Half-marathon shuts streets and freeway offramps in downtown L.A.
Multiple freeway ramps and surface streets in and near downtown Los Angeles closed Saturday night to accommodate a New Year’s-themed half-marathon, causing traffic jams and frustration for people going to dinner, drinks or the L.A. Kings game.
The benefit race started at 7 p.m. at 7th Street and Grand Avenue. The route winds north to Elysian Park and around Dodger Stadium before heading south and finishing at L.A. Live.
The following freeway offramps will be closed until 11 p.m.:
- 110 Freeway, southbound: Sunset Boulevard, 6th Street
- 110 Freeway, northbound: Figueroa Street, 6th Street
- 101 Freeway, southbound: North Broadway
- 101 Freeway, northbound: Spring Street
- 5 Freeway, southbound: Stadium Way
Some major downtown thoroughfares will remain closed until 11 p.m., including 7th Street from Los Angeles Street to Figueroa Street; Broadway from Temple Street to 7th Street; and West Cesar Chavez Avenue from Main Street to North Figueroa Street.
A full list of street closures can be found on the race website.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority rerouted more than two dozen bus lines through downtown. A full list of temporary stops is posted on the Metro website.
People in downtown Los Angeles took to social media to share frustrations with bottlenecks and traffic jams spilling out of downtown Los Angeles and into surrounding areas.
Really #dtla??? A @LAKings game and a Downtown Run w/streets closed??? Aren’t you people talking to each other?????— Dawn Davis (@dawnpdavis) January 5, 2014
Big jam in #dtla, broadway closed— Tom Zoellner (@tomzoellner) January 5, 2014
Take the metro to downtown LA if u can #LAKings fans. The marathon traffic and closures are gonna be a mess!!— The Mouth (@TheMouthLAKings) January 5, 2014
Of course I choose to visit downtown when all the streets are closed and traffic is a nightmare— Karly Wilhelm (@karlyn_w) January 5, 2014
Attention: Avoid DTLA at all costs! Every street is pretty much blocked off for some marathon, and it’s a NIGHTMARE!— Jackie Gonzalez (@GypsyJax) January 5, 2014
Made it from Pershing Square to 12th & Flower, around a 1/2 marathon route, AND parked in under 15 min. I’d say that’s a success.— Kevin Strauss (@kstrauss11) January 5, 2014
Dear Los Angeles: 7pm on a Saturday is the perfect time for a charity run. It’s created zero traffic issues. Thanks!— Mary Dooe (@Dooezer) January 5, 2014
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