'Carmageddon' Ends Early, Everyone Can Move On With Their Lives

The Los Angeles freeway that was formerly closed for construction work reopened roughly 18 hours ahead of schedule yesterday, bringing a mercifully early end to the use of the word “Carmageddon.”

“Mission accomplished,” Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa proclaimed at a late-morning news conference, shortly before traffic on Interstate 405 resumed in both directions to cap an unprecedented 42-hour shutdown of America’s busiest stretch of freeway.

The mayor said the early reopening would save about $400,000 in salary and other costs associated with the project.

L.A. “Carmageddon” that never was ends early [Reuters]