnight Friday. The Los Angeles Police Department reached out to Lady Gaga, Ashton Kutcher and Kim Kardashian in the hopes that they — and their millions of followers — could be of some assistance.
“This weekend, LA! Avoid Carmageddon, Gas-zilla, 405-enstein, Grid-lock-apalooza! STAY HOME. Eat & shop local,” Tom Hanks tweeted this week.
The LA County Metro Transit Authority — which features on ominous “Countdown to the Closure” on their website — even recruited former “CHiPs” star Erik Estrada to film a public service announcement in both English and Spanish warning residents to stay away.
Beyond tongue-in-cheek apocalyptic warnings, city leaders stressed that real public safety concerns exist: Helipads have been cleared for air ambulances and 200 extra firefighters and paramedics will be on duty, some of them positioned along the shuttered freeway to protect fire-prone hillsides in the area. Four big hospitals near the freeway on the city’s west side are setting up cots and putting thousands of doctors, nurses and medical personnel in hotels and dorm rooms so they don’t show up late to their shifts.
The UCLA Health System placed advanced orders for medical supplies and food, even preparing 5,200 box lunches for staff, ahead of the shutdown. It has three helicopter companies on standby to transport patients and human organs in the event of emergency operations.
“You can’t take a chance when you deal with patient safety and patient care,” said Dr. Wally Ghurabi, the emergency director of Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center. He planned to sleep in the E.R. throughout the weekend instead of commuting the 20 miles from his home in Torrance to the hospital.
Authorities are hammering the same message to drivers. Starting last month, they flashed freeway electronic signs warning drivers to “EXPECT BIG DELAYS.”
“The best thing is to stay home if you can, don‘t drive if you don’t have to,” said Michael Miles, a California Department of Transportation official. “Be prepared, treat it like it’s a disaster.”
On a typical July weekend, about a half-million vehicles use the section of the freeway, known locally as the 405, to get to major destinations such as the airport, beaches and interchanges to other major highways. Transportation officials said a full shutdown is necessary to replace the 50-year-old Mulholland Bridge as part of a $1 billion project to widen the perpetually bottlenecked segment through the Sepulveda Pass.
Authorities said a full closure was necessary to demolish one side the span, and they picked this weekend to minimize impact to traffic on a workday. They expect another closure next year to replace the other half.
The freeway is scheduled to reopen at 5 a.m. on Monday morning and if contractors are late, they’ll face a hefty fine: $6,000 for every 10 minutes the project runs over.
To discourage driving during the weekend, transit officials will offer free rides on the subway and certain bus lines and add more train service.
Anticipating potential backups caused by drivers who won’t heed the warnings, the city plans to deploy traffic engineers to monitor the ripple effect on roads and to manage key intersections. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is urging residents to stay close to home and shop locally if they must go out.
“We need every Angeleno to chip in and turn this Carmageddon into a unique opportunity,” he said Wednesday.
Villaraigosa’s not the only one seizing the opportunity to drum up business this weekend.
A helicopter company is advertising $150 rides to zip people to downtown and Los Angeles International Airport. JetBlue is providing $4 to $5, 30-minute “Over the 405” flights between Long Beach Airport and Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, calling the service a “planepool” between the San Fernando Valley and the beach. The flights sold out within hours.
Hotels and restaurants are offering discounts, movie theaters along the freeway are giving away popcorn. A fitness instructor suggests “Carmageddon yoga” for stressed-out drivers. And Dr. Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson’s longtime dermatologist, is giving 25 percent off on Botox injections.
“Instead of being stuck on the freeway and not being able to do anything you could be in my office and be more beautiful,” Klein said.
Waze, a company that provides GPS navigation applications for smartphones, set up a website and plastered posters across the city to urge drivers to sign up for its service and survive “this imminent disaster.”
Dire warnings have shown to work during the 1984 summer Olympics and a 1987 visit by Pope John Paul II. The city braced for the worst, but traffic flowed freely because people avoided driving.
Some people are making the best of the circumstance by organizing mass bicycle rides and neighborhood parties.
The pastor of a church on Mulholland Drive moved his Sunday service to a theater so his roughly 3,000 congregants can worship.
Mark Wadsworth of Bel Air Presbyterian Church said he doesn’t expect everyone to attend. He compared the circumstance to Colorado, where he previously preached, when fewer people showed on snowy days.
“This is the L.A. version of a snow Sunday,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reported on a young couple set to have their wedding on Saturday at a private estate in Bel Air where the neighborhood streets are expected to be clogged. Moshe Shmuel, who’s expecting 120 guests, said he was worried that some people flying in from Israel and South Africa may have trouble getting from the airport to the ceremony. He told his guests to leave extra early so they can show up on time.
