405 Widening to Take a While

The three-year undertaking is a collaborative effort between Metro and Caltrans that will add a 10-mile high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on northbound I-405 from the Santa Monica Freeway to the Ventura Freeway.
The project includes the construction of 18 miles of sound and retaining wall, the widening of 13 existing underpasses and structures and the realignment of 27 on and off-ramps. The project also features the removal and reconstruction of three bridges – Skirball Center Drive, Mullholland Drive and Sunset Boulevard.
So far, construction-related traffic jams have been minimal.
Metro spokesperson Dave Sotero said when the revamping of the interstate is complete in 2013 an HOV lane will be added to the only portion of the freeway that is without a carpool lane.
“When this project is completed you will be able to go from Orange County to the San Fernando Valley on a dedicated carpool lane,†according to Dave Sotero, spokesperson for Metro. “It will improve traffic-flow on the northbound I-405 by removing multiple passenger vehicles in the mixed-flow lanes. That gives them their own lane and creates an incentive for the use of carpooling, vanpooling and public transit.â€
Forty percent of the Los Angeles County’s 533-mile freeway system has carpool lanes. One Hundred and forty-four miles of HOV lanes are under construction or in the planning or design process.
“There will be improved mobility by taking the multiple passenger vehicles off of the mixed-flow lanes, an opportunity for public transit vehicles will be created and lane widths will be standardized,†he said. “The lanes won’t get larger and smaller.â€