UPDATE: 405 bridge demolition work is proceeding briskly, officials say

(From the latimes.com) A bridge demolition project that forced the weekend closure of the 405 Freeway at the Sepulveda Pass was proceeding briskly Saturday, as authorities continued warning area motorists to stay home or risk a major traffic meltdown. By early Saturday morning it was clear that many had heeded the call of politicians and transportation officials to steer clear of the massive highway project, as traffic throughout the city was light. For weeks, an extensive public relations campaign warned residents of impending gridlock as a result of the closure, and urged Angelenos to either stay home or opt for public transportation.

“It’s going smooth because people are not getting into their cars,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told reporters at a news conference by the Mulholland Drive bridge. “Virtually every artery, every major street has less than normal traffic. Thanks to the media, they’re the reason this is going smoothly….If you get into your car and act as if it’s business as usual, you’ll be stuck in the mother of all gridlock.”

The 405 was shut down at 12 a.m. Saturday between the 101 and 10 freeways, as workers demolished the southern half of the bridge, which spans the freeway. That 10-mile stretch of the 405 carries roughly 500,000 vehicles on a normal July weekend.

The demolition is part of a larger $1-billion freeway improvement project that includes adding a northbound carpool lane. The freeway will be shut down again in 11 months as crews take down the other half of the bridge.

Read more here: 405 bridge demolition work is proceeding briskly, officials say