Carmageddon will affect traffic Downtown, Pasadena and beyond [Video]
A top transportation officials said Thursday that "Carmageddon," this weekend's closure of the 405 Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass, is likely to jam traffic far and wide.
Doug Failing, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's executive director of highway projects, said drivers should expect traffic issues as far away as the 210 Freeway in the San Gabriel Valley.
Carmegeddon: Full coverage of the 405 Freeway closure
He expected a "ripple effect" in which such freeways as the 101 though the San Fernando Valley, the 110 Downtown and in South L.A. and the 10 between Downtown and the beach become congested as drivers seek alternate routes.
"There is not a lot of elasticity in the system, even on the weekends," he said during a live chat on latimes.com. He noted that some freeways like the 210 and 110 are already congested on weekends, so closure is likely to make thing worse.
He urged motorists to avoid any roads near the closure, particularly Sepulveda Boulevard.
"Don't go near Sepulveda," he said.
Officials also urged people going to the L.A. Coliseum for Saturday night's soccer game -- the L.A. Galaxy faces Real Madrid at 7 p.m. -- to get there early because traffic in the area is expected to be gridlocked.
RELATED:
Carmageddon: What are your plans?
LAPD says no to parties, bike rides on 405
Other cities offer incentives to avoid Westside
-- Shelby Grad
Photo: From left to right, Los Angeles Police Cmdr. Andrew Smith, Doug Failing, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's executive director of highway projects, and Times Assistant City Editor Kimi Yoshino.
