Seeing Empty I-405 Freeway May Be A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity

Anyone who has ever tried to drive on what's known as "The 405" in southern California knows that it's normally choked with vehicles pretty much any time of any day. It's a very, very, busy freeway.

But Friday night at 1900 PDT, the freeway was completely closed for 53 hours for work on the Sepulveda Pass, according to the LA DOT. "Plan Ahead, Avoid The Area, Or Stay Home. That’s the message public safety officials are sending to the public in anticipation of a planned 10-mile, 53-hour closure of the I-405 freeway between the U.S. 101 and I-10 on the weekend of July 16-17, 2011 for planned demolition work on the Mulholland Bridge, part of a major I-405 improvement project," was the message appearing on the department's website.

But for some, a closed 405 freeway is an opportunity to make some money. For instance, Adventure Helicopter Tours is offering a "Car-mageddon Helicopter Tour Package" to give those willing to pay for the ride a birds-eye view of the empty freeway, as well as the expected chaos as all those cars try to find alternate routes to their destinations. The 45 minute flights will originate at Whiteman Airport in LA, according to the blog Urban Daddy, and include a pre-flight champagne toast, and aerial views of the Santa Monica pier and the Hollywood sign.

And to our SoCal readers who may have to get somewhere by car this weekend ... good luck.

FMI: www.adventurehelicoptertours.com