Sepulveda Pass traffic snarled by gas pipeline installation

ENCINO — Lane closures on Sepulveda Boulevard due to the installation of a gas pipeline threaten today to snarl traffic between the Westside and the San Feando Valley and may affect the adjacent San Diego (405) Freeway, according to the Southe Califoia Gas Company.

The closures started about 5 p.m. Sunday as workers began placing the underground pipeline along Sepulveda Boulevard at Skirball Center Drive in the Sepulveda Pass, SoCalGas said. As a result, traffic on the Sepulveda Pass and the northbound 405 moved at a crawl Sunday afteoon.

Only one lane will be available on Sepulveda Boulevard in each direction at the top of the Sepulveda Pass through today and into Tuesday evening, according to SoCalGas’ Rosa Maria Santana.

Offramps from the southbound 405 at Skirball Center Drive will be reduced from three lanes to one, Santana said. Traffic may also be restricted on the onramps to the south 405.

The Gas Company asked West L.A. motorists to use alteate routes. One of those major alteatives -- Topanga Canyon Boulevard -- was blocked much of Sunday with fire apparatus and residents waiting to retu from evacuations caused by the Old Fire in the Calabasas area, but the boulevard has been reopened.

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