President Obama's arrival timed to rush hour (again)

File photo of Air Force One.

After starting the day in Seattle and San Francisco, President Obama is scheduled to arrive at LAX this afternoon just about the time the peak traffic hits the streets. The LAPD is advising drivers to avoid the area around the airport between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. A formation of military helicopters headed diagonally across the basin Saturday on a path that looked like it was destined for the landing zone that Obama has used previously around Rancho Park, and these advance run-throughs often indicate which route the president will take. Officials, of course, won't say how the president will move through town or the route to be taken. But the LAPD is warning drivers to avoid a swath of Westwood and Beverly Hills — bounded by the 405 freeway, Santa Monica Boulevard, Venice Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard — between 4:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tonight's events are Democratic campaign fundraisers at the homes of Haim Saban and Magic Johnson. On previous trips to that area of the city, Obama has bedded down overnight at hotels in Beverly Hills.

On Tuesday morning, Obama is scheduled to speak at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at the Hancock Park-area home of TV producer of Marta Kauffman, then head to the Dreamworks Animation complex in Glendale to give remarks about the entertainment industry. The LAPD advice is to avoid a pretty big swath of Mid-City — bounded by Fairfax Avenue, Western Avenue, Beverly Boulevard and Pico — between 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. That eliminates some prime crosstown morning commute options, so good luck with that. In Glendale, any closures are expected between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. generally along Riverside Drive, San Fernando Road and Grandview Avenue, West Kenneth Road, Victory Boulevard, San Fernando Road and the 5 and 134 Freeways.

From Glendale, it's a pretty safe bet that the president will helicopter back to LAX. The schedule is pretty tight.

This is Obama's sixteenth trip to the LA area as president — most of them for fundraisers.

By the way, full closures of the northbound 405 freeway tonight and Tuesday night are unrelated to the Obamajam. The closures are part of realigning lanes and the median for the Sepulveda Pass upgrade project. Crews will also permanently close and remove the Montana Avenue offramp from the
northbound 405.