'Angelenos Against Gridlock' protests delays in 405 widening

A group calling itself Angelenos Against Gridlock plans a demonstration Saturday afternoon to protest delays in the 405 Freeway widening project.

David Murphy, the group's president, said the 2 p.m. protest would be held on the sidewalk outside the Westwood Federal Building at 11000 Wilshire Boulevard.

Months of delays and added costs recently announced at a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority construction meeting "will have an onerous effect on commuters, businesses and residents," Murphy said.

Metro said much of the delay relates to the complexities of locating and moving utility lines along Sepulveda Boulevard through the Sepulveda Pass. Most of that work has been completed, but it took longer than expected.

The $1-billion-plus project's key goal is to add a 10-mile carpool lane between the 10 and the 101 freeways. To accomplish that, workers have had to demolish and rebuild a number of bridges and entrance and exit ramps.

After three years of work, Metro reported this week that the project was two-thirds complete. It said segments would continue to be opened in phases.

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-- Martha Groves