“Lucky for us, the rabbi lives close-by. He doesn’t need to take the freeway,” Schmuel said.
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Comments (61)
welovetheUSA
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 4:04pmImlo……………………
Report Post »Wayner
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 5:44pmSo glad to be blessed that I”m 3000 miles from the left coast.
Report Post »headbtweenlegs
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 4:03pmWho got the contract to do this? Bend over CA. Govt workers cant get anything done on time….
Report Post »republapig
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:53pmLets see, Topanga canyon, Laurel canyon, Sepulveda blvd, The long way round Griffith park. Nope can’t think of a single detour. Sure am glad I don’t live in smell-a anymore.
Report Post »outrider
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:52pmSounds like officials are scared of how the public is going to handle this. They should know. Puts me in mind of the novel “One Second After” by William R. Forstchen. It’s a story of what life will be like after the USA is brought down by an EMP attack. EMP stands for Electromagnetic Pulse and such a pulse is generated by detonating a nuclear weapon hundreds of miles in the upper atmosphere. No flash of light, no fallout, no explosion, no dead bodies or destroyed buildings. Just everything electronic stops suddenly and permanently without warning. No electricity, no TV, radio, or pumps for water; airplanes literally falling out of the sky, even cars won’t run because their electronics will be permanently fried. Within 3 or 4 days, life goes to hell and then gets bad. Forstchen wrote the book to put us and govt on notice about what is coming, not if but when terrorists detonate such a bomb. Get the book and read it, then start preparing yourself spiritually and practically.
Carmageddon will give us a small look into how an EMP attack may play out in a city full of whino liberals who can‘t cope when life gets down and dirty and can’t go where they want to when they want to. Wouldn’t want to be there.
Wish there was some legal way to make Californians stay there instead of leaving and importing their insanity to still-viable states. I heard the fools just elected another Democrat to something or other. Tells me everything I need to know.
Report Post »geonj
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:41pmmaybe LA will disappear in a puff of smoke.
Report Post »xoke
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:37pmWho cares what happens in North Mexico lol
Report Post »Restored One
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 4:00pmToo funny. However when they closed the Bay Bridge for a hoilday weekend to do construction there was a problem and the bridge was closed for 2-3 addtional days. Man were people pissed.
Report Post »trevthomp
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 5:08pmThe bay bridge closure was a mess. It affects traffic for hundreds of miles around for all the alternative routes. I have to drive into San Diego on Sat. so am getting ready for a nightmare trip on any of the other freeways.
Report Post »Uncle Tom
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 6:41pmBetter to be closed for repairs than be falling apart during an earthquake. October 1989, anyone? I crossed the Bay bridge less than an hour before that quake struck.
Report Post »MetalPatriot
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:50pmI love the GUNNY avatar!!
Yes, we are in North Mexico. Just yesterday I saw 2 different trucks with “New World Order-ish” stickers on them. One said “America” but the eagle was like the “Hecho in Mexico” eagle and the rest was an outline of a large central America with small U.S. & South America outlines. Oh yes, they both had that single “star” that many of the leftist groups use (like the fist).
The war is going to be on U.S. soil, no doubt about it. The problem is that the enemy is not clearly defined. Racists, Progressives, Islamists…it may not be formally coordinated, but it is more than coincidence that there’s such a large push to overthrow the “Evil White Giant” as an Middle Eastern student said at community college yesterday.
I know other states don’t want retarded Californians, but, there are a small percentage of us that “get it” and want to help be part of saving our country. I‘m not sure if being a casualty here is better or if it’s better to go where there are others of like mind. I do know that in CA we’re having our right to bear arms taken away every month, little by little. I actually see a renewed boldness in gang & criminal activity ALL OVER, even the “decent” areas are showing signs of social decay.
So, in a way, I agree, “Who care’s about Northern Mexico.” I just don’t like knowing that people refuse to behave themselves & the authorities only recognize it once in a great while.
Report Post »brickmoon
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:35pmOne major 10-mile stretch of freeway is closed for a weekend, everybody knows in advance, and it’s “Carmageddon!”
But you‘re a nut job if you consider the possibility of something like a solar flare knocking out the nation’s power grids, satellites, etc. for an extended period.
Naw, it’s impossible — and even if it did happen, the government would take care of you.
Hey, look! Over there! A summer heat wave! Undeniable proof that the world will be underwater in 100 years if we don’t immediately give up meat, coal, house cats…
Report Post »Brizz
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 4:00pmNew Orleans knew about Hurricane Katrina in advance. Did everyone listen then?
