Southern California Labor Day traffic: Expect delays
Quinn Wade plays the soprano saxophone on the Huntington Beach Pier on Friday. Roads and beaches are expected to be crowded for the long holiday weekend.
Planning to hit the road on Labor Day weekend? Be prepared for delays.
For drivers in the Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim areas, traffic is expected to be heavier and slower than normal during the afternoon rush hours between 3 and 6 p.m. The biggest peak will likely be between 4 and 5 p.m. Friday, when traffic will take 65.4% longer on average than in free-flow conditions, according to the data company Inrix.
On Labor Day afternoon, rush-hour delays could be 52.1% longer, with an earlier peak time than normal, between 4 and 5 p.m., according to an Inrix analysis using data from a new report by the company and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
That means a typical one-hour journey could take an hour and 40 minutes on Labor Day afternoon.
Motorists traveling throughout the Inland Empire should expect slow-going on Interstates 10, 40 and 15 -- all of which have reduced lanes and construction work, the California Department of Transportation warned.
There could be delays of up to four hours on Monday between 1 p.m. and midnight for westbound traffic on Interstates 10 and 40 in areas with lanes reduced to one in each direction, according to Caltrans.
Near Desert Center -- where heavy rainfall and mud flow in July washed out eastbound Interstate 10 -- the interstate is down to one lane in each direction, with eastbound traffic shifted to the westbound roadbed, according to Caltrans. Emergency repairs are underway to rebuild a collapsed bridge there, with completion expected by the end of the month.
On Interstate 15, two projects are underway in the Cajon Pass and Devore area for paving and interchange improvements, according to Caltrans. The southbound interstate has crossover lanes from north of California 138 to north of Kenwood Avenue, with traffic lanes shifted from the southbound to northbound roadbed. There also are reduced traffic lanes near Devore.
There also are two locations on Interstate 40 in San Bernardino County with eastbound traffic diverted to the westbound roadbed with one lane in direction, Caltrans said. There are projects to rebuild three bridges -- Haller Wash, Rojo Wash and Clipper Valley Road -- near Essex.
Caltrans recommends holiday travelers bring water, snacks and medications and to have a full tank of gas and a cellphone charger.
Twitter: @haileybranson | Google+
MORE ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND
Labor Day travelers to spend $13.5 billion, up 2% from last year
Labor Day weekend travel to rise with lower airfares and gas prices
Heading to the airport? Busiest times at LAX over Labor Day weekend
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
