Firefighter Ranks to be Boosted for Carmageddon II
road crews will begin closing access roads to the 405 between the Santa Monica 10 Freeway and the Ventura 101 Freeway
The extra hands will include motorcycle teams capable of weaving through gridlocked traffic in an emergency.
City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, whose district includes the affected 10-mile section of the San Diego (405) Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass, saidextra personnel will be deployed at three fire stations serving the Mountain Gate community, Encino Hills, Bel-Air, Beverly Glen and West Los Angeles.
``I'm very pleased that the LAFD has once again committed to increasing staffing levels in my geographically isolated communities to ensure my residents will not be put in peril should a significant emergency incident occur during this weekend closure,'' Rosendahl said. ``The innovative use of motorcycle teams to respond to emergencies should shave precious minutes off an emergency medical response, and allow for the quick stabilization of a patient prior to the arrival of an ambulance crew.''
About 7 p.m. Friday, road crews will begin closing access roads to the 405 between the Santa Monica (10) Freeway and the Ventura (101) Freeway. Freeway lanes will begin closing around 10 p.m., and the full freeway will be closed in both directions until about 5 a.m. Monday.
The closure is to accommodate the demolition of the north side of the Mulholland Bridge, which was cut in half lengthwise during Carmageddon I in July 2011. The span is one of the final bridges to be replaced to accommodate a wider freeway, with a northbound car pool lane running from Orange County to Sherman Oaks. The overall project is expected to cost about $1 billion.
During Carmageddon I, fears of gridlocked canyon roads never materialized and the job was completed early. Now, city officials, fearing complacency among the driving populace, have been warning people to stay home.
The fire department's motorcycle teams, which include two firefighter/EMTs, will be stationed on both sides of the 405 -- renowned as the world's busiest freeway. They will also be used to provide traffic reports around the closed section of freeway.
Fire Chief Brian Cummings said he was confident the extra personnel will be enough to make for ``a huge success in managing any impact associated with this project.''
To avoid a traffic nightmare, about 185,000 motorists need to stay out of their cars this weekend, according to Caltrans.
Caltrans will have 30 additional portable electronic message signs on various freeways during the closure to provide up-to-date travel information to motorists. It will also have round-the-clock monitoring from its Los Angeles area Transportation Management Center in hopes of providing faster responses to emergencies that arise affecting freeway traffic.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles Councilman Bill Rosendahl announced today his cancer is in remission, crediting marijuana as a major factor in his recovery.
Rosendahl revealed last July he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer of the ureter, located between his kidney and bladder. He later announced he wouldn’t be running for a third term.
“Frankly I was given a death sentence,” he said, with doctors telling him he would not be alive for last November’s election.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—For the third time this year the Los Angeles City Council today was forced to cancel its meeting because not enough members showed up.
Another meeting was canceled less than a month ago on Sept. 29.
Council President Pro Tem Jan Perry apologized to the public for not having enough members to legally hold a council meeting and said the items on today’s agenda would be added to Tuesday’s agenda.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles City Council moved today to support a group of demonstrators camped on the lawn of City Hall as part of a nationwide series of demonstrations aimed at calling attention to the gap between rich and poor.
Seven of the 15 council members signed a resolution to support “peaceful and vibrant exercise in First Amendment Rights carried out by ‘Occupy Los Angeles.”’
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles City Council voted 12-0 today to support federal legislation that would allow same-sex couples the legal right to marry.
The Senate version of the Protect Marriage Act, introduced by California Democrat Dianne Feinstein, would require states to recognize same-sex marriages granted by all other states.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's senior press secretary announced today she is leaving Los Angeles for her native Chicago to be the communications director for that city's police department.
Sarah Hamilton will step down from the Los Angeles mayor's staff on Friday. She will start her new job in mid-August.
