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Live Free or Die Hard received the permits it wanted and will be disrupting traffic in El Segundo and the south side of LAX starting Thursday. And not just a little bit. Imperial Highway will be closed in both directions for long periods during the work week until Nov. 10 and even longer on weekends. The Century Freeway will also be closed intermittently on weekends. Pyro freaks may want to make the trip: "The production company stated in its letter of intent and permit applications that it will use pyrotechnics (explosives) and 'gunfire for the entire time' of the filming. One helicopter is scheduled to be used during weekend filming, and 'there will be larger explosions' with accompanying smoke early morning of Sundays, Nov. 5 and 12." Officials at LAX aren't too keen on the whole thing, which subtly comes across in their advisory on the traffic mess:
The film production for the movie “Live Free or Die Hard” starring Bruce Willis received permits from the California Film Commission, Film L.A. and the City of El Segundo. No filming occurs on airport property.
Filming will occur in three periods:
Thursday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 5
Wednesday, Nov. 8 through Sunday, Nov. 12
Saturday, Nov. 18 through Sunday, Nov. 19
During all periods, Imperial Highway – one of the main access roads into and out of LAX -- is scheduled to be closed in both directions between Nash Street and Aviation Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the westbound lanes closed an additional three hours until 7 p.m. The film studio has indicated one westbound lane will be kept open whenever possible to allow for airport cargo traffic ONLY to access the LAX Imperial Cargo Center at the intersection of Imperial Highway and Aviation Blvd.
In addition, during three weekends of Nov. 4-5, Nov. 11-12, and Nov. 18-19, eastbound Century Freeway I-105 between La Cienega to Sepulveda Blvds. and the freeway connectors at I-105 east to I-405 north and south will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., while westbound
I-105 during these times will be closed on an unannounced, intermittent (or rolling) basis. Westbound I-105 also will be closed on two Sundays, Nov. 5 and Nov. 12, from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Traffic plans call for motorists using westbound Imperial Highway during closed periods to detour at the intersection of Imperial Highway and Aviation Blvd. If headed toward the LAX passenger terminal area, motorists will be diverted one mile on northbound Aviation Blvd. to westbound Century Blvd. into the airport. If headed to the west side of LAX or county beaches, motorists will be diverted three miles on southbound Aviation Blvd. to westbound El Segundo Blvd. to northbound Sepulveda Blvd. to resume on westbound Imperial Highway.
During each of the three Saturday closures of eastbound I-105, airport officials are advising that approximately 300 to 350 construction trucks related to LAX's South Airfield Improvement Project are expected to be routed on southbound Sepulveda Blvd. to eastbound El Segundo Blvd. to access the I-405 freeway.
The production company stated in its letter of intent and permit applications that it will use pyrotechnics (explosives) and "gunfire for the entire time" of the filming. One helicopter is scheduled to be used during weekend filming, and "there will be larger explosions" with accompanying smoke early morning of Sundays, Nov. 5 and 12.