Airport officials tell me that based on reservations and ticket sales three weeks ago there are 170,000 travelers expected in and out of LAX both days this weekend. That in addition to the 20,000 each day who work there. Do the math! Who says no one will be on the roads and freeways? So …

1. Got a trip out of town. Play it safe. Airport officials always suggest being at the airport for domestic flights 2 hours before departure and 3 hours for international flights. Factor in all the extra time you might need to get to LAX. In fact, they say DOUBLE your normal drive time to the airport. If it takes an hour factor in 2 hours. Add the request to be at the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight and your looking at leaving 4 hours before your flight! Nothing worse than missing a flight.

2. Lots of hotels in the area if you really want to play it safe! Check in the night before. Make it easy on yourself.

3. Flying into LA? Well, since no one knows exactly how Carmageddon will play out just figure you may be on the roads awhile getting home or to your destination. Put plenty of good music or an audio book on your smart phone or music player, relax and drive safely.

4. LAX officials will be tweeting hourly to update how things like the Van Nuys Flyaway are doing in traffic. You can find out more about that and other related subjects in a special section of LA World Airports website http://www.lawa.org/welcome_LAX.aspx?id=4353

And,  now this from the airport’s website:

How This Will Affect You

Motorists going between LAX and the San Fernando Valley, northern Los Angeles County, and further north of the metropolitan Los Angeles area are expected to encounter significant traffic congestion and delays as I-405 traffic will be redirected to other regional freeways – most of which lead to the downtown Los Angeles area.  From downtown L.A., freeway traffic will be diverted back to westbound I-10 Santa Monica Freeway to return to the L.A. Westside and beach communities.

Click here for diversion routes:  http://www.metro.net/projects/I-405/segment-detours/#MullhollandDrBridge.

Motorists from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, who normally use US-101 Ventura Freeway and I-405 San Diego Freeway to/from LAX, will find the I-405 completely closed.  Several recommended diversions are north-south surface streets from US-101 to Pacific Coast Highway (on a summer weekend when PCH is usually congested) to Lincoln Boulevard to/from LAX.

Motorists coming from east and south of the airport may initially believe they will be unaffected because they are coming from directions away from the freeway closure areas. However, we advise motorists prepare for significant congestion as they approach the exits from the primary arteries serving LAX: the I-105 Century Freeway and the I-405 San Diego Freeway. Major surface streets leading to/from LAX may also be congested.

Join us on FOX 11 all week and especially this weekend! We will have a “405 Special” 10:30pm Friday night leading up to the closure, special morning and afternoon newscasts Saturday and Sunday in addition to our 10 and 11pm shows. And, Monday tune into the FOX 11 Morning News to see if the freeway opens on time!