Trump exits downtown L.A., city scrambles to reopen roads amid morning commute

As President Trump concluded his visit to California on Wednesday, his exit from downtown Los Angeles created an even more miserable morning commute for Angelenos.

Ahead of the president’s departure from the downtown area, the Los Angeles Police Department tweeted that commuters should “plan ahead & expect extra traffic” because of street closures that will last until 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The closures included a one-mile stretch of the 110 Freeway, which was closed only briefly about 9 a.m. as Trump’s motorcade left the InterContinental Hotel at the Wilshire Grand Center and raced up the freeway to Dodger Stadium.

From there, Trump flew by helicopter to Los Angeles International Airport, boarded Air Force One and departed for St. Louis, Mo.

On Tuesday morning, the city and LAPD had placed closures at Figueroa Street, between 8th and 6th streets; Wilshire Boulevard, between Flower Street and Beaudry Avenue; and 7th Street, between Flower and Bixel streets.

However, an even wider area bounded by 5th Street on the north, Olympic Boulevard on the south, Union Avenue on the west and Grand Avenue on the east was to be avoided through Wednesday morning, the LAPD said.

Residents of Angelino Heights and other neighborhoods around downtown awoke to the roar of helicopters and Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft as they made their way to Dodger Stadium to await the arrival of Trump, his staff and the White House press corps.

Full coverage of Trump’s visit »

brittny.mejia@latimes.com

Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia

UPDATES:

10:20 a.m.: This article was updated with the departure of Air Force One.

9:15 a.m.: This article was updated with reports the president has departed for LAX.

9 a.m.: This article was updated with reports the president’s motorcade has departed downtown.

8:15 a.m.: This article was updated with details from LAPD on areas to avoid.

This article was originally published at 7:15 a.m.