Carmageddon II: The sequel

Cars stream north on the 405, ahead of schedule, over the Sepulveda Pass on Sunday night. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Sept. 29, 2012 12 AM PT

Demolition work on a bridge spanning the 405 Freeway has completed, bringing Carmageddon II to an early close as traffic returned to the 405 Sunday night.Last year, contractors tearing down half of the Mulholland Drive bridge finished about 17 hours ahead of schedule. The work is part of a $1-billion freeway improvement project that includes adding a northbound carpool lane along a stretch of the Sepulveda Pass.Part II began when the 405 Freeway was shut down between the 10 and 101 freeways on Friday evening so that construction crews could demolish the remaining half of the bridge.

CHP patrol cars lead the pack of vehicles at the opening of the northbound lanes of the 405 freeway. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

CHP patrol cars lead the pack of vehicles at the opening of the northbound lanes of the 405 Freeway. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Crews remove debris following demolition of the Mulholland Drive Bridge on Sunday. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

Crews spray water over debris during the demolition of the Mulholland Drive Bridge on Sunday. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

Crews spray water over debris during the final stages of Carmageddon II on Sunday. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

The remains of the western side of the demolished bridge are visible Sunday. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

Crews with heavy equipment remove rebar during the demolition of the Mulholland Drive Bridge on Sunday. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

A sign warns of a fall hazard where the Mulholland Drive Bridge once stood. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

Demolition continues on 405 Freeway on Sunday. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

Caltrans crews work on a 405 Freeway devoid of traffic Sunday. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

Traffic Officer Ochoa directs motorists as cyclists move down Venice Boulevard for the Herbalife Triathlon that shut down most north-south streets from the Pacific Ocean to downtown, creating some traffic jams. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

Traffic Officer Morris gives directions to a motorist as cyclists move down Venice Boulevard. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

A cyclist passes by an officer directing traffic. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

The demolition of the Mulholland Drive bridge in the Sepulveda Pass over the 405 Freeway continues Sunday. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

A truck removes debris as workers demolish the final pillar of the bridge. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)

Construction crews tear into the north side of the Mulholland Drive bridge. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Construction crews work on the Mulholland Drive bridge over the closed 405 Freeway. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

A rare sight: An empty 405 Freeway. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

The closed 405 Freeway is eerily empty during Carmageddon II. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

From a helicopter, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa checks on traffic patterns where the 10 and 405 freeways intersect. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Traffic is heavy on Pacific Coast Highway near Sunset Boulevard as drivers try to find alternate routes. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

The 405 Freeway is empty as construction continues on the Mulholland Drive bridge on Saturday. (Bret Hartman / For The Times)

Lights illuminate demolition of the Mulholland Drive bridge over the 405 Freeway on Saturday. (Bret Hartman / For The Times)

A large piece of the Mulholland Drive bridge falls as demolition continues. (Bret Hartman / For The Times)

A chunk of the Mulholland Drive bridge hits the ground. (Bret Hartman / For The Times)

Construction continues on the bridge. Lanes are expected to reopen at 5 a.m. Monday. (Bret Hartman / For The Times)

Construction workers man hoses during the demolition. (Bret Hartman / For The Times)

The interior of the bridge is exposed as demolition continues. (Bret Hartman / For The Times)

Heavy equipment, including large excavators with ramming hoes, demolishes part of the Mulholland Drive bridge. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The interior of the Mulholland Drive bridge is exposed as the 53-hour project continues. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A worker is in the thick of it as the bridge is torn apart. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A worker monitors the destruction of the Mulholland Drive bridge. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Mike Flowers, project manager with construction services company KIEWIT, keeps an eye on the heavy equipment. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Steven Jacobson, 42, and his 4-year-old son, Max, stop at a designated viewing area to have their picture taken in front of the bridge work. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Morning walkers and bicyclists stop on Skirball Bridge to view and photograph the construction work. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A worker catches some shade as work continues on the bridge. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Heavy equipment, including large excavators with ramming hoes, demolish the north section of the Mulholland Drive bridge. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A Penhall crew watches as part of the Mulholland Drive bridge is demolished. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Heavy equipment tears away at part of the Mulholland Drive bridge. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Workers move in to finish the work started by heavy equipment that chipped away big concrete chunks of the Mulholland Drive bridge, (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Mobile battering rams knocking down the Mulholland Drive bridge expose the steel bars used to reinforce the concrete when the bridge was built, (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Workers on top of the Mulholland Drive bridge monitor the progress of heavy equipment breaking off chunks of the structure. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Crews work on the 405 Freeway just after midnight. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The last car heads north into the San Fernando Valley just after midnight as a 10-mile stretch of the 405 Freeway is shut down for bridge demolition. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A heavy equipment operator prepares to get to work on the Mulholland Drive bridge over the 405 Freeway. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A worker aims a floodlight on the northbound lanes of the 405 Freeway as demolition work gets underway. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A worker has the closed Skirball Center Drive exit ramp to himself. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Area residents take a last look at the soon-to-be-demolished north side of the Mulholland Drive bridge Friday night. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Martin Almarez, left, of Westchester and Scott Mustin of Northridge watch from the Mulholland park and ride lot as construction crews take over the deserted 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A sign warns against unauthorized entry to the north side of the Mulholland Drive bridge, slated for demolition over the weekend. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Fray Munoz mans a barrier blocking an entrance ramp to the 405 Freeway at Wilshire Boulevard on Friday night. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Officials from fire, transportation and other departments monitor the 405 Freeway closure from the city’s Emergency Operations Center. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Vehicles pass under the Mulholland Drive bridge before construction crews began closing the 405 Freeway on Friday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)