Carmageddon: Just How Bad Is it Really?

With all the hoopla surrounding the shutdown of one of the busiest highways in Southern California, the 405, this weekend, on early Saturday morning the “Carmageddon” traffic didn’t seem to be at all headache-inducing. In fact, it was comparable to a ghost town.

At 8:30 a.m., a statement issued by the Unified Command at the Emergecny Operations Center in downtown Los Angeles was positive: “Great job Los Angeles,” it read.

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Even with traffic almost nonexistent, authorities warned residents of Los Angeles not to be too “complacent.” Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Alicia Mathis told the Los Angeles Times that the key time in which traffic could potentially start flowing again would be 3 p.m.

“Right now things are quiet,” she said, but noted that as Saturday wore on and people began their days, the picture may be uglier.

Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard wrote: “If all it takes to clear the freeways is to close a stretch of one and call it “carmageddon,” LA should do this every weekend. #notraffic.”

Disney Channel star Tiffany Thornton tweeted: “Headed out for another awesome day of filming for Disney. So far carmageddon isn’t bad at all.” Holly Marie Combs seconded her observations, saying, “We should close the 405 more often. It is empt out here. Not #carmageddon.”

The Venture Bros.‘ James Urbaniak joked: “In New Jersey for Carmageddon. It’s just not the same here.”

At about 10:40 a.m. on Saturday, maps showed traffic to be relatively light in both directions on the 10, 110 and the 101.

On Friday evening, about an hour earlier than expected, authorities shut down the 10-mile stretch on the 405 to begin repairs.

“The work is progressing, traffic is cooperating and it’s moving freely this morning,” California Department of Transportation deputy director of maintenance and operations Mike Miles said on Saturday at a press conference, ABC News reports.

In a unique push to get the word about Carmageddon, the Los Angeles Police Department approached celebrities weeks prior to the three-day closure so they could spread the word to their followers.

“I think I want to throw a tailgate party for Carmageddon. Meet me at the 405 tomorrow. Let’s party,” Maroon 5 frontman and The Voice coach Adam Levine tweeted.