'Heavy' traffic gridlock expected with Obama visit to L.A. on Thursday

Officials are warning that President Obama's trip to Los Angeles on Thursday could result in major traffic gridlock.

The president will be traveling through the Westside and perhaps other areas of the city -- including during the Thursday afternoon rush hour.

Sources told The Times that while all details have not been released, much of the president's travels in L.A. will be done on surface streets. That would require a complex series of "hard closures" of streets as his motorcade passes by. Officials have posted temporary "No Parking" signs on some streets.

UCLA released a traffic advisory noting that the president would be at Sony Studios in Culver City, as well as at a Brentwood restaurant.

"Please expect heavy traffic on the Westside," the UCLA statement said.

Obama felt the sting of Angeleno road rage last summer when street closures for his motorcade stretched commutes that normally take 45 minutes to several hours. The Mid-City area, Westside and Hancock Park were particularly hard hit. In his next visit, Obama used a helicopter for portions of his trip, reducing gridlock.

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-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: President Obama at Los Angeles International Airport during a trip to L.A. last fall. Officials are warning that Obama's trip to Los Angeles on Thursday could result in traffic gridlock. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Brad]

If you don't want Obama to visit and tie up traffic, stop giving him money. If you give money to beggers they just come back.....

[boochie]

Why exactly does he need to come to the westside during rush hour?? I know he's out collecting money for his re-election campaign but the timing is ridiculous!

[Jonah Corling]

Gosh, what a mess! I'll give him a ride. No evil-doers will know he's with me. My car is old and unremarkable.

[Barbara]

GREAT... ANOTHER REASON NOT TO RE-ELECT HIM....

Mr. President...Thanks for caring about us "little guys" who have to commute to make a living; your sensitiveity is overwhelming... try lowering the cost of fuel and do something besides give "speeches" and spent the time campaigning looking for the dollars ... I guess you have lots of free time on your hands expecially since everything in the country is going so well...

[Dave H]

You know, we used to have a president who actually lived in Southern California, on the west side, no less, and this was never a problem. He came and went with regularity and no fanfare. I remember several times stopping as the motorcade went by from LAX to Bel Air or to the Century Plaza, a two minute interruption at most. And this was a guy who had actually been shot once already by a would-be assassin. Now it seems we have to shut down the whole city for several hours - and this is supposed to be friendly turf for this president. I'd call it "overkill" except that would subject me to attacks for incivility and probably a Secret Service investigation.

[Carol Dijkhuyzen]

May God bless President Obama,one reason why America is being respected around the world..There is no other one you are still the One Mr.President ...they are all empty shells and brainless.

[RockinRobert]

Please Mr. President...
Don't do this to us again. The last time you caused L.A. gridlock, your logistical staff underestimated the pain and suffering you burdened many of us hard-working, tired, frustrated Angelenos with. It was not an emergency then, and it isn't now. It's only a tap-dance and photo-op for re-election MONEY! Please do it in your own backyard!
p.s. I will vote for you anyway!

[Bill Jablonski]

Great That Los Angeles is having Our Country's President come over;did not anyone learn from his last recent visit & gridlock?

[smoon]

Another waste of gasoline - if this guy cared a bit, he would do some work on the deficit.
But no - this millionaire is out only for himself....
and to clog up LA traffic.
For what
to get a billion dollars for himself so he can advertise - advertise - advertise - advertise.
This guy has not done a lick of work - except perhaps golf, basketball and clogging up traffic.

[Sophie]

Thanks for posting. I live in Culver City, and had no idea he's going to be @ Sony. Potential traffic issues.

[angry angeleno]

Great! Thanks, Obama! Stealing my paycheck isn't enough? Now you have to make an already miserable commute even worse. What a guy.

[THE A MAN]

The Congresswoman from Orange County needs to appoligize to the Chimpanzee
Obama acts more like a Snake. or a Snake oils salesman.

A good Banksters is a Jailed Banksters

A good British Petrolium executive is a Jailed Executive.

$1billion to get re elected he is going down like Meg Whitman.

[watchitgo]

Is he going to ease the fact that the entertainment industry is working more out of the country than in it? Is he going to lower the gas prices?

If not he should stay in DC and not bog down our freeways and side streets.

[robert gates]

obama can afford to screw over people in l.a. for fundraising stuff because he's already won california. he should do this more often. i guess once a year is not enough.

[jay handal]

WHY WON'T YOU POST MY PAST COMMENT........

[chuck weiss]

Sighs, here we go again. I cannot think of a single time Obama has visited our City other than for a private event or to campaign, each time his visits create a traffic nightmare and it always seems to happen around rush hour.

Are we of no importance to our President other than to squeeze campaign dollars from us?

[Mike Thomas]

Yea, so I can burn a tank of $4.75 per gallon gas as this nitwit takes over our city to raise money. I can't wait until Nov. 2012. WORST PRESIDENT EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joey]

With the entitlement class lookin' for that "Obama Money"

"I won't have to worry about putting gas in my car or paying my mortgage. If I help him, he will help me" - From one Obamafont.....Which by the way..how is that working for you?!?!

[swhitS]

We don't want him here.

[rusoviet]

Do it you clueless elitist - give the westside quiche eating sauvignon blanc quaffing clowns who worship you a taste of what the rest of this nation 'feels' - an arrogant lazy statist who campaigns for money and more money but has nothing but contempt for those who actually work.

Vote dem - vote green - vote chaos - vote socialism - vote for the destruction of our nation -

Vote no on all tax increases in CA!

[mike]

So, shut down los angeles and make millions of tired workers who sit through hours of traffic sit through more traffic so he can cruise around the city at the worst possible time.

[chris]

good lord, get over it everyone.

[c]

Go back from whence you came!

[lkjoloy]

Good thing we can just take the train.
Wait, oops. scratch that.

[JohnnyLA]

I see a bunch of people lambasting the President for coming to L.A. and personally attacking him (and I'm thinking that most are Republicans).

Have you all have such short memories that you don't recall when George W. Bush was here for fundraising around Beverly Hills around 4 years ago or so. Traffic was backed up for hours for that too..