The full closure of Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills was extended a block west to El Camino Drive on April 13. Expedited piling work is occurring within the closure area. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Work continues on the Purple Line Extension subway project and construction has increased in Beverly Hills, where Wilshire Boulevard is closed between El Camino and Crescent drives for piling around the future Wilshire/Rodeo station.

On April 13, Metro extended the closure area on Wilshire Boulevard a block west from Beverly Drive to El Camino Drive. The full closure will be in effect for one to three months to enable additional equipment to be used for piling. The Beverly Hills City Council approved the full closure during the COVID-19 public health emergency to expedite the completion of piling and decking on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard. The street can be reconfigured and reopened if requested by the city.

Construction work hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. for drilling, and 9 to 11 p.m. for non-drilling activities. Hours may be adjusted for decking, which involves creating a street surface over the subway station box. Decking is anticipated to begin in May. South Canon and Reeves drives will remain closed at Wilshire Boulevard for the duration of the road closure. Metro buses on the 720/20 lines have been detoured to Burton Way and Santa Monica and Robertson boulevards.

Station construction, material deliveries and instrumentation are ongoing at Wilshire/La Cienega. Work hours are Monday through Saturday, 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. Gale Drive will be intermittently closed at Wilshire Boulevard to support construction in the Gale staging yard. Access to Gale Drive will be maintained from San Vicente Boulevard. The closure is a public safety measure due to high volumes of vehicles entering and exiting the property.

Utility and tunnel investigation continues near Wilshire/Crescent Heights and Wilshire/La Jolla during off-peak hours from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekdays, and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., weekends. One-and two-lane closures may be necessary along Wilshire Boulevard between San Diego Way and San Vicente Boulevard. Street restoration will also occur in that area during off-peak hours from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekdays, and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., weekends.

Near Wilshire/Fairfax, subway station construction, hauling and concrete pouring are ongoing. Ogden Drive will be closed intermittently at Wilshire Boulevard, Monday through Saturday. Orange Grove Avenue continues to be closed south of Wilshire Boulevard through June. The south sidewalk along Wilshire Boulevard between Orange Grove Avenue and Ogden Drive will remain closed for one year.

Tunneling support, hauling and deliveries are ongoing near Wilshire/La Brea and a work zone in the center of Wilshire Boulevard just east of Sycamore Avenue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Saturday. Intermittent lane closures may be necessary between Highland Avenue and Detroit Street for construction support.

Sycamore Avenue will be closed north of Wilshire Boulevard from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Westbound Wilshire Boulevard may be intermittently reduced to a single lane between Mansfield and Sycamore Avenues from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

A work zone in the center of Wilshire Boulevard just west of Rimpau Boulevard will remain in place through September. Wilshire Boulevard has been reduced to two lanes in each direction between June Street and Muirfield Road. Concrete and material deliveries are anticipated to continue.

Tunneling support and street maintenance are also ongoing near Wilshire/Western. Work is occurring 24 hours at a staging yard just west of the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue. Northbound Manhattan Place will be closed intermittently just north of Wilshire Boulevard, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Intermittent single-lane closures may also occur on Wilshire Boulevard between Western Avenue and Manhattan Place. Southbound Oxford Avenue will be reduced to a single lane through May 1, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Metro will hold a webinar on Wednesday, May 6, from noon to 1 p.m. with information and updates on construction. The webinar will serve as the regular monthly meeting usually held at Beverly Hills City Hall. To participate, call (872)240-3412, and use the access code 155-342-909.

For questions and concerns, call the 24-hour project hotline at (213)922-6934, email the project team at purplelineext@metro.net, or visit metro.net.