Unusually light traffic flowed freely through America's second-largest city despite fears of epic traffic jams spawned by the 53-hour shutdown of a 16-km stretch of one of the region's most critical freeways.
Authorities closed the segment of Interstate 405 on the western side of the metropolis to allow partial demolition of a bridge, warning motorists to stay off the roads or plan alternate routes.
Officials were optimistic that the public far and wide had gotten the message, though there was some concern that the lack of gridlock would make the public complacent and that drivers would get behind the wheel before the freeway's scheduled reopening early Monday.
"We hope they still listen to what we're saying and not go out and try to drive through this area, because it is going to be congested if people do that," said Mike Miles, a district director of the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa flew over the city in a helicopter and said it was clear there were far fewer cars on freeways and streets than normal, but he cautioned at a midafternoon news conference that there were hours to go.
Citizens clearly embraced the warnings, leaving neighborhood streets clear near the closure.
"It's been one of the most quiet Saturdays I've seen in forever," said Steven Ramada, who had expected to hear lots of cars honking in front of his Sherman Oaks home but instead only heard news helicopters.
"Everyone's calling this Carmageddon weekend, but it feels like copter-geddon over where we live," he said.
Not everyone was cooperating, though.
California Highway Patrol Officer Charmaine Fajardo said a 74-year-old man was arrested for jogging on the closed freeway after police told him he couldn't do so, and one or more bicyclists also were intercepted on the route. Fajardo said officers now have orders to arrest anyone trying to enter the shuttered freeway.
Additionally, a suspected drunken driver was arrested after going around barricades to enter the freeway, Fajardo said.
Progress on demolition of the half-century-old Mulholland Bridge was said to be good. Powerful machines with long booms hammered away at the south side of the span, which is being removed to allow the interstate to be widened. The plan is to leave the north-side lanes standing until the south side is rebuilt.
Authorities looking at the potential impacts of the $1 billion interstate project spent months giving the public dire warnings.
Although no major delays related to the closure had occurred by midafternoon, a major test of was likely in the evening when Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, featuring Britain's David Beckam, is scheduled to play Spanish heavyweight Real Madrid at Memorial Coliseum south of downtown.
The drumbeat of "Carmageddon" warnings triggered an instant industry of businesses trying to capitalize on the phenomenon. JetBlue offered special flights from Burbank in the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach, with seats for the short hop costing just $4 or $5.
A cycling group saw that as an opportunity for a race. The cyclists started their ride 90 minutes before the flight's departure time to simulate the time that passengers would have to arrive at Burbank. Another member of the group took the flight and all were to meet at a Long Beach park.
On-ramps to the 405 were shut down Friday evening, and the entire roadway was closed at midnight. Special deployments of police, firefighters, engines and ambulances were placed in the surrounding communities to ensure emergency services despite any gridlock. The UCLA Health System, which runs the huge Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center near the 405, put its weekend staff in dorm rooms and hotels to ensure they don't run late to work.
Project contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West placed a 4-foot (1.2-meter)-high pad of dirt beneath the 80-foot (24-meter)-high Mulholland Bridge to protect the 405's surface from being damaged by falling concrete and steel.
Demolition work is expected to be completed by 2am Monday (local) followed by cleanup and reopening of the freeway at 6am. Another 53-hour closure will be required in the future to demolish the north side of the span.
