"Carmageddon" comes to L.A.

One of the busiest freeways in the United States, California's 405, stands vacant as workers demolish the south side of the Mulholland overpass July 16, 2011. during a freeway closure totaling 53 hours that is expected to result in massive traffic disruptions throughout the LoS Angeles region. The bridge is being demolished as part of a $1 billion project to add carpool lanes and make other improvements along the 405 freeway from Orange County to the city of San Fernando.

A screen shows the location of the Mulholland Bridge on the Interstate 405 during a news conference at the Los Angeles City Emergency Operation Center in Los Angeles. City officials are advising residents to stay home or stay away from the area during what has become known as "Carmageddon," the 11-mile shutdown of Interstate 405 for 53 hours over the weekend, for fear of massive traffic jams.

A view facing north from the Sunset Blvd. overpass in Los Angeles shows a typical traffic pattern on Interstate 405 freeway, July 14, 2011.

A map hangs in the command center of the Los Angeles City Emergency Operation Center before the shutdown of the freeway to demolish the Mulholland Bridge over Interstate 405 at the Sepulveda Pass on July 15, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Construction workers reinforce the hillside during the Interstate 405 widening project near the Mulholland Bridge, July 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

A worker adds traffic cones to barricades on the Skirball Drive on-ramp to the northbound Interstate 405 freeway in preparation for the demolition of the Mulholland Drive bridge, background, in Los Angeles Friday, July 15, 2011.

Hospital custodians Orlando Rojas, left, and Blanca Rodriguez set up cots to be used by UCLA medical personnel ahead of Carmageddon, at the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, Calif., Thursday, July 14, 2011. The UCLA Health System, which runs the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, is taking no chances: It has three helicopter companies on standby to transport patients and human organs in the event of emergency operations.

Traffic is backed up on the northbound of Interstate 405 freeway near I-10 after it closed for construction at midnight on July 15, 2011 in Los Angeles.

Traffic comes to a standstill on the southbound lanes of Interstate 405 before the full shutdown of a 10 mile stretch of the freeway for the demolition of Mulholland Bridge over 405, July 15, 2011 in Los Angeles.

Construction workers using heavy machinery begin demolishing the Mulholland Bridge over Interstate 405 at the Sepulveda Pass, July 16, 2011 in Los Angeles.

Construction workers using heavy machinery begin demolishing the Mulholland Bridge over Interstate 405 at the Sepulveda Pass in the early hours of July 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Sparks fly as workers cut iron supports in the Mulholland Drive bridge over Interstate 405 in Los Angeles, just after midnight early Saturday morning, July 16, 2011. The 10-mile stretch of one of the nation's busiest freeways has turned into a virtual ghost road.

Pneumatic hammers and metal cutters attack two lanes of the Mulholland Drive Bridge over Interstate 405 in Los Angeles before dawn Saturday, July 16, 2011.

Workers demolish the south side of Mulholland overpass on the 405 freeway during the 53-hour total freeway closure resulting in massive traffic disruptions expected throughout the region on July 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Spectators watch construction workers take down the Mulholland Drive bridge over Interstate 405 in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 16, 2011.

Pneumatic hammers from above and below continue the demolition of two lanes of Mulholland Drive bridge over Interstate 405 in Los Angeles Saturday, July 16, 2011.

Construction workers take down the Mulholland Drive bridge over Interstate 405 in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 16, 2011.

Workers demolish the south side of the Mulholland overpass during the 53-hour weekend freeway closure, July 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The bridge is being demolished as part of a $1 billion project to add carpool lanes and make other improvements along the 405 freeway from Orange County to the city of San Fernando.

Two pneumatic hammers from above and one from below continue the demolition of two lanes of Mulholland Drive bridge over Interstate 405 in Los Angeles Saturday, July 16, 2011.

Traffic moves along Sepulveda Boulevard as a 10-mile stretch of Interstate 405 is shut down to demolish the Mulholland Drive bridge in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 16, 2011.

Jerry Wenker watches Interstate 405 during the freeway closure in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 16, 2011. The 10-mile stretch of one of the nation's busiest freeways has turned into a virtual ghost road.

A worker cuts weeds growing along Interstate 405 during the freeway closure in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 16, 2011. Traffic in the Los Angeles area is so far moving smoothly, several hours after authorities shut down a 10-mile stretch of one of the busiest U.S. freeways for a massive 53-hour construction project.

Adam Kessel, right, and Glen Greenberg, both of Calabasas, Calif., sell T-shirts near Interstate 405 in Los Angeles, Friday, July 15, 2011.

Workers demolish the south side of the Mulholland overpass on the 405 freeway during "Carmageddon," July 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

A television reporter stands in the lanes of one of the busiest freeways in California, the 405, which stands vacant while workers demolish the south side of Mulholland overpass during the freeway closure dubbed "Carmageddon," July 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Workers demolish the south side of Mulholland overpass on the 405 freeway, July 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Construction workers take down the Mulholland Drive bridge over Interstate 405 in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 16, 2011.

Workers alter an embankment along the 405, July 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

This aerial photo shows Interstate 405 and the on- and off-ramp at Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 16, 2011.

This aerial photo shows Interstate 405 in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 16, 2011, during "Carmageddon."

The west pylon is pushed over as the demolition of two lanes of the Mulholland Bridge in Los Angeles continues just after sunrise Sunday, July 17, 2011.

Street sweepers take over after the demolition of two lanes of the Mulholland Bridge in Los Angeles, just after sunrise Sunday, July 17, 2011.