Demolition, rebuilding of Sunset Boulevard bridge over 405 to begin
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Construction workers have begun preparing for the demolition of the Sunset Boulevard bridge over the 405 Freeway, a new phase in a larger effort to widen the roadway on the Westside and into the San Fernando Valley.
The demolition will begin later this month or in early June and will take part in two stages, according to Marc Lippman, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Crews will begin by tearing down the southern part of the bridge with a hoe ram — a crane with a massive jackhammer attached — and will spend 10 months reconstructing it. Then they will demolish the northern stretch of the bridge, followed by 10 more months of rebuilding.
Two lanes in each direction will remain open throughout reconstruction, Littman said. When work is finished, the new bridge will have eight lanes, compared with its current six, and will be 30 feet wider.
Some area residents and businesses have voiced concern about disruptions the construction may cause. Earlier this week about 200 community members gathered at the Luxe Hotel, which is on Sunset near the bridge, to share their fears with city officials.
Lippman said Metro promised to reduce noise by putting mufflers on construction equipment and to keep nighttime spotlights directed away from businesses and houses when possible.
Still, he acknowledged that the project may be “disorderly.”
“Obviously, this will be disruptive and noisy, and we’re sorry about that,” Littman said. “There’s short-term pain, but there’s going to be long-term gain.”
The $1-billion freeway-widening project will add a 10-mile northbound carpool lane to the stretch of the 405 between the 10 and the 101. Ramps, overpasses and sound walls also will be improved.
This fall, construction crews will start work on the bridge at Skirball Center Drive and then move on to the bridge at Mulholland Drive.
To keep people informed of possible street closures, Metro has established Twitter and Facebook accounts dedicated to the Sunset Bridge demolition.
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