California ‘Carmageddon’ also a ‘Truckermageddon’?
On Friday, the closure will begin at certain on-ramps as early as 7 p.m., and closure of freeway lanes will begin at 10 p.m. The closure will continue until 5 a.m. Monday morning, July 18. Ramps and connectors will be reopened by 6 a.m.; during the closure, heavy delays are expected on the most direct route around the closure, using U.S. 101 and I-10.
Perhaps the most effective method of dealing with the closure became clear in the NBC report, when hauler Moses Rubio, who often hits takes the 405 coming up from LAX, told reporters he was considering shutting down for the weekend. And Martin Lee, of Modesto, Calif., told NBC “I’m going to avoid LA this weekend.”
‘American Trucker’ tracks Joplin tornado relief
You may recall from my previous writing about the American Trucker show before and since it launched in February that show host and coproducer Robb Mariani at the time made note of his hopes for the series and its ability to really dig into the on-road realities of the trucking life. In my interview with him, “Real by Design,” published in the March edition of Truckers News, he noted that it was his personal love of trucks and the culture of trucking that drove him on. “I can’t host the show without the integrity,” he said. “I’m not an actor, and I’m always underscoring some points: [Truckers] are clearly the backbone of America, and trucks drive our nation. That’s the thread for me with everything.”
At the time, he also noted that if the show got to season two, he saw real opportunity to “put down the roots and get hardcore with it.” I suspect that, in the “Relief” episode, you may well see some of that very thing. If you can, tune in tonight. For a schedule of rebroadcasts throughout the following weeks, visit this page.
Related stories:
Los Angeles prepares for I-405 shutdown
American Trucker season opens with Joplin coverage
‘American Trucker’ rebroadcasts; my interview with the host
Correcting the ‘B.J. & the Bear’ truck replica record
