Gain a little more piece of mind getting out of LA this
weekend…
Every holiday weekend, there’s some national study that
comes out that cites we’ll be sitting in traffic 2-3 times heavier than
usual. But that’s all it is – a study. Instead, I offer a bit of USEFUL information
for your drive in Southern California, whether you’re headed to the desert or
mountains to visit family, or out of state to Vegas or “the River” for a
getaway.
July 4th weekend ranks among the top getaway
holidays, perhaps only second to Thanksgiving weekend, which is usually only
worse because Socal’s rainy season is unofficially underway then. Summer time (in “traffic terms.” The time
between Memorial Day and Labor Day) usually sees lighter volume on Socal
freeways because of vacationing students as well as workers, so that is one
plus.
This year, July 4th falls on a Saturday. Generally, on holiday weekends, when the
holiday is on a Monday (Memorial Day, Labor Day), Thursday becomes the “prime”
traffic day to leave town, often creating traffic patterns worse than those
found on a “typical” Friday. Since this
year’s holiday is on Saturday, it is a fair assumption that the peak traffic
day will be Wednesday.
 |
| Typical Friday Afternoon Drive traffic patterns on Los Angeles/Ventura County Freeways (courtesy Google maps) |
This map shows the typical traffic patterns in Southern
California on a Friday afternoon. While
it appears as if things can’t get worse (there is SO much red!), on “holiday
traffic” days, the actual quanitified delay can be more that twice as
long. Instead of average speeds of 10-15
mph (that’s what the dark red stands for), you can expect average speeds of
5-10 mph in many places.
In case you are geographically or spatially challenged, I
have broken down each area and freeway so that you can get a better idea of how
long the drive will take you. If you
need to leave on Wednesday, bring your favorite audio book or game to play with
your kids in the car while driving.
While a safe alternative might be to leave Thursday or Friday, you’ll
still be sitting in a fair amount of traffic then too.
Listed below are the approximate heaviest traffic spots on each
freeway, with approximate drive times (normal drive, typical traffic drive,
holiday drive – respectively):
(Key – NB/Northbound, SB/Southbound, EB/Eastbound,
WB/Westbound)
“Outbound Drives “ – Los Angeles/Ventura County
- 101 (Ventura Freeway) – NB (WB) from 23 to Johnson Dr – 30 mins, 55 mins, 85 mins.
- 405 (San Diego Freeway) – NB from LAX to 101 – 20 mins, 60 mins, 90 mins.
- 405 (San Diego Freeway) – NB from 405 to 5 – 5 mins, 20
mins, 40 mins.
5 (Golden State Freeway) – NB from San Fernando Mission Bl to 14 – 10 mins, 25 mins, 45 mins. - 5 (Golden State Freeway) – NB from 10/60/101 (East LA Interchange) to 118 – 25 mins, 50 mins, 80 mins.
- 405 (San Diego Freeway) – SB from 101 to LAX – 15 mins, 45 mins, 90 mins.
- 405 (San Diego Freeway) – SB from 105 to 710 – 20 mins, 40 mins, 60 mins.
- 101 (Ventura Freeway) – EB/WB between Parkway Calabasas and 170/134 – 30 mins, 60 mins, 80 mins.
- 10 (Santa Monica Freeway) – EB/WB between 405 and 10/60/5/101 (East LA Interchange) – 20 mins, 45 mins, 70 mins.
- 210 (Foothill Freeway) – EB from 134 to 57 – 25 mins, 60 mins, 90 mins. (NB 605 bunches up approaching the 210 merge as well)
- 10 (San Bernardino Freeway) – EB from 710 to 57 – 20 mins, 45 mins, 80 mins.
- 60 (Pomona Freeway) – EB from 5 to 57 – 30 mins, 60 mins, 90 mins.
- 101 (Hollywood Freeway) – NB/SB between 134/170 and 110 – 15 mins, 40 mins, 70 mins.
- 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) – NB/SB between 10/60/101 (East La Interchange) and Valley View Av – 20 mins, 45 mins, 80 mins.
- 105 (Glenn Anderson Fwy) – EB from Crenshaw to 605 – 15 mins, 30 mins, 50 mins.
