The Carpocalypse: a Survivor's Diary

[3113]

Carpocalypse: July 15th, Day One...

When I first heard of the Carpocalypse a month ago, I didn't believe it. Shut down the famed "Sepulveda Pass" section of the 405 freeway for a whole weekend? The portion in L.A. between the 101 and the 10? A major artery that allows those living in the "Valley" part of Los Angeles to get to the "West Side" of Los Angeles (essentially from the Northeast to the Southwest and vice versa)? Impossible! It could never happen! A myth...

Yet I kept hearing about it. "Carmageddon" some called it--inferring that this was our "Karma." Those in my circle named it "The Carpocalypse" because that just sounded better to us. It would, they said, shut down all of L.A. It would, they said, leave the un-choosen stuck in the San Fernando Valley. Starting on the eve of July 15th at 7 O'clock, it would last until the morning of July 18th. Those going through it, all us Angelenos, would be changed forever. I was skeptical, of course. How, I wondered, could they know the exact time as well of date of such a thing? Yet I began to feel a certain fear as when you don't want to believe, but you know it's true. You know the prediction is a real one....

Maps began to appear:

http://sheltrgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/405-widening.jpg

And still I refused to believe...until this morning. There is no denying it. The Carpocalypse is coming. I have decided to keep a diary so that those in other cities will know what we went through during these dark, impossible days. For right now, the beginning of day one, all seems normal. Yet a sense of dread hangs in the air like the smog from a million cars that won't exist as people are forced to stay at home this weekend...the weekend of...the Carpocalypse.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Won't phase me none. I live to the south of L.A. and when we decide to run up to Exposition Park for the members' preview of the new Dinosaur Hall all the hysteria from the valley will be of no consequence. After all, the fact that's it's happening at all is the fault of the damned people who live on the route complaining about the original plan which would have been much cheaper and less disruptive. Let 'em stew!

 

[R. Richard]

Pardon me for saying it, but "Head 'em off at the pass" is so old timey western movie.

 

[jomar]

Be strong, 3, be strong.

 

[3113]

Ack!

Ack! Headline from Reuters:

Los Angeles faces final countdown to "Carmageddon"

Ahhhhh! It's the end, I tell you! The end is neigh--or nie--or nah-aye! Look at all these cars fleeing for their lives--

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20110715&t=2&i=459686466&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2011-07-15T215353Z_01_BTRE76E1OTX00_RTROPTP_0_USA

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Who wants to go anywhere on the 405 on a weekend anyway? Just stay home with hubby.

 

[TE999]

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20110715&t=2&i=459686466&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2011-07-15T215353Z_01_BTRE76E1OTX00_RTROPTP_0_USA

That picture up there is a shining example of why I will never live in or near a big city again. That looks like I-75, I-85 or the Downtown Connector in Atlanta Monday through Friday every week. It's worse on weekends and holidays. Ugh!

 

[3113]

Day one...Evening

It's happened. The thing we thought would never happen in this city of freeways. The biggest and most important of our freeways (*sob*) has been closed

Everywhere I look, there is a hush of shock. People stand by their vehicles not knowing what to do, wondering how they're going to survive till Monday morning. And now, there is another growing concern. With the freeway closed how will deliveries reach us? Surely not by way of side streets!

The local Starbucks has promised that it has enough coffee to last the weekend...if carefully rationed. I have my doubts. Things could get ugly by Sunday night....

 

[soflabbwlvr]

3113

How are your supplies holding up? Do you need an airlift of the essentials: Scotch, Tequila, Rum, Gin or Vodka? Limes, soda, orange juice?

 

[3113]

3113

How are your supplies holding up? Do you need an airlift of the essentials: Scotch, Tequila, Rum, Gin or Vodka? Limes, soda, orange juice?

Supplies are already low thanks to the evening panic. I fear the first thing citizens tried to do on realizing that they really would be forced to stay home is to numb the pain. I've never seen so many cocktail shakers. The morning hangovers have been severe.

Luckily, the Venice medical marijuana outlets are not only well stocked, but have been preparing for this. They sent out EMTs this morning to take care of the hangovers and get Angelenos past any further panic attacks. The smokey haze that has resulted, reminding everyone of smog, is helping to comfort and calm us.

 

[R. Richard]

So far, so good. Local reports?

Early 'Carmageddon' Traffic in LA Moving Smoothly
Saturday, 16 Jul 2011 8:55 AM

L.A. — Traffic in the in the L.A. area is so far moving smoothly, several hours after authorities shut down a 10-mile stretch of one of the nation's busiest freeways for a 53-hour construction project.

Ramps to the normally clogged Interstate 405 began shutting down Friday evening before the entire roadway was closed at midnight. Crews are now removing the 50-year-old Mulholland Bridge as part of a $1 billion widening project. Saturday morning, demolition work was proceeding on schedule.

Radio reports indicate that most drivers have been cooperating with calls to stay away from the area around the 405. No major traffic jams have been reported, although motorists are experiencing minor delays in some areas.

Weekend traffic is expected to reach its peak Saturday afternoon.

 

[3113]

So far, so good. Local reports?

Seriously? So far, so blissful. Seems everyone got scared out of town and those that didn't are, indeed, staying home. All quiet on the western front.

