Sunset/405 Bridge Closure Tomorrow

Starting tomorrow evening, the Sunset Boulevard bridge over the 405 Freeway will be completely closed to traffic for six consecutive nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. as construction workers demolish the southern half of the bridge.   Metro and the California Department of Transportation are collaborating to replace the bridge to accommodate a 10-mile carpool lane that will be added on the northbound 405 between the 10 Freeway and U.S. 101.   As part of the $1-billion project, the bridges at Skirball Center Drive and Mulholland Drive will also be replaced, 27 on- and off-ramps realigned and 13 existing underpasses and structures widened. In addition, 18 miles of retaining walls and sound walls will be built.   The southern half of the Sunset bridge will be demolished and reconstructed first, then the northern half of the bridge. The entire new bridge should be completed in about 20 months.   Over the next six nights starting Friday, there will be detours and traffic-control officers on site to direct traffic. The bridge will be open during the day with reduced lanes.   From Friday to Wednesday nights (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.), Sunset between Gunston Drive and Thurston Avenue will be closed. Westbound Sunset traffic will be detoured to Sepulveda Way to northbound Sepulveda Boulevard, to southbound Church Lane back to Sunset. Eastbound Sunset traffic will be detoured to northbound Church Lane to southbound Sepulveda to eastbound Sepulveda Way, back to Sunset.   Friday and Saturday nights, the northbound 405 between Montana Avenue and Moraga Drive ramps will be closed. Traffic will be detoured off the freeway at Montana Avenue to northbound Sepulveda and back to northbound 405 at Moraga Drive.   Sunday and Monday nights, southbound 405 between the Church Lane and Sunset on-ramps will be closed. Southbound 405 traffic will be detoured at Sunset to northbound Church Lane, to southbound Sepulveda, to the southbound 405 onramp at Wilshire Boulevard. Oversized vehicles will be detoured off the freeway at southbound Getty Center Drive to southbound Sepulveda to the southbound on-ramp at Wilshire.   Detour maps are available at www.metro.net/I-405. Information: (213) 922-3665.