Report Post »mohavegreen
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:09pmTruley, who cares what limoliberals and big butted women have on their plate. Dress rehearsal for a new reality show, Do you know where you are?
Report Post »Sharlene
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:08pmA Jewish wedding on Saturday, Shabbat (Sabbath), I don’t think so, unless it’s 1 hour after sundown which would be around 9:30 or 10:00 PM.
Not likely, unless it’s a Reformed Rabbi performing the ceremony.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:20pmI Don’t Roll on Shabbas.
Report Post »Chappy123
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:07pmEnjoy your weekend Libs!
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:06pmThey American Saga continues…..
Report Post »robert
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:37pmYes, and I’m wondering if most people realize the very important significance of what this closure amouts to. I mean were talking about a simple 53 hour shut down of the freeway.
What if terrorists place explosives on the overpasses of key interstate roads there at some point in the future? That would be easy for them to do. The entire area would be in utter chaos.
And what if we have an economic armageddon as Glenn and other experts are warning about? The super market shelves will be bare in a couple of days. The California freeways would be scenes of running gun battles by people who would be out to take what they can.
The situation would look like the aftermath of Katrina on steroids.
At no time in history…as Geitner said…have we experienced anything like what we are going to be presented with from this point forward.
This is what happens in multicultural utopias where the push is always for more “growth,” to appease the power and greed mongers.
It is “growth” that is depleting our resources, and, along with multiculturalism, it is forcing us to live on the edge of catastrophe 24/7.
Report Post »AynRandLives
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:04pmIf you’re conservative just move to TEXAS!
Report Post »mohavegreen
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:13pmNot to make your life easier, conservatism is alive and well, the beach boy juicer hahahan election provided for new opportunity if not a win.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:01pmAsking celebrities to help with road construction. Pathetic.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:15pmYeah, stay off the road, commoners, so WE “stars” can get to our homes in the hills.
Report Post »caexpat
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:58pmJust another day in LA,,,I used to live there…they can deal!
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:51pmFind a detour and plan accordingly, you freakin’ whiny liberal douche-bags !!!
Report Post »Zorro6821
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 8:08amDetour…you obviously do not understand the Freeway System in LA. There is no detour! Nothing worse than someone posting total nonsense. All roads in LA leads to a freeway artery and when the main artery is clogged…heart attack!!!!!!!!
Report Post »cntrlfrk
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:47pmI can’t imagine shutting the entire thing down.
Haven‘t they heard of ’detours’ or shutting down one side at a time???
.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:19pmOne lane of the bridge has to be kept open. They are demolishing only half of it as in one complete lane. Then construct the new lane and open it to traffic while demolishing the remaining lane.
Report Post »They have to shut down all traffic under the bridge as it goes across the entire highway underneath.
banjarmon
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:46pmSounds like OVER KILL….Just make a street party out of it and meet your neighbors, You might make NEW friends.
Report Post »concealled9mms
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:45pmshut them all down they are all falling apart some of these roads out here in the tarnished golden state should be for 4 wheel drive only
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:45pmI wonder if Casey Anthony has ever traveled that road?
Report Post »I wonder what Casey Anthony is doing now?
What is her favorite color?
Hmmmm
MONICNE
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:43pmClever story – typical Californiacation hype for a local inconvenience — that is much more important and more influential on the lives of real people than the Government default crisis. ((Which is just a fake crisis by the O’Bummer DemonRats.))
Report Post »NSDQ
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:42pmIf your life falls apart due to a road being shutdown for a weekend, you have no life
Report Post »LimaBean
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 4:54pmNSDQ, I agree. I live in Los Angeles (yeah, go ahead and sneer). I thinks it‘s ridiculus how much of an issue they’re making this out to be. Big fat hairy deal!
Report Post »NSDQ
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 5:14pmIm not sneering, you have my sympathies though. Perhaps its a good weekend for a getaway, you know before the riots start. Be safe God bless
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:41pmThey should do this on Nov. 2, 2012.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:17pmCertainly couldn’t hurt in Cali. If it were Wyoming where 66% vote conservative, I’d say, “Hell no!”
I wonder how many of the bottom-feeders are going to get “bussed in” during the next go-around?
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:41pmOH yes, use the Hollywood Royalty (NOT) to get the message out..
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:40pmMy God – who could ever live in such a hell hole?!?!?
What some people will do for money and dry, warm weather.
Report Post »Drum Man
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:40pmGet out of SoCal altogether. It is mexican territory anyway…
Report Post »concealled9mms
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:47pmwhere out west isnt it full of mexicans i go to them all and they are all loaded with them
Report Post »Sigs4Israel
Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:58pmyour not kidding, the mexico vs USA soccer game a few weeks ago proved that!
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