Man climbs sign above freeway in downtown LA prompting freeway closure

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (FOX 11) - A man climbed onto a sign above the Hollywood Freeway in downtown Los Angeles Thursday afternoon causing the freeway to be shut down as rush hour approached.

The unidentified man climbed onto the sign on the Mission Road overpass shortly after 2 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

Emergency crews positioned airbags beneath the sign in case the man fell or jumped. Firefighters and law enforcement were seen trying to convince the man to give up and come down from the sign.

The southbound No. 4 and No. 5 traffic lanes opened just before 5 p.m. helping to alleviate some of the congestion.

At about 5:30 p.m., the man climbed down a ladder placed by firefighters and was taken into police custody.

CNS contributed to this report