405 to Reopen Early

Looks like Carmageddon, the traffic jam that never was, will end even earlier than planned:

Crews finished their demolition work on the Mulholland Bridge Sunday morning and are now starting cleanup efforts and officials say the 405 freeway will be re-opened today.

Demolition crews finished just before 7 a.m., according to Caltrans officials. Two massive pylons have been toppled by heavy equipment, hours ahead of schedule.

The freeway should be re-opened to traffic between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Caltrans District 7 Director Mike Miles told the Los Angeles Times.

Miles said the only thing keeping Caltrans from re-opening the 405 right now is the last stages of a cleanup effort. As soon as crews are finished cleaning up, the freeway will be re-opened.

Nice job by the construction (or demolition) team in getting that bridge done quickly. L.A.'s going to really hate going back to the old congested freeways. Yesterday a lot of us got to drive the freeways the way they were always meant to work - full speed for miles and miles.