Work on the tunnels is occurring near the future Wilshire/La Cienega subway station. (photo courtesy of Metro)

Metro is advising about subway construction on the Purple Line Extension project in January, including work at the western end of the project in Westwood. Crews are preparing a site at the VA Hospital campus for a subway station. The work includes well monitoring, instrumentation, tree relocation, utility relocation and construction wall installation. Piling work is also occurring near Wilshire/Gayley for the future Westwood/UCLA subway station.

In Century City, crews are working near Constellation Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars. The work includes the relocation of sewers and storm drains, station excavation and traffic configuration. Partial traffic lane closures will be required overnight on Avenue of the Stars.

Excavation is underway for the subway station beneath Constellation Boulevard and completion is anticipated by the end of first quarter of 2022. Partial traffic lane closures are in place on Constellation Boulevard. In Beverly Hills, construction of the underground Wilshire/Rodeo station will be ongoing through 2024. Deliveries of material, equipment and concrete will continue daily. Crews are working 24 hours underneath the deck. Above ground work activities will require lane closures on Wilshire Boulevard between El Camino and Crescent drives.

Twin tunneling machines are currently excavating eastbound from the site of the Wilshire/Rodeo station on their way to the Wilshire/La Cienega station. Geotechnical instrumentation is being installed along Wilshire Boulevard to monitor the impacts of subway construction in Beverly Hills.

At Wilshire/La Cienega, the work includes subsurface investigation; station appendage construction; concrete and material deliveries; and instrumentation work, utility relocation and street maintenance. Work is ongoing below ground and in staging yards at Wilshire/La Cienega and Wilshire/Gale. Gale Drive will be temporarily closed through April north of Wilshire Boulevard.

Beginning on Saturday, Jan. 22, and continuing for approximately two years, a K-rail work zone will be installed in the middle of Wilshire Boulevard between Courtyard Place and Masselin Avenue in the Miracle Mile. The work zone will support construction in the tunnels below Wilshire Boulevard, which will be reduced to two lanes in each direction between Ridgely Drive and Curson Avenue.

Station construction and decking work is also ongoing at Wilshire/La Brea, the site of another subway station. Work is occurring in the tunnels in the area, where permanent rails are being installed. Wilshire Boulevard will continue to be reduced to two lanes in each direction between Detroit Street and Highland Avenue through Monday, April 4. Sycamore Avenue will be closed immediately south of Wilshire Boulevard.

Farther east, only two lanes are open on Wilshire Boulevard between Rossmore Avenue and June Street. A K-rail work zone has been installed in the middle of Wilshire Boulevard between Muirfield Road and June Street to support work in the tunnels.

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