The first southbound cars, escorted by the California Highway Patrol, approach the Mulholland Drive bridge after the 405 Freeway was reopened following its closure for half the bridge to be demolished this weekend. The freeway opened about 17 hours earlier than anticipated. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Tom LaBonge join officials to wave at the first motorists to travel under the Mulholland Drive bridge after half of it was demolished. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
California Highway Patrol officers lead the first motorists to travel southbound on the 405 Freeway under the Mulholland Drive bridge after half of it was demolished. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
California Highway Patrol officers remove closure signs at the Cotner and Tennessee avenue entrance ramp to the southbound 405. (Arkasha Stevenson / Los Angeles Times)
Crews begin to clean up dirt and debris after major demolition is finished on the Mulholland Drive bridge across the 405 Freeway. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The western pillar of the Mulholland Drive bridge over the 405 Freeway slams to the ground in a cloud of dust during early morning demolition Sunday. (Arkasha Stevenson / Los Angeles Times)
Heavy equipment digs into the Mulholland Drive bridge. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
A view of the bridge from the freeway surface. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
People clad in Caltrans orange spell out 405 in a park near the Mulholland Drive bridge. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A big chunk of the Mulholland Drive bridge is gone. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The juncture of the Marina and 405 freeways is nearly deserted. (Arkasha Stevenson / Los Angeles Times)
Crews continue their work on the Mulholland Drive bridge at approximately 10 a.m. Saturday. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Sparks shower from the Mulholland Drive bridge over the 405 Freeway as workers start cutting rebar early Saturday morning. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
A crew closes the Skirball Center Drive onramp to the northbound 405 Freeway in preparation for the Mulholland Drive bridge work. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
