'Century Crunch': 511 to help drivers get around closure

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A new traffic service has launched to help drivers get around during the planned "Century Crunch" closure this weekend.

Crews are planning to demolish an old bridge to clear a site for the Crenshaw/LAX light rail line station, so Century Boulevard will be closed to traffic at Aviation Boulevard beginning 9 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday, July 28.

Drivers can call 511 and say "Century Crunch" for real-time traffic information and recommended detour routes. Callers can also say "traffic" for traffic information on roads that provide access to the LAX area.

Traffic information will also be made available on Go511.com and the Go511 smartphone app, which is available in iTunes and Google Play.

The public is advised to get traffic information before starting their drive to avoid using phones while driving.

Traffic will not return to normal once the bridge demolition is completed on July 28. Century Boulevard will remain reduced by one lane in each direction for the next 16 months. The 8.5- mile, $2.058 billion Crenshaw/LAX line will connect the Metro Green and Expo lines, and is anticipated to open in 2019.

Metro officials said they will deploy a new $1.2 million mobile command center during Century Crunch to help monitor traffic and better deploy resources to affected areas during construction. The high-tech command center was purchased with funding from the Department of Homeland Security.

For more information on "Century Crunch," visit Metro's website.

City News Service contributed to this report.