Villaraigosa Says Closure Is Running Smoothly Because Drivers Are Staying Away

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa emphasized in a news conference at the Emergency Operations Center in downtown Los Angeles this afternoon that drivers need to continue staying away from the 405 Freeway despite the light traffic so far this weekend.

Villaraigosa said the project was moving forward successfully because locals have listened to the city's message to stay off the roads.

"The only reason it's worked as smoothly as it is, is because [drivers] have cooperated by staying out of their cars."

With the reports of light traffic all over L.A., the mayor said he and other city officials were concerned that drivers would think it's OK to start using the freeways again on Sunday.

Villaraigosa praised the work the L.A. Police and Fire Departments had done already in keeping Angelenos safe during the 405 closure. However, Villaraigosa also had strong words for anyone who might think that Carmageddon is over.

He also said that the work being done on the freeway now is just one part of a larger project to better connect all of Southern California with high-occupancy lanes.

"This wasn't just an exercise for us. This grid of the freeway, this HOV lane, will connect a grid of HOV lanes all the way from Orange County to the San Fernando Valley," he said.

"It'll save us about a minute per mile."

Although he was optimistic about the progress of the 405 closure, Villaraigosa was willing to take the blame if the project ultimately failed, he said.

"I joked that the way this works, if it goes well it's because of [L.A.'s emergency workers], and if it doesn't it's on me, as it should be."

"They're getting to know their neighbors, they're walking more than they have in the past, they're staying at home."

Villaraigosa said that ridership on Metrolink trains is up almost double as a result of the closure and that public transportation use is up across the city with free rides being offered on buses and subway lines.