Jamzilla: Motorists urged to plan for longer Monday commute

The monster-evoking “Jamzilla” lane closures on the northbound 405 Freeway this weekend appear to have appropriately scared off motorists, officials said.

Traffic on the freeway in the Sepulveda Pass flowed with minimal delays on Saturday and Sunday. Three of five lanes were shutdown during the day to allow for repaving and restriping.

Northbound motorists experienced delays of only seven to 10 minutes, “which shows a lot of people have taken to heart our warnings about staying out of the area,” said Paul Gonzales, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The roadway improvements have been focused on that section of the freeway between Sunset and Ventura boulevards as part of a larger project that will add a new carpool lane.

The work is progressing on schedule, and officials anticipate the freeway’s full opening at 6 a.m. Tuesday as planned, Gonzales said.

All northbound lanes north of Getty Center Drive will be closed from midnight Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday, according to Metro. Two of the five northbound lanes will be open throughout the day Monday, Gonzales said.

Though traffic has moved relatively smoothly throughout the weekend, transportation officials are warning motorists on the 405 to plan for a longer commute Monday morning and to take an alternate route if possible.

Even though Monday is President’s Day, a holiday for some workers, officials are concerned that others who have to return to wok could increase congestion through the Sepulveda Pass.

“Tomorrow is a big test because we have a lot of commuter trips that are going to be made,” said Dave Sotero, a spokesman for Metro, which is managing the freeway-widening project. “Our message is still the same, which is to stay away from the area, divert to other freeways and make more time to get to work tomorrow because we anticipate more traffic than this weekend.”

hailey.branson@latimes.com

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