The next stage of a project designed to improve travel through the Sepulveda Pass on Los Angeles' Westside began Friday night when crews closed Sunset Boulevard ramps to and from the northbound 405 Freeway -- a closure expected to last about four months.
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The northbound exit ramp closure was on schedule to begin at 7 p.m. Friday.
Ramp demolition will begin at about midnight.
"Beginning tonight, Sunset Boulevard by the 405 is not the place you want to be," said Metro's Dave Sotero.
The project contractor to build the longer off-ramp over the next 120 days. The longer ramp should allow drivers to exit at Sunset Boulevard without interfering with traffic that remains on the freeway.
The new ramp will be 60-percent longer in an effort to smooth the transition from the northbound 405 Freeway to Sunset Boulevard. The ramp will have two northbound right-turn lanes to eastbound Sunset Boulevard. Drivers will access the westbound side of the road using one lane.
Detour Information for Westbound Sunset Boulevard
- Daytime: Northbound 405 Freeway off-ramp to westbound Wilshire Boulevard, to northbound Sepulveda Boulevard, to eastbound Sepulveda Way, to westbound Sunset Boulevard.
- Alternate: Moraga Drive off-ramp, to southbound Sepulveda Boulevard, right on Church Lane to Sunset Boulevard.
- Nighttime: Northbound 405 Freeway off-ramp to westbound Wilshire Boulevard, right on northbound San Vicente Boulevard, right onto north Barrington Avenue, left onto westbound Sunset Boulevard.
Detour Information to Eastbound Sunset
- Northbound 405 Freeway off-ramp to eastbound Wilshire Boulevard, to northbound Veteran Avenue to eastbound Sunset Boulevard.
Crews also plan to close Sepulveda Boulevard from Montana Avenue to Moraga Drive from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the 120-day project. Sepulveda Boulevard will remain open during peak travel hours.
The entire Sepulveda Pass project is expected to be completed in mid-2014. The bridge and ramp projects have required several major closures, including two weekend closures of the 405 Freeway for overpass work.
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The remaining ramp closure for the project involves the eastbound Wilshire Boulevard entrance ramp to the northbound 405 Freeway. A timeline for construction at the site was not immediately available.
