Space shuttle fuel tank journey to California Science Center to cause road closures

ByLeanne Suter and ABC7.com staff KABC logo
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Space shuttle fuel tank journey to California Science Center to cause road closures
The 16.5 mile trek of NASA's space shuttle tank, named ET-94, will cause several street closures in between Marina del Rey and Exposition Park.

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (KABC) -- A 66,000 pound NASA space shuttle fuel tank will journey through the streets of Los Angeles on its way to the California Science Center on Saturday.

The 16.5 mile trek beginning in Marina del Rey will cause several street closures as crews navigate the shuttle tank, named ET-94, to its new home at the California Science Center in Exposition Park.

It is expected to take 16 to 18 hours to move the shuttle tank, which is three stories high, as workers move power lines and street lights.

Southern California Edison said customers would not be affected as the shuttle tank makes its trip to Exposition Park.

Several street closures were planned, but officials said they would be "rolling street closures," meaning once the shuttle passes a certain point and all power lines and street lights were reassembled, that section of road would re-open.

Here is a map of the route:

A map of the journey NASA space shuttle fuel-tank ET-94 will make on Saturday, May 21, 2016.

Here is a complete breakdown of the route:

- Marina Del Rey parking lot to Fiji Way

- Fiji Way to Lincoln Boulevard

- Lincoln Boulevard to Mindanao Way

- Mindanao Way to CA-90

- CA-90 to Culver Boulevard

- Culver Boulevard to Lincoln Boulevard via transition ramp

- Lincoln Boulevard to Loyola Boulevard

- Loyola Boulevard to Westchester Parkway

- Westchester Parkway turns into Arbor Vitae Street at Airport Boulevard

- Arbor Vitae Street to La Brea Avenue

- La Brea Avenue to Manchester Boulevard

- Manchester Boulevard to Vermont Avenue

- Vermont Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

- Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Exposition Park Drive

According to Los Angeles International Airport officials, the caravan is expected to cross Sepulveda Boulevard between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m., and will reach West Arbor Vitae between 8 and 9:30 a.m.

Officials warned those heading to the airport should leave earlier as traffic in the area will be hindered.