The new Mulholland Bridge is reaching completion. Photo shows steel supports, or girders, that have been removed from the Southbound 405.  They will be removed from the Northbound 405 on Saturday night, August 24. Photo Credits: Juan O’Campo, Metro.

Just a reminder that the Northbound I-405 freeway will be closed this Saturday night, August 24 from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday to enable the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements contractor to complete removing the steel supports needed to build the new Mulholland Bridge in the Sepulveda Pass.

Metro’s contractor began removing the steel supports two weekends ago.

This is the last freeway closure needed for this activity, referred to by the trades as “falsework removal.”

The project team reports that most of the new bridge deck has been poured at this point.  Next, the contractor is scheduled to close the bridge down at night starting August 26 to work on the bridge’s approach slab.  See construction notice here.

The good news is that Metro anticipates completing the new bridge in late 2013. The bridge known for two Carmageddons will soon be ready for a ribbon-cutting.

Closer view of the steel girders on northbound I-405. The girders are being supported from above the bridge via specially manufactured, threaded “coiled rods” to ensure their safety and stability. The contractor put this novel falsework removal method in place to comply with required freeway closure times and schedules. These schedules are part of the contract to help reduce construction impacts for motorists.

Here’s the updated construction notice info:

UPDATE:

Directional I-405 Freeway Closures Through the Sepulveda Pass Planned Aug. 24

 The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements contractor will continue removing falsework on the Mulholland Bridge in the Sepulveda Pass on Saturday night, Aug. 24.  This will require full directional freeway closures from Getty Center to Greenleaf/Ventura between the hours of 11 p.m. until 9 a.m. The closure schedule is as follows:

• Saturday, August 24, 2013: Full northbound freeway closure, from Getty Center to Greenleaf/Ventura from 11 p.m. until 9 a.m. Southbound HOV, #1 and 2 lanes will be closed as a buffer. Closures start at 11 p.m. and last until 9 a.m.

Connector Ramp Closures

101 connector ramps to the freeway will be closed as follows:

• August 24: 101 connector ramps closed to northbound I-405, 11 p.m. to 9 a.m.

What to Expect:

• Emergency vehicle access will be maintained.
• Pedestrians will be rerouted to a safe area outside of the construction zone.

Detour:

• Sepulveda will be used as the detour route.

For additional project information or to obtain detour maps, visit www.metro.net/405.  Follow the project on social media at www.facebook.com/405project and http://twitter.com/I_405. For real-time traffic conditions, visit Caltrans web site at www.quickmap.dot.ca.gov.