Construction continues in a staging yard near Wilshire/Western, where cross passage excavation and tunneling support is ongoing. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Work hours are increasing in some areas along the Purple Line Extension subway route as crews are working toward completion of the first sections of the new line.

Section one between Wilshire/Western and Wilshire/La Cienega is scheduled to open in 2023, and section two through Beverly Hills to Century City will open in 2025.

In Beverly Hills, excavation of the Wilshire/Rodeo station box continues, with an anticipated completion by the end of March. Work in the area requires intermittent sidewalk and lane closures on Wilshire Boulevard. Geotechnical instrumentation is also occurring along the subway tunnel and in surrounding neighborhoods.

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.

Station construction, material deliveries, instrumentation and concrete pouring continue at the Wilshire/La Cienega station, where work is occurring 24 hours within the staging yards. Ongoing concrete and material deliveries to the Wilshire/La Cienega station box are anticipated to continue this week. Work will be conducted from Wilshire Boulevard and within the Gale staging yard from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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. The closure may also be implemented on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional intermittent lane reductions, turn restrictions and sidewalk closures may be in place. 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.

The K-rail work zone in the intersection of Wilshire and San Vicente boulevards is anticipated to be in place through March. Eastbound Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced to a single lane between Tower Drive and San Vicente Boulevard, and westbound Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced to a single lane between La Jolla Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard. The enclosure will support ongoing tunnel and mitigation work underneath Wilshire Boulevard. All left turns in the intersection will be restricted while the work zone is in place. Directional closures will be implemented on weekends. The bus stop for the eastbound 20 Line at the Landmark Center will be closed during the closure.

Near Wilshire/Fairfax, station construction, hauling and concrete pouring continue. Work hours in the Ogden staging yard have increased to 24 hours, six to seven days a week for the next two months. To protect workers in the tunnels, the temporary ventilation system will run full speed 24 hours. The period of increased work supports tunneling under the Wilshire/San Vicente intersection.

Wilshire Boulevard will also 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. Orange Grove Avenue remains closed south of Wilshire Boulevard until January 2022 and Ogden Drive will be closed intermittently at Wilshire Boulevard. 

Near Wilshire/La Brea, hauling, deliveries and tunneling support are ongoing in construction staging yards 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 March 2022. 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. Wilshire Boulevard may be intermittently reduced to a single lane in each direction to support ongoing concrete pours in the enclosure.

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. Concrete and material deliveries are anticipated to continue through at least the end of January.

Near Wilshire/Western, tunneling support continues in a staging yard at Wilshire Boulevard and Manhattan Place. 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.

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.