Crews are using backfill to create a stable foundation for the new road surface. (photo courtesy of Metro)

Crews are making progress with the Wilshire Boulevard street restoration project between La Brea and Highland avenues, where the road will continue to be fully closed on weekends through July 11.

Concrete decking that created a temporary surface on Wilshire Boulevard over the subway station box is being removed and replaced with approximately 16-feet of backfill and a permanent road surface. Wood braces and backfill, which is made of concrete, soil and other materials, provide a strong foundation for the road.

Crews are working westbound toward La Brea Avenue. Wilshire Boulevard will be closed from 9 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Monday each weekend. Traffic will be diverted north to Sixth Street to bypass the closure. For information, visit mcknbr0fgxh5-k0f2vx078zts2980.pub.sfmc-content.com/1guuusythcw/w2hnxunrso4.

The first section of the subway project is expected to open in 2024. In addition to the Wilshire/La Brea station, it will include new subway stations at Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega. The second section, scheduled to open in 2025, includes the Wilshire/Rodeo and Century City/Constellation subway stations. The third section will open in 2027 and includes the Westwood/UCLA and Westwood/VA Hospital stations.

At Wilshire/Fairfax, weekend directional closures may be in place to support ongoing work at the subway station and underground appendage structures, which are rooms and passageways connecting to the main station. When Wilshire Boulevard closures are necessary, eastbound traffic will be detoured onto La Cienega or San Vicente boulevards, then south to Olympic Boulevard. Through September, Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced to two lanes in each direction between San Diego Way and Spaulding Avenue.

Near the Wilshire/La Cienega, Wilshire Boulevard may be intermittently reduced to one or two lanes in each direction. Through traffic for northbound Gale Drive may be intermittently restored in mid-May. However, southbound Gale Drive will remain closed north of Wilshire Boulevard.

Farther west, utility work is anticipated to begin in June on permanent electrical power lines to the future Wilshire/Rodeo station, where construction will be ongoing through 2024. Lane closures are also anticipated on Wilshire Boulevard between El Camino and Crescent drives in Beverly Hills.

Ground improvement work in preparation for the construction of cross passage tunnels is also anticipated to begin in late-May. Fourteen locations along the tunnel alignment will require lane and sidewalk closures for the work. Metro will issue future notices detailing the closures at each location.

In Century City, southbound Avenue of the Stars will be fully closed between Santa Monica to Olympic Boulevards on Friday, May 13, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Beginning May 14, Avenue of the Stars will be reduced to one lane in each direction in the area. Constellation Boulevard will remain accessible. However, left turns will be restricted from northbound Avenue of the Stars onto westbound Constellation Boul-evard.

For information, visit metro.net.