 

[TE999]

True to form, the local fuzz is saying "No fun of any kind on the closed freeway."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lan...rties-bike-rides-on-405-rejected-by-lapd.html

Party poopers!

 

[jomar]

Jet Blue saved the day with the four dollar flyover. Hard to imagine what it would have been like if they hadn't stepped up to the runway. Whew!

 

[R. Richard]

Looks like, 'so far, so good.' Local news?

L.A. traffic steers clear of ‘Carmageddon’

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It’s been anything but “Carmageddon,” but Southern California drivers haven’t steered clear of trouble just yet.

The traffic many thought would be a nightmare has been much lighter than normal as Los Angeles entered the second full day Sunday in the shutdown of a 10-mile stretch of Interstate 405 — one of the country’s busiest highways.

Officials were elated that the public appeared to get the message to avoid “Carmageddon” by staying off the roads, though some were concerned the lack of gridlock would make drivers complacent and spur them to return to the road before Monday’s scheduled reopening.

“We hope they still listen to what we’re saying and not go out and try to drive through this area, because it is going to be congested if people do that,” said Mike Miles, a district director of the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans.

Authorities closed the segment of 405 on the western side of Los Angeles at midnight Friday for 53 hours to allow partial demolition of a bridge.

For weeks, authorities warned people that driving as usual this weekend could trigger what’s been hyped as “Carmageddon” — an event could back up vehicles from the 405 to surface streets and other freeways, causing a domino effect that could paralyze much of Los Angeles.

But the fears of epic traffic jams dissipated with fewer cars on the roads.

“It’s been one of the most quiet Saturdays I’ve seen in forever,” said Steven Ramada, who had expected to hear lots of cars honking in front of his Sherman Oaks home but instead only heard news helicopters.

Demolition work is expected to be completed by 2 a.m. Monday, followed by cleanup and reopening of the freeway at 5 a.m., with on-ramps and connectors all reopened by an hour later.

Project contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West will face a $6,000 fine in each direction for every 10 minutes of delay in getting the freeway reopened, according to the city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. That’s a total of $72,000 an hour.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa flew over the city in a helicopter and said it was clear there were far fewer cars on freeways and streets than normal, but he cautioned at a midafternoon news conference that there were hours to go.

Progress on demolition of the half-century-old Mulholland Bridge was on schedule, Mr. Villaraigosa said. Powerful machines with long booms hammered away at the south side of the span, which is being removed to allow construction of an additional freeway lane. The plan is to leave the north-side lanes standing until the south side is rebuilt. Another closure will be required in the future to demolish the north side.

“We’ve made great progress,” Mr. Villaraigosa told reporters at the city’s emergency operations center.

 

[3113]

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa flew over the city in a helicopter

I wonder which one he was in? I'd have probably tried to shoot it down Helicopters, helicopters, helicopters. I haven't seen so many helicopters since O.J. took his white Bronco out for a spin. Friday-Saturday, nothing but helicopters. I *think* it's going to be quieter today now that most of the news stations have found there ain't any news in this.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

And it ended sixteen hours early. Let's face it, people, L.A. knows so much more about freeways than that other city (you know, the one up north?) that we can close 'em, open 'em, tear 'em down and replace 'em faster than anyone in the world.

 

[3113]

And it ended sixteen hours early.

I wasn't keeping up with this, but wow, you are right!

At a Sunday morning press conference, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says the freeway will reopen in stages beginning at about 11:30 a.m. because bridge work was completed 16 hours ahead of schedule.

The 405 was previously scheduled to reopen on Monday at 5 a.m. Villaraigosa praised contractors for working on the demolition quickly and thanked drivers for heeding warnings to stay off the road.

I'm a native born Angeleno and I'm amazed! Geeze, is this gonna put the pressure on Carmaggedon II (the return! Coming 2012) or what? Everyone is not only going to expect another "Carmaheaven" weekend, but for the work to be finished in, like, thirty-six hours

 

[R. Richard]

Then, the disaster was cancelled due to lack of interest?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Nah, a bunch of people decided to explore a novel idea--stay home on the weekend! Who knows, this may set a new trend.

 

[3113]

Then, the disaster was cancelled due to lack of interest?

It was cancelled due to everyone smoking something to ease their nerves over the coming disaster I think. I can't explain how else things were so mellow this weekend.

You know, someone said (and I think they're right) that Angelenos like projects. Just tell them "Oh, woe! This will be awful if we don't get your help!" and they'll either flee the city to avoid it or come together like a superhero team: "Never fear! We'll save you!" They get all inventive and, of course, everything goes swimmingly and they all end up patting themselves on the back.

Like with this. I bet this morning everyone is waving to each other on the freeway as they go under that bridge, as if they're the ones who got it done sixteen hours early

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I think you're right. When the Northridge quake hit and broke freeways and overpasses, Hizzoner & Co in City Hall announced that the place needed to be repaired as fast as possible. The same spirit that rescued people under squashed apartment houses and inside crushed automobiles answered, "You got it, Riordon!" and the place was fully functional in a matter of months. Up north, on the other hand, they were still arguing the aesthetics of what to build after a quake that happened six years previously. I'm all for wanting things to be as attractive as possible but really, now . . .