With decking now complete, Wilshire Boulevard has reopened between Crescent and El Camino drives in Beverly Hills. (photo courtesy of Metro)

Metro completed piling and decking at a future subway station at Wilshire/Rodeo in Beverly Hills on June 14, seven months ahead of schedule.

Wilshire Boulevard, which had been closed for two-and-a-half months between Crescent and El Camino drives, reopened on Sunday evening, ahead of the morning commute on June 15. The full closure of Wilshire Boulevard was possible due to reduced traffic flow and temporary business closures during the COVID-19 public health emergency. In March, the Beverly Hills City Council approved the full closure to expedite piling and decking, which otherwise would have lasted until early 2021.

“After weeks of expedited construction work on the Metro Purple Line, Wilshire Boulevard is now reopened,” Mayor Lester Friedman said in a statement on social media. “Thank you to our residents and business owners for your patience. We saved the city months of construction work and road closures.”

The closure allowed Metro to expedite the installation of steel beams called piles that provide support around the subway station box. Crews also expedited the decking process, which involves setting concrete panels over steel beams to create a temporary road surface over the station box. The panels enable traffic to resume on Wilshire Boulevard while excavation continues below ground.

“Wilshire Boulevard will probably never again see the light traffic conditions that resulted from our county’s recent safer-at-home order. Metro struck while the iron was hot and did our work quickly and efficiently,” Metro Board Chair and Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts said. “We saved countless local businesses and residents from significant decking construction impacts that could have lasted until early 2021. It is a testament to how city and county governments can partner effectively even during a crisis.”

Prior to the COVID-19 safer-at-home order, the decking was planned during weekend closures from August 2020 through January 2021.

“We are making progress in our goal to provide fast, frequent subway service that will connect downtown L.A. to the Westside in just 25 minutes,” Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington said. “When done, this vitally important project will be a game changer for transit riders throughout the region.”

The first section on the Purple Line Extension project from Wilshire/Western and Wilshire/La Cienega is under construction and scheduled to open in 2023. The second section, which includes the Wilshire/Rodeo station and ends at the Century City/Constellation station, is scheduled to open in 2025. A third section to Westwood is anticipated to be complete by 2027.

“While we recognize the many challenges COVID-19 has brought to all of our lives, this was an opportunity for positive progress in the midst of a very uncertain time,” Friedman added.

For information, visit metro.net.