- 91 (Gardena/Artesia Fwy) – EB from 110 to 605 – 15 mins, 35 mins, 55 mins.
- 605 (San Gabriel River Fwy) - NB/SB between 60 and 105 - 15 mins, 35 mins, 50 mins.
- 710 (Long Beach Fwy) - SB from 5 to 105 - 5 mins, 15 mins, 25 mins.
 |
| Typical Friday afternoon traffic patterns - Orange County/Inland Empire (courtesy Google Maps) |
"Outbound" Drives - Orange County/Inland Empire (San Bernardino/Riverside Counties)
- 57 (Orange Fwy) NB from 91 to 60 - 15 mins, 45 mins, 90 mins.
- 55 (Costa Mesa Fwy) NB from 405 to 22 - 10 mins, 25 mins, 40 mins
- 91 (Riverside Fwy) EB from 57 to 15 - 25 mins, 75 mins, 120 mins.
- 405 (San Diego Fwy) NB from Jamboree to Brookhurst - 15 mins, 30 mins, 45 mins.
- 5 (Santa Ana Fwy) NB from Culver Dr to 22 - 15 mins, 35 mins, 50 mins.
- 5 (San Diego Fwy) NB from 405 merge (El Toro Y) to Oso Pkwy - 5 mins, 20 mins, 30 mins.
- 5 (San Diego Fwy) SB from PCH (Dana Point) to Camp Pendleton - 30 mins, 60 mins, 80 mins.
- 15 (Ontario Fwy) NB from 210 to 138 - 20 mins, 45 mins, 90 mins.
- 15 (Ontario Fwy) SB from 10 to 15 - 15 mins, 30 mins, 45 mins.
- 15 (Ontario Fwy) SB from 91 to Weirick Rd - 10 mins, 20 mins, 30 mins.
- 215 NB/SB between 60 and 10 - 10 mins, 25 mins, 35 mins
- 10 (San Bernardino Fwy) EB from 57 to 215 - 25 mins, 45 mins, 70 mins
- 60 (Pomona Fwy) EB from 57 to 15 - 15 mins, 35 mins, 50 mins
- 60 (Pomona Fwy) EB from Rubidoux to 215 (Moreno Valley) - 15 mins, 30 mins, 45 mins.
"Outbound" Drives - Deserts and Inland Valleys (Kern/San Bernardino/Santa Barbara Counties)
- 101 NB from Bates Rd (Carpinteria) to Downtown Santa Barbara - 20 mins, 40 mins, 55 mins.
- 58 EB approaching Kramer Junction (Hwy 395 - stop light) - usually no delay, up to 5 mile delay on holidays
- 15 NB - between 58 (Barstow) and 247 (Baker) - 70 mins, 100 mins, 120 mins.
- 15 NB - between 247 (Baker) and Primm (Stateline/NV) - 60 mins, 90 mins, 120 mins.
RETURNING drives -
Since July 4th falls on a Saturday this year, returning traffic may likely build up on Sunday. Approximate travel times below are normal traffic, Sunday traffic patterns, and "holiday" Sunday traffic patterns, respectively:
- 101 SB from Downtown Santa Barbara to 126 (Ventura) - 60 mins, 90 mins, 120 mins.
- 5 SB from 126 to 14 (Newhall Pass) - 15 mins, 30 mins, 45 mins.
- 15 SB from Stateline to Baker - 60 mins, 90 mins, 140 mins (often traffic is exacerbated, but not caused by the Agricultural Inspection station about 25 miles outside of Barstow)
- 15 SB from Baker to 58 (Barstow) - 75 mins, 100 mins, 130 mins.
- 10 WB from Banning City limits to 60 split - 20 mins, 40 mins, 60 mins.
- 5 NB from Oceanside City limits through Camp Pendleton - 30 mins, 60 mins, 90 mins.
- 91 WB from 15 to Coal Cyn - 10 mins, 30 mins, 60 mins.
This article brought to you by SoCalTraffic Expert, Randy Keith
Randy Keith has 10 years of traffic reporting experience from the air and studio.
Please send comments/feedback/corrections to westcoastpianoman@yahoo.com
http://facebook.com/SocalTraffic
No comments:
Post a Comment