Crews are building the stairs at the future Wilshire/La Brea subway station on the Purple Line Extension project. (photo courtesy of Metro)

Work continues at a steady pace on the Purple Line Extension subway project along Wilshire Boulevard. Crews are completing tunnels and subway stations on the first segment of the route from Wilshire/Western to Wilshire/La Cienega. Excavation, tunneling and preparatory work is occurring on the second segment in Beverly Hills and Century City.

At the future Wilshire/Rodeo subway station in Beverly Hills, crews are excavating the station box and are expected to reach a final depth of approximately 100 feet by the end of March. Intermittent sidewalk and lane closures on Wilshire Boulevard are anticipated to continue in the area around Wilshire Boulevard and Reeves Drive. Closures may also be implemented on Wilshire Boulevard between Crescent and Stanley drives to facilitate geotechnical instrumentation along the subway tunnel.

New hauling hours for removing soil from the tunnels and station sites have also been implemented. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., two lanes will be open in each direction on Wilshire Boulevard between El Camino and Crescent drives to accommodate soil removal from the Reeves staging yard. From 10 p.m. to 10 a.m., Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced to one lane in each direction between El Camino and Crescent drives, when excavation will occur through deck openings along Wilshire Boulevard at Canon Dive, and just west of Beverly Drive.

Ongoing ground monitoring is also occurring in the tunnel alignment and around the Wilshire/Rodeo station. Work hours are weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for work on Wilshire Boulevard, and weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the neighborhoods surrounding Wilshire Boulevard.

At Wilshire/La Cienega, station construction, material deliveries, instrumentation and concrete pouring continue. Work will be conducted from Wilshire Boulevard and within the Gale staging yard from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Additional intermittent lane reductions, turn restrictions and sidewalk closures may be in place to support instrumentation work, road restoration and utility maintenance near Wilshire/La Cienega. Eastbound Wilshire Boulevard may be intermittently reduced to one lane from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., as needed. Gale Drive will be intermittently closed at Wilshire Boulevard to support construction in the Gale staging yard. Work hours are 4 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Access to Gale Drive will be maintained from San Vicente Boulevard.

New traffic controls may be in place for a K-rail enclosure in the center lanes at Wilshire/San Vicente. The construction zone supports ongoing tunnel and mitigation work underneath Wilshire Boulevard.

Station construction, hauling and concrete pouring continue near Wilshire/Fairfax. Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced to two lanes in each direction between San Diego Way and Spaulding Avenue through next August. Intermittent lane closures may be in place to support deck panel maintenance and investigation. Anticipated work hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Concrete and material deliveries will also continue to the future subway station east of Fairfax Avenue. The work is supported by intermittent lane reductions on Wilshire Boulevard from 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Orange Grove Avenue remains closed south of Wilshire Boulevard until January 2022. Ogden Drive will be closed intermittently Monday through Saturday at Wilshire Boulevard. 

Hauling, deliveries and tunneling support are ongoing in construction staging yards at Wilshire/La Brea, and from a K-rail enclosure at Wilshire Boulevard and Orange Drive. Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced to two lanes in each direction between Detroit and June streets, and Orange Drive will remain closed north of Wilshire Boulevard. Intermittent lane closures on Wilshire Boulevard and side streets between Highland Avenue and Detroit Street may be in place to support construction from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

A work zone on the west side of the intersection of Wilshire and Rimpau boulevards is anticipated to be in place through next May. 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 at the site.

A K-rail enclosure at Wilshire and Plymouth boulevards will be in place for approximately one year. Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced to two lanes in each direction between Windsor and Plymouth boulevards. Work will occur 24 hours in the enclosure.

Tunneling support also continues in a staging yard at Wilshire Boulevard and Manhattan Place, near the Purple Line’s terminus at Wilshire/Western. Support for cross passage excavation will continue 24 hours. Northbound Manhattan Place will be intermittently closed just north of Wilshire Boulevard from 4 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday. Intermittent single lane closures on Wilshire Boulevard may be necessary between Western Avenue and Manhattan Place. Access to businesses will be maintained and a signed pedestrian detour has been installed.

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.