Mission Accomplished Perfectly
Source: http://www.newser.com
#freeway #usa #losangeles #construction #transportation
As reported by Reuters.com, a key Los Angeles freeway closed for construction work and reopened about 16 hours ahead of schedule on Sunday. After freeway reopened, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa proclaimed "Mission accomplished and the early reopening saved about US$ 400 thousand in salary and other costs associated with the project".
A 6.2-kilometer stretch of Interstate 405 that ranks as the most heavily traveled section of freeway in the United States was shut down on July 17 night to allow for demolition of half a bridge as part of a US$1 billion freeway widening project. Crews finished demolition work on the bridge in 37 hours, toppling two massive pillars, which interfered freeway widening. Villaraigosa said, that workers had made "great progress" on demolition of the half-century-old Mulholland Bridge. Powerful machines with long booms hammered away at the south side of the span, which was being removed to allow construction of an additional freeway lane. The plan was to leave the north-side lanes standing until the south side is rebuilt. Another closure will be required in about 11 months to demolish the north side.
According to newser.com, city authorities worried about "Carmageddon" of traffic jams. That's why officials had set a fine to contractor. Project contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West faced a US$ 6 thousand fine in each direction for every 10 minutes of delay in getting the freeway reopened, according to the city's Metropolitan Transportation Authority. That's a total of US$ 72 thousand an hour.
Despite of this, for weeks, authorities warned people that driving as usual this weekend could trigger what's been hyped as Carmageddon _ an event that could back up vehicles from the I-405 to surface streets and other freeways, causing a domino effect that could paralyze much of Los Angeles. JetBlue Airways also helped offering US$ 4 flights between Burbank and Long Beach as a special weekend promotion.
A 6.2-kilometer stretch of Interstate 405 that ranks as the most heavily traveled section of freeway in the United States was shut down on July 17 night to allow for demolition of half a bridge as part of a US$1 billion freeway widening project. Crews finished demolition work on the bridge in 37 hours, toppling two massive pillars, which interfered freeway widening. Villaraigosa said, that workers had made "great progress" on demolition of the half-century-old Mulholland Bridge. Powerful machines with long booms hammered away at the south side of the span, which was being removed to allow construction of an additional freeway lane. The plan was to leave the north-side lanes standing until the south side is rebuilt. Another closure will be required in about 11 months to demolish the north side.
According to newser.com, city authorities worried about "Carmageddon" of traffic jams. That's why officials had set a fine to contractor. Project contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West faced a US$ 6 thousand fine in each direction for every 10 minutes of delay in getting the freeway reopened, according to the city's Metropolitan Transportation Authority. That's a total of US$ 72 thousand an hour.
Despite of this, for weeks, authorities warned people that driving as usual this weekend could trigger what's been hyped as Carmageddon _ an event that could back up vehicles from the I-405 to surface streets and other freeways, causing a domino effect that could paralyze much of Los Angeles. JetBlue Airways also helped offering US$ 4 flights between Burbank and Long Beach as a special weekend promotion.
