Just imagine being the California Highway Guy in the weeks before “carmageddon”. The reporters are coming out of the woodwork like [Assignment: simile].
As an example: today I had an email from a reporter from KTTV-11 who wanted me to talk on freeway history on a program that is being taped this Friday to air on Sunday. It is being taped at their studio. In West Los Angeles. At 5pm. I live in the San Fernando Valley and would need to drive the van home first to Northridge. You can guess what I told him.
But it’s not just TV. I’ve been getting emails asking my opinion about carmageddon. From the way it is being talked about on the news and on changable message signs, you would think the world is coming to an end. Cripes, it’s not zombies. It’s a freeway closure.
My thoughts: As I’ve told others, it’s going to be bad, but it’s not going to be that bad. Freeway alternate route maps tell people the entire Southern California basic is going to be tied in knots, from Ventura on the west all the way out to Riverside, from Santa Clarita through Orange County. I don’t believe it.
My basic prediction: The canyon roads will be FUBAR. So will US 101, Topanga Canyon (CA 27) and Malibu Canyon, I-10, I-110/CA-110, and perhaps… and I say perhaps… I-105, I-605, I-710, and CA 118. But those are only perhaps, and I really believe they will only be slightly more congested. I’d avoid West LA, Sherman Oaks, and Encino. Hollywood will be bolluxed up, but Hollywood is always bolluxed up so no one will really notice the difference. There’s a food fest at the Rose Bowl, but I don’t think that will be any worse than it would be if I-405 wasn’t bad. The big muckup will be a soccer game downtown.
How am I dealing with the problem. The van will leave work early on Friday. Over the weekend, I’m not going into the area. We have theatre tickets in Pasadena Saturday night… and I’m planning to take I-210 and avoid the mess. Sunday afternoon we’re in Santa Clarita, and I’m thinking it is just the day for breakfast at Egg Plantation followed by some mall walking before the show. I may work from home on Monday; I’ll need to see what the van concensus is. The only risk is the freeway opening late (there’s a $6K/10 minute penalty), and I’d be worried about backed up traffic going back slowing things down all morning.
So what are your thoughts? If you live in SoCal, how are you dealing with the end of the world as we know it? If you don’t, how are you enjoying laughing at us car-obsessed Southern Californians?
