Watch CBS News

'101 Slow Jam': Freeway Closed In Downtown LA

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —A 40-hour closure of a portion of the 101 Freeway was underway Saturday morning in the Boyle Heights area.

The closure of the 2 1/2-mile stretch of freeway -- dubbed "101 Slow Jam" -- has been enforced to accommodate for the demolition of the iconic Sixth Street Bridge.

The 220-foot section of the deteriorating 84-year-old bridge located over the freeway will be removed during the closure and will be replaced by a $449 million bridge.

Officials began diverting traffic at 10 p.m. on Friday. The closure is set to end at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Construction will affect a stretch from the 10 Freeway split to the interchange of the 5, 10 and 101 freeways east of downtown Los Angeles.

The closures will also affect northbound on-ramps at Sixth Street and Whittier Boulevard and Euclid and Soto streets. Southbound on-ramps will be closed at Los Angeles, Commercial, Mission and Fourth streets.

Mayor Eric Garcetti, along with students from Roosevelt High School's jazz band in front of the bridge, recorded a "music video" style public service announcement.

According to Caltrans, the area averages about 126,000 cars per day.

Construction is expected to last until 2019.

For more information about detours around the closure area, click here.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.