Thanksgiving travel chaos: Commuters trapped in 'nightmare' traffic jam in LA, aerial video reveals
Footage reveals miles-long tailback as people try to visit their families
Your support helps us to tell the story
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Louise Thomas
Editor
Thousands of Thanksgiving commuters were forced to inch their way through Los Angeles after a "nightmare" traffic jam reduced a major freeway to virtual gridlock.
Aerial footage showed a river of white headlights and red brake lights at a near-standstill on I-405 as families all tried to get home for the holiday at the same time.
The tailback stretched for miles on one of the busiest roads in the United States.
The video has racked up more than 16 million views on Facebook.
Commenters were aghast at the "horrible traffic nightmare", with one joking: "It's called the 405 because you only go 4 or 5 mph".
Officials in Orange County recently announced a $1.2bn (£962m) improvement plan for the infamous stretch of road, to include new lanes to handle the 370,000 vehicles using it every day.
Eighteen bridges will be rebuilt and access routes overhauled between Costa Mesa and the Los Angeles County line.
But a previous $1.1bn congestion relief scheme, completed in March last year, was plagued by closures and a lack of car-sharing by commuters, according to local media.
Earlier this year 12 people died during a three-day traffic jam caused as drivers headed home for Eid in Indonesia. Queues tailed back 20km or more.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments