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'Jamzilla' Coming This Weekend To 405 Freeway

SEPULVEDA PASS (CBSLA.com) — The major 80-hour shutdown of the San Diego (405) Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass, dubbed "Jamzilla,"will begin Friday night.

Drivers are advised to eliminate trips on the northbound 405 Freeway from Getty Center Drive to Ventura Boulevard, as well as avoid other regional freeways, through early Tuesday morning, Feb. 18.

"Traffic conditions on local streets and freeways within the region of Los Angeles County and beyond could become severe, with significant, hours-long delays if motorists do not cooperate with authorities and limit northbound freeway trips," Metro officials said.

The follow-up to the "Carmageddon" closure will tear up nearly six miles of the freeway.

As Jamzilla was getting underway Friday, CBS2's Serene Branson reported drivers were already feeling the pain.

"Thankfully, I will stay on this side of the hill and don't have to worry about commuting, otherwise I'd have to call in sick to work," said Joseph Salazar a commuter who lives in Sherman Oaks and works in Westwood.

Meanwhile, restaurant owner Barry Jay of Cucina Bene on Sepulveda Boulevard already believes Jamzilla is making a mess of his Valentine's weekend business.

"This is the first year we are not sold out," he said, "Every weekend has been better than this weekend. We have only about 65 reservations, [out of a usual] 200."

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Full northbound night-time freeway closure times are as follows:

• Saturday, Feb. 15 – 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 16 – 2 a.m. to 7 a.m.
• Monday, Feb. 17 – 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 18 – 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.

The freeway will be dug up, repaved and shifted 20 feet to the west, along with other work.

Several lanes will be closed during the day. At night, the entire freeway will be shut down.

"The designated alternative route for night-time full closures will be for motorists to take the Wilshire northbound to westbound off-ramp to northbound Sepulveda Boulevard, returning to northbound I-405 at the Greenleaf northbound on-ramp," Metro officials said in a statement.

Sepulveda Boulevard also will be fully open with two lanes in each direction during the paving operation.

Interstate 10 connectors to the northbound 405 will also be closed.

For more information, visit Metro's website.

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