The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is warning residents and motorists about ongoing Purple Line Extension project work along Wilshire Boulevard.

Advanced utility relocation work will continue in Beverly Hills through Friday, May 19 along the north side of Wilshire Boulevard between San Vicente Boulevard and Le Doux Road, and on north Gale Drive. Crews will install a pole and overhead lines. Northbound La Cienega Boulevard will be reduced to two lanes from near Wilshire Boulevard from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Conduit placement will occur in the evening. Pot holing, piling, geotechnical instrumentation and jet grouting preparation is also occurring near Wilshire and La Cienega Boulevards.

Crews continue to work on the subway station near Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.
(photo by Gregory Cornfield)

To ease the impact of construction near Wilshire and La Cienega Boulevards, Metro has launched a one-hour parking validation program at 8350 Wilshire Blvd. and 8447 Wilshire Blvd. The parking replaces metered spots removed along Wilshire Boulevard between San Vicente and La Cienega Boulevards in Beverly Hills. One-hour parking validation will be provided Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists must mention “Metro” for validation.

Additional Purple Line Extension project construction is also continuing in the Miracle Mile and Wilshire Center neighborhoods. Street restoration and paving is occurring near Wilshire Boulevard and Wilton Place. Eastbound Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced to one lane intermittently in each direction between Western and Norton Avenues Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Beginning Friday, May 19, jet grouting will continue in a new location at Wilshire and Crenshaw Boulevards. Jet grouting is a construction process that uses high-pressure air and grout to create a deep soil-concrete block. The purpose is to reinforce and strengthen the soil with concrete to support tunneling. Each jet grouting operation will take approximately 8 to 12 weeks.

Additionally, there will be intermittent changes to traffic control and street lighting on Wilshire Boulevard from Orange Drive to La Brea Avenue from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Excavation is also occurring behind a closed area in the street at Wilshire Boulevard and Sycamore Avenue.

Near Fairfax Avenue, southbound Ogden Drive and Orange Grove Avenue will be closed intermittently Monday through Friday south of Wilshire Boulevard. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m..

Metro is holding a community meeting on the Purple Line Extension project tonight, May 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the James Cagney Boardroom at the SAG-AFTRA building, 5757 Wilshire Blvd. Staff will provide a project overview and an update on construction, and participants can ask questions. For information, call (323)GOMETRO, or visit metro.net.