The 405's backyard

( Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times / September 28, 2012 )

A construction worker walks through the backyard of a home that Caltrans bought in Westwood Hills. Part of the property would have to be destroyed to build a retaining wall as part of the 405 construction project. Project director Mike Barbour of Metro said he wished that transportation agencies had seized the Westwood Hills properties. ¿I don¿t think your first inclination is to buy out properties or homes,¿ he said. ¿Looking back, it might have helped.¿