Metro studies accelerated decking plan; traffic reports expected January
Metro’s Purple Line subway contractor seeks to build decks on the streets at record speed—seven weeks plus six weekends—to help neighbors avoid “construction fatigue.”
That’s really 14 weekends plus 35 weekdays versus the originally proposed 22 weekends of Wilshire Blvd. closure at and near La Brea Ave.
“In response to community concerns about nighttime construction impacts, Metro’s contractor proposed this accelerated plan of construction to provide faster relief for residents and businesses,” says Metro spokesman Dave Sotero.
Sotero says the seven-week, full-closure plan will allow workers to utilize two schedules side-by-side: daytime operations above ground and nighttime work below ground. The original plan requires 24-hour, round-the-clock surface level construction from 9 p.m. every Friday to 6 a.m. every Monday.
Community meeting
At a community meeting on Nov. 12 regarding the Purple Line extension hosted by both Metro and Councilmember David Ryu, there was criticism of a lack of information concerning the new option. Metro officials then announced they first will conduct new traffic management studies to determine effects of the new seven-week plan on the community.
“We expect to have preliminary results from traffic management studies in January, and, if the alternative is approved, we will pursue it,” said Sotero.
“Few months to sort out”
Ryu said he wants to weigh all information before making a decision and will be working with community groups on the issue, but warned residents, “we only have a few months to sort this out.”
Metro’s original plan to close Wilshire Blvd. temporarily between Orange Dr. and La Brea Ave., to allow for surface decking, was approved by the city and detailed in an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
However, a debate over the construction schedule began in August when Metro’s design-build contractors, Skanska, Traylor and Shea, responded to community concerns by proposing the alternate schedule.
Category: News
