Extra I-405 Lane Opens in West L.A.

In time for the upcoming Memorial Day travel weekend, Metro and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) officially opened an additional general purpose lane on the northbound I-405 between the I-10 and Santa Monica Boulevard in West Los Angeles Friday.

The new 1.7-mile lane is expected to provide congestion relief for motorists navigating the northbound I-405 at the I-10 interchange.

"This is a major milestone for transportation in Los Angeles, especially for our Westside residents and commuters,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “As one of our most congested interstate freeways, the opening of this nearly two-mile lane on the I-405 is both welcome and necessary."

Villaraigosa said that in 2008, with the passage of Measure R, Los Angeles demonstrated a shared vision to build Los Angeles a world-class transportation system. This is only one step toward the completion of significant improvements to Los Angeles’ interstate freeways and public transportation networks.

The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project contractor has completed major structure and widening work to allow the opening of an additional lane of traffic, including paving and lane striping that required a series of recent sequential night-time freeway closures at Santa Monica Boulevard. 

Metro and Caltrans anticipates releasing another 1.4 miles of general purpose lane to reach north of Wilshire Boulevard in a second opening phase next month, June 2013.

The No. 1 lane closest to the freeway median will later be converted into the future high occupancy vehicle lane.

This effort is designed to return portions of the project to full functionality as soon as possible to help reduce construction-related impacts to both motorists and West L.A. residents. Metro has committed to opening parts of the project as soon as they’re ready for public use.

“The immediate availability of this extra lane will add badly needed freeway capacity on one of our most congested interstate bottlenecks,” said Art Leahy, Metro CEO.

Opening of the new traffic lane will add capacity for 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles per hour on this congested portion of the I-405, according to Metro. Time savings will vary depending on time of day and real-time traffic conditions.

Metro officials said the contractor is now working aggressively on a phased delivery for remaining portions of future HOV lane segments.

“This portion of freeway lane is a small taste of the amazing benefits that will be fully realized  when the entire I-405 carpool lane project is completed,” said Caltrans District 7 Director Mike Miles. “Caltrans is eager to add it to the 514 miles of carpool lanes in Los Angeles County currently.”

To date, the I-405 project has delivered key project milestones, including several new Wilshire on and off-ramps, widened Sunset Bridge, I-10 interchange improvements, Sepulveda Boulevard improvements from Montana Avenue to Sunset Boulevard, and new, greater capacity southbound I-405 Skirball on-ramp, among others.

In 2013, officials said the project expects to complete utility work, Mulholland and Skirball bridges, remaining Wilshire Interchange Ramps, and conclude construction on most on- and off-ramps, retaining and soundwalls, underpasses and structures. Completion of a mid-section of the project, however, has been extended due to increased scope of work, and is now forecast to be complete in mid-2014.