Have Questions About the 90-Day Wilshire Ramp Closures to begin June 22 and their impact to Westside traffic? Ask L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky During Metro's Live Internet Chat June 15 at noon

Monday June 11, 2012

Los Angeles, Calif. (June 11, 2012) -- As L.A. prepares for the three-month closure of key I-405 freeway ramps at Wilshire Boulevard starting Friday, June 22, the public is being encouraged to "Plan Ahead, Adjust Travel Times or Share the Ride." What are the best ways to minimize nightmarish congestion throughout the Westside as a result of this work? L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, joined by Metro's construction team, can give you advice during a 1-hour live internet chat from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, June 15 at metro.net.

Planned 90-day ramp closures are: Westbound Wilshire onramp to I-405 north and I-405 north off ramp to Westbound Wilshire. Other ramp closures will follow, with all eight ramps demolished and rebuilt over the next year or more.

Why do the ramps have to be closed for so long?  What alternative streets and on-ramps are recommended?  What is Metro and its transportation agency partners doing to reduce traffic impacts?  Will the rebuilt ramps be worth the investment, or will they just cause more congestion?  Send your questions in advance or sign on during the live chat.

"We're calling this 'Ramp Jam' for good reason," said Supervisor and Metro Board Member Yaroslavsky. "The Wilshire/405 interchange is where the nation's busiest boulevard meets the nation's busiest freeway. Tens of thousands of freeway-bound motorists travel through here on a daily basis. We need the public's cooperation - just as we did with Carmageddon weekend last year - to help reduce traffic impacts as much as possible. It's imperative the public Plan ahead, Adjust Their Travel Times, or Share the Ride.  Join me on this live chat to learn how."

For more information on the I-405 project go to metro.net/I-405, twitter.com/I_405 or facebook.com/405project. For more information on Metro's Live Chats go to metro.net/news. To post live questions during the chat go to metro.net or to e-mail advance questions go to metro.net/chat.