LA Braces For Coming Of 'Carmageddon'

Total gridlock could be on the cards for motorists in Los Angeles this weekend as a vital stretch of road is closed down.

Ten miles of the 405 freeway will be shut so a bridge can be demolished as part of a \$1bn (£600,000) road widening project.

The stretch of freeway - known as the Sepulveda Pass - connects the west side of Los Angeles with the San Fernando Valley and is one of the city's worst at the best of times with traffic rarely moving faster than a crawl.

On a typical summer weekend half a million cars use the Pass.

The UCLA Medical Centre has taken precautions, securing 600 dorms and flats as temporary quarters for hospital staff as part of an emergency plan to prevent doctors and nurses from getting stuck in the traffic.

To avoid "Carmageddon" as it is being dubbed by local residents, city officials have been urging people to keep their cars at home and shop locally.

"We need every Angeleno to chip in and turn this into a unique opportunity to explore local small business, neighbourhoods and use public transport" urged LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa .

This being Hollywood, celebrities have been recruited to drive the message home.

"CHiPS" actor Erik Estrada has appeared in TV adverts and Tom Hanks has been tweeting his followers.

Some businesses are making the best of the forecast mayhem.

Several companies are offering helicopter "taxis" that will allow commuters to leapfrog the congestion and get to LA International Airport on time for flights.

An emergency operations centre will be set up this evening as freeway entrances start to close from 7pm local time.

The road will close in full at midnight and re-open in time for the Monday morning rush.