Los Angeles drivers, get ready to rethink your routes this January. Whether you’re commuting, trying to enjoy your weekend or heading out of town, a series of significant road closures and lane reductions are set to reshape travel at the start of the year.
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One of the biggest disruptions comes on Interstate 405 through Sepulveda Pass, where extended lane reductions and ramp closures will be in place from the evening of Friday, January 9 through Monday, January 12, as part of a major $143.7 million pavement rehabilitation project. Drivers heading northbound should expect narrowed lanes between just south of Getty Center Drive and north of Bel Air Crest Road, and the Getty Center Drive/Sepulveda Boulevard off-ramp will be shut. Southbound, three lanes will remain between the Skirball Center Drive/Mulholland Drive area and Sepulveda Boulevard, with key ramps closed.
The closures will be repeated over about 25 weekends through the duration of the project, so Angelenos who regularly traverse the Sepulveda Pass should factor extra travel time into plans, especially on nights and mornings around those dates. Using Sepulveda Boulevard and Skirball Center Drive as alternative connectors to the 405 can help avoid snarls, and keeping an eye on Caltrans QuickMap for real-time updates is recommended.
It’s not just the 405 affected this month. Malibu Canyon Road, a key connector for drivers heading between Malibu and inland valleys, has been closed at times due to rockfall hazards after changing weather, signaling that winter weather and geological instability can still impact local routes. Drivers should also be alert for overnight closures and partial shutdowns on other major arteries for utility and maintenance work.
For people who rely on these corridors for work, school or weekend adventures, January isn’t shaping up to be a quiet travel month. Traffic will ebb and flow in unexpected ways, and being proactive about alternative routes, apps with live traffic data and flexible travel windows will make all the difference. Checking official Caltrans updates or the CFX/WAZE traffic feeds before hitting the road is a must if you want to stay ahead of the closures and keep your commute moving. Or at least know how long of an audiobook to queue up before shifting into drive.