If your weekend plans involve zipping through the Sepulveda Pass on the 405, you might want a backup plan. Caltrans is warning Los Angeles drivers to expect major delays as crews carry out extended pavement work on I‑405, with lane reductions and ramp closures planned continuously from 10 p.m. Friday, March 20, through 5 a.m. Monday, March 23. Anyone who relies on the pass should be ready for heavy congestion and consider alternate routes or travel times.
What will be closed and when
For most of the weekend, the freeway will be squeezed down to three lanes in each direction while crews work around the clock, according to Caltrans District 7. The Getty Center Drive on- and off-ramps will be closed, and northbound traffic will be funneled between a point just south of the Getty Center Drive off-ramp and just north of Bel Air Crest Road. On the southbound side, lanes will be reduced between the Skirball Center Drive/Mulholland Drive on-ramp and the Getty Center Drive on-ramp.
How to detour and get around
Caltrans is steering drivers to Sepulveda Boulevard as the main detour. Northbound motorists are advised to stay on Sepulveda and use Skirball Center Drive to get back onto the freeway. Southbound drivers should exit to Sepulveda and use Church Lane to reach the Sunset Boulevard on-ramp, as reported by FOX 11 Los Angeles. Officials are telling commuters to avoid the 405 through the pass altogether if they can, and to consult real-time traffic maps before heading out. Surface streets that serve as detours are also expected to see long backups.
Why crews are doing this
The closures are part of the I‑405 Pavement Rehabilitation Project between Van Nuys and Westwood, a roughly $143.7 million effort that Caltrans says is aimed at improving safety, mobility, and the lifespan of the roadway, according to Caltrans District 7. These extended weekend lane reductions are expected to return roughly every two weeks as crews move along the corridor. The agency notes that the schedule could change because of weather or operational needs.
Plan your trip
Residents and nearby businesses were warned they may feel the ripple effects of the work in the form of noise, vibration, and dust, and local coverage points out that the agency has posted detour guidance and live maps for current conditions, according to WestsideToday. If you have no choice but to travel through the area, plan for at least twice your normal commute time or shift your trip to non-peak hours. Before you leave, check your navigation app or the traffic maps referenced in the advisories so you know what kind of 405 headache you are driving into.
