405 is unpredictable in March 2013

Three northbound lanes on the 405 freeway through Brentwood and West Los Angeles will close for 55 hours starting March 1, and Metro officials told commuters on Tuesday to plan for traffic delays.

A 2.4-mile stretch of the freeway between Montana Avenue and Getty Center Drive will be reduced from five lanes to two as part of the Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project. The corresponding off-ramps will also be closed during the 55-hour period.

Drivers will be able to bypass the closure by taking Westbound Wilshire Boulevard to Northbound Sepulveda and entering the northbound 405 again at Skirball Center Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

During the closure, crews will realign the freeway to incorporate a carpool lane that will eventually extend 10 miles between the 10 and 101 freeways.

Changeable message signs and traffic control officers will be deployed at key locations within the project area to help guide motorists through the area.  Emergency access will be provided through the lane reduction area.

For more project information and detour maps, visit metro.net/405. For real-time traffic conditions, visit the Caltrans website at quickmap.dot.ca.gov.