Echoes of 2011’s Carmageddon surround the impending closure of the I-5 next month. Similar to the 405’s closure 9 years ago, the I-5 closure is scheduled for a marathon weekend stretch of 36 hours.

Beginning April 25 at 3 pm, the I-5 closes to both north and southbound traffic. Shortly thereafter, crews from the California Department of Transportation begin the deconstruction of the Burbank Blvd overpass. In an intensive demolition operation, they plan to complete its removal and reopen freeway lanes in both directions by 3 am Monday morning.

However, this only marks the first stage in a much larger effort. Over the next roughly year and a half, expansions of both the freeway and bridge take place. Caltrans will widen the freeway, adding HOV lanes in both directions in the stretch between the 134 and the 118 freeways.

Simultaneously, bridge construction aims both to accommodate the widened freeway beneath it, as well as add additional lanes of its own. Caltrans anticipates bridge completion about 14 to 16 months out. Then, the freeway follows sometime in the summer of next year.

Carmageddon Ramp Up

Prior to the condensed demolition, Caltrans closes the bridge at midnight of March 14. Pedestrians, drivers, and bikers must find alternate routes to cross over the freeway. They aren’t planning on directing traffic on detours, instead expecting people to find their own.

Then, 6 weeks later, Carmageddon’s reprisal.

Though, reflecting on the 405’s closure that popularized the name, the title proved a bit of a misnomer. The man who coined the term, LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, foretold of traffic consequences weeks in advance. The Carmageddon title caught on, even spawning t-shirts. Perhaps his warning undermined his prediction, as the weekend came and went without significant jams. Anticipating longer travel times, people opted for alternative activities, like block parties and cycling.

This time around, while less attention surrounds the closure, the freeway in question also sees less traffic. Perhaps residents will dodge Carmageddon once again.