Community Corner

Extra 405 Freeway Lane Now Open in West L.A.

The lane is expected to add freeway capacity for 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles an hour in the West Los Angeles area.

By City News Service

Another traffic lane is now open on the northbound San Diego (405) Freeway in West Los Angeles, although its debut was marred by a big-rig crash that snarled traffic in the area.

The 1.7-mile lane stretches between the Santa Monica (10) Freeway and Santa Monica Boulevard. The lane will eventually be converted into a carpool lane, but for the time being, it is open to all motorists.

"This is a major milestone for transportation in Los Angeles, especially for our Westside residents and commuters," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

Metro officials said the lane will likely be stretched another 1.4 miles to Wilshire Boulevard next month. In the meantime, the lane was expected to add freeway capacity for 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles an hour in the West Los Angeles area, according to Metro.

The lane opened at 5 a.m. May 24, but the benefits of its debut were limited about half an hour later when a big rig and a car collided on the northbound freeway in Brentwood, blocking three freeway lanes and snarling traffic as far south as Los Angeles International Airport.

The new lane is part of a $1 billion-plus improvement project on the 405 Freeway that will add carpool access through the Sepulveda Pass. The project was originally expected to be completed this year, but construction is now expected to continue through mid-2